A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
Almodóvar joins PT Anderson, Aronofsky, von Trier and Scorsese as the latest big-name director to dip a toe into horror. There won’t be blood, but the head wounds are vicious.
Part of the film’s appeal lies in the way that it leads you calmly by the hand through some appalling events and finds a haunting sadness at the heart of a horrific story. Measured, playful and spellbinding.
Just try to guess the nature of the twist at the heart of the drama – I guarantee the truth is more outrageous and disturbing than you could have imagined.
There is much here to delight the Almodovarian, from sly humour to outrageous narrative twists and, of course, that wall to wall spectacle. The story doesn’t always flow smoothly, with the occasional awkward lurch and one too many flashbacks, and where it ends up may trouble some. Almodovar takes his comedy to some very strange places indeed.
The problem is there’s no third act, no satisfying resolution to all this build-up, but for the most part it is dangerously compelling.
Not for everyone — there will be heated debate about at least one plot turn — but high-level filmmaking. The year’s classiest horror movie.
I’ve heard the movie described as barking, but it’s like a very sophisticated wind-up toy, barking on command.
There will be some who find this film rather too absurd, with a whiff of shaggy dog, and some critics have found it essentially heartless. I would agree that it might not have the passion and empathy of, say, Volver, perhaps because women are sidelined. It is rather a tissue of surfaces, styles and images. That tissue gives a gorgeous caress.
After a sluggish first hour a fabulously demented twist livens things up considerably and I was gripped until the hopeful conclusion. However, it’s little more than a creepy B-movie with art-house trimmings.
The result is one of [Pedro Almodovar's] richest and strangest films.
It's a horror film but it's cleverer and more subtle than the average shocker and comes with enough provocative moments to cause heated exchanges after the credits roll.
An evolutionary leap from a true master of his craft.
More pretentious kitsch from Almodovar.
For sheer bewitching strangeness, The Skin I Live In is unmissable, and under your skin it will certainly get.
The Skin I Live In is a skilful piece of storytelling that reorganises time and, in a characteristic Almodóvar fashion, challenges our preconceptions about everyday life and personal conduct.
A masterfully distorted account of how desire and punishment can blur into one another with almost poetic grace.
The result is a compelling film packed with vivid textures, unexpected plot twists, and a dramatic soundtrack.
Poster Notes
A skin flick ties Banderas to Almodovar once again
Pedro Almodovar - The Skin I Live In
Another view on The Skin I Live In
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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