What IS “Under the Skin?” by Alex Moore

Where does one begin with a film like “Under the Skin?” It is directed by Jonathan Glazer(“Sexy Beast”), which did not necessarily do anything for my expectations on this movie. The film was originally produced by a pair of unlikely gentlemen: one, a rather successful producer (Nick Wechsler, “North Country” and “Magic Mike”) and the other, a little-known producer(James Wilson). Glazer was also given writing credits along with Walter Campbell. The original music, if you really wish to call it music, was written by Mica Levi, an established artist from the UK (known as Micachu), but new to the realm of film scoring. Although she was not alone in the movie, Scarlett Johansson is consistently listed as the singular star in the film. This is not a knock on the rest of the cast, who were mostly quite effective in their respective roles, but merely a representation of the immense focal point of the story.

One of the many interesting observations is the lack of a character name in the movie for Scarlett Johansson. This is spot-on because the character is really not a character at all, but a shell of what only appears to be a character. The ominous atmosphere is reminiscent of such classics as “Close Encounters” and “Blade Runner.” The location is Scotland and, much like a lot of other films today, it was co-distributed by a company of the UK and a company of the US. In this case, that would be Studio Canal(UK) and A24(US).

With such a low budget, the risk of failure, even for such a bizarre movie, is rather low. It was originally released at the Telluride Film Festival last August and has since been showcased in the UK (March 2014) and here in the US (April 2014). Though in very limited release, “Under the Skin” has received mostly positive feedback from the viewers and a sizable kickback in revenue, based on its per-theater screening numbers. Hopefully, word-of-mouth will push this buried gem closer to the surface and Scarlett Johansson will prove to some that she can be a relevant player in the world of science fiction AND independent films.

It is worth noting that this particular film is based on a novel of the same name, written by Dutch-born Michel Faber (“The Crimson Petal and the White”). It is a thought-provoking account of what is a tired question, “What does it mean to be human?” The answer is much more dense than the average movie. However, there is a conundrum of parallel replies and they ultimately split into very different directions. One answer is more literal, based on the unfolding of the story and the other is much more complex, DESPITE the unfolding of the story. Scarlett Johansson’s character may indeed remind some of the Replicant played by Sean Young in “Blade Runner” and others of a female version of a Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho.” Both recollections make sense to me. There is something disturbing about the look in Johansson’s eyes, which seem to turn on and off like a light switch on the wall of a brightly-lit, pristine lab room. She displays deep focus and slight befuddlement as she goes from one human experience to another, only showing the most primitive signs of emotions when she is out of control. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

At times, the story feels like a “Twilight Zone” tale, in that we do not know why or how this story is happening, but we know that it is hauntingly spooky and can only look on with human-like curiosity and maybe with a touch of concern. Unlike those of us who anxiously anticipate the visual aftermath of a deathly car crash, which often culminates the lengthy standstill of on-looker traffic, our protagonist in “Under the Skin” is seeing everything with the eyes of a newborn, but the prowess of a cobra. Many of us know the tale of what happened in the Garden of Eden: a man and a woman were seduced and tricked by a serpent and the consequences were deadly. Stripped to the skin and bone, we are ALL vulnerable as human beings and the one who has control will swallow the unsuspecting prey alive and quietly move along to the next in line.

The special effects are uncommon and brilliantly executed. Symbolism pervades the entire film and due to the lack of dialogue throughout the movie, it is easy to concentrate on the story and still think incessantly about what everything in the story really means. You might find yourself scratching your head with one hand and touching your other hand to your open mouth or sweltering chin, all whilst you sit on the edge of your seat, with bouts of antsy behavior and “What tha’?!” moments, but that is just one man’s opinion and experience.

It is not very often that you can enjoy a film, even if it is gloomy and dismal, and simultaneously have enough on your plate to take home for leftovers, which you can eagerly share with those who do not recognize what is ON the plate and those who DO. You see, you can always ask, “What does it mean to be a human?” However, with greater context to THIS movie, “Under the Skin,” you can also ask sub-questions: “Is it the mere experience of BEING human that makes us who we are, more so than the superficial, physical body or skin?” and/or “Does life itself make us inherently vulnerable or are some just naturally weaker than others based on their position in the various moments OF life?”

Just for the record, the good people of Scotland are apparently not as shy or uncomfortable as the average American about showing themselves, in various shapes and sizes, their natural, uh, “birthday suits.” Scarlett Johansson, in my esteemed view has shown us a side of herself we have either rarely or NEVER seen before. It took courage and discipline for her to do so, as a well-established and respected actress around the globe. Do NOT miss this opportunity if you can help it AND if you are game for something unique. THAT is what “Under the Skin” IS.