UNDER TH E SKIN
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Writers: Walter Campbell, Michel Faber
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay
Strength: Fantastic Cinematic shots, a compelling premise
Weakness: Too long for a movie with very little dialogue
Runtime: 108 minutes
Rating: 2.5/5
Plot: A mysterious woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. Events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.
Review: Scarlett Johansson plays a mysterious extraterrestrial stalking unsuspecting lonely men along the West Coast of Scotland. After assuming the appearance of an unfortunate Scottish dame, Johansson's unnamed alien prowls the streets in a cargo van, pretending to need directions in an effort to seek out unsuspecting loners willing to throw caution to the wind and accept a ride only to meet their doom at her slaughterhouse lair.
Jonathan Glazer directs Under the Skin, which was inspired by Michel Faber's 2001 novel of the same name. However, while the movie borrows the core premise of the book, Glazer trades out a number of key details in the interest of a significantly more subtle narrative. While many may show displeasure at this, the end result is a beautiful and haunting movie that prioritizes nuance at nearly every turn, sacrificing traditional moviemaking elements to provide an opportunity for thoughtful insight into the human condition.
That said, despite its “Scarlett Johansson is a seductive alien” marketing hook, fans of the actress or the sci-fi genre will probably find Under the Skin is too abstract for mainstream appeal. While it succeeds as contemplative artistic expression, moviegoers who were expecting a detailed story about aliens hiding in plain sight will be left quite unsatisfied. Also, it felt like many of the scenes could have been made shorter and thus create a more tighter experience. Still, for viewers who are not put-off by a philosophical glimpse at humanity through the unique, and callous, perspective of an extraterrestrial creature living (and hunting) among us; there are plenty of interesting ideas and gorgeous visuals to appreciate in Under the Skin.
Credit :http://www.thedailystar.net/
Reviewed by S.M. Intisab Shahriyar