Under the Skin (2014)

Written by badelf on April 3, 2025

Jonathan Glazer's "Under the Skin" arrives with the weight of critical adoration and art-house credentials, yet ultimately delivers less than its reputation suggests. While technically accomplished, the film demonstrates that technical virtuosity alone cannot substitute for genuine creativity.

Mica Levi's dissonant score creates a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, and the hidden camera techniques yield moments of documentary-like authenticity (but not in Werner Herzog's class). Scarlett Johansson commits fully to a physically demanding, nearly wordless performance. These elements deserve recognition.

However, in its pursuit of profundity, "Under the Skin" merely repurposes themes and techniques that other filmmakers have executed with greater purpose and originality. The minimalist dialogue approach lacks the emotional resonance achieved by masters like Kim Ki-duk. Its abstract visual flourishes feel tame compared to truly experimental cinema. As a narrative about discovering humanity, it pales beside Yorgos Lanthimos' more philosophically rich "Poor Things."

What's most disappointing is the film's self-serious posturing. Glazer seems to mistake obscurity for depth, slow pacing for contemplation. The alien-learns-about-humanity premise isn't inherently flawed, but "Under the Skin" offers no fresh perspective on this well-worn science fiction trope.

In cinema, technical achievement should serve story and theme, not replace them. "Under the Skin" remains watchable but barely so, offering impressive craftsmanship in service of insights that never materialize. The film builds to a conclusion that feels neither earned nor illuminating - the cinematic equivalent of an elaborate frame surrounding an empty canvas.