When I'm handed a packet of press notes as I walk into a screening, I start to wonder what exactly I'm about to witness. Under the Skin is an independent film based on the novel by the same name by Michel Faber. It's, uh, interesting.
The premise of the film is simple, but it takes a bit to figure out as a viewer, particularly due to the lack of narration. Scarlett Johansson, whose character is never given a name, is from another planet. To help sustain her planet, she must capture human males and feed on them to provide sustenance. Before you start thinking about Marvin the Martian or some weird green, scaly skin, it's totally not like that. Scarlett's character resembles a normal human woman, and nothing outwardly alien occurs. Except the strange black room that she seduces men into that suddenly becomes a pool of black water where they're engulfed in darkness that unable to escape. Yikes.
The entire film is about perception. As the film progresses, Scarlett's character goes from being an alien form, an "it", to more of a human capable of having compassion, a "she". Since the film is shot from her character's perspective, this changes the tone of the film, and the strangeness of the human world suddenly seems normal again, and the strange actions of her alien compatriots seem even more abnormal then they did before. Scarlett's character rarely speaks"•only when she's attempting to lure a potential victim into her white cargo van (yes, you read that correctly). Even with very little dialogue, her performance is such that you see her transition from an alien with no compassion for her victims to a lifeform suddenly feeling guilt, surprise and other emotions. It's a great performance from Johansson, and I think it shows her versatility as a performer.
The filming style is quite interesting since the only character you see consistently is Scarlett Johansson's. Much of the film is her driving around Scotland talking to actual people, working to get them into her cargo van that had been specially outfitted with hidden cameras. These people had no idea they were on film until after the fact. It made the whole experience feel more natural. The cinematography is quite sedate, with the exception of the one club scene, which is almost so colorful and loud that it was hard to process.
The music is used so sparingly that when the violins actually start to play, I knew something interesting and/or curious was about to happen. Silence prevailed throughout the film, which actually gives it a greater presence and makes you focus on more of the details.
My one issue, for lack of a better word, is the nudity in the film. I get that it's an independent film. I get that she's an alien seducing men for consumption - a black widow if you will. However. It could have been used more sparingly. At least there was some equality in the full frontal department between the genders. So there is that.
Overall, it's a technically very sound film with a ton of layers to it between the story and the filming style. It's not going to appeal to every moviegoer, and it's not going to be a film for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Under the Skin requires a bit of thought and reflection, but it's definitely worth the effort. Scarlett Johansson is not just an actor for blockbluster movies; she's got skills, and this film definitely shows them.
