Movie Review: The Skin I Live In

Every once in a while, I will go into a movie without preparation, I won't know much about the plot, the actors nor will I read the Wikipedia synopsis beforehand. Basically, I'll go into the theater the way that movie directors had originally intended. The last time this happened was with I Heart Huckabees. Luckily for me, I was enrolled in a philosophy class and understood it.

This time, the blind side film would be The Skin I Live In.

It is a Spanish 2011 film directed by Pedro Almodovar and it stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Marisa Paredes. It is loosely based on the French novel, Mygale, by Thierry Jonquet. It made its debut in May 2011 at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

I went in expecting a thriller, based on what I saw from the trailers, and there would be an emphasis on synthetic skin.

It really was a thriller. And it did deal with skin. Unfortunately, that's where my expectations ended.

I won't ruin the movie for everyone else, so I won't write a full synopsis. All I can say is, is that this movie was somewhat disturbing, even more than The Human Centipede. I haven't been quite this uncomfortable with a film since A Clockwork Orange. It was along the lines of The Crying Game, a movie I've only read about. That being said, it wasn't a bad film. This is what separates The Skin I Live In from mediocre shockers like The Human Centipede.

Almodovar touched so many issues in this movie, such as identity, human rights...I want to tell Tom Six (director of The Human Centipede) that this is how you really shock people with substance and this is why Almodovar is Cannes calibre.

Did I enjoy this film?

Not on the same level as I would with The Dark Knight or Inception.

Would I recommend this film?

Only if you're used to bizarre works, like A Clockwork Orange.

Would I see this film again?

I'll take this like I took Requiem for a Dream. I'll agree it's critically acclaimed but this will be a film I never intend on seeing ever again!

It's a one and done deal with me.

But will I ever forget it or stop talking about it?

Never.

And that my friends is what makes a movie so memorable.