On paper, Jonathan Glazer's Under The Skin can be described in one simple sentence. It's the story of an alien who arrives on earth to seduce and kill human-beings. While this premise is fascinating what Glazer achieves on a thematic and emotional level is the true achievement. Jonathan Glazer's Under The Skin is the definition of a cinematic experience, a film that through beautiful imagery and sound design transports the viewer into the isolated, cold headspace of this alien being. Nearly the entire film revolves around Johansson's alien character traveling around Scotland, picking up various hitchhikers and other isolated individuals before bringing them home where they are sacrificed. Glazer isnt very interested in observing the aliens themselves, instead this film is about this alien studying humanity. Glazer's compositions are impeccable, and paired together with Scarlet Johansson's stoic performance, Under the Skin is one of the most observant films I've seen in recent memory. Many films attempt to capture humanity but what Under The Skin manages to achieve is remarkable, capturing humanity in all of its forms. Through this alien we see the ugliness, happiness, kindness, sadness, etc. that are all a part of humanity. As the film continues, Under the Skin begins to feel like a tragedy, with this creature beginning to embrace the fragility and emotion of humanity, knowing that she is trapped in a place where she has no real hope of survival. Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin is the closest thing to an avant garde film in the body of a narrative, delivering a truly exceptional dissection of what makes us human.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
|