The Skin I Live In

I used to love Pedro Almodóvar's work. Nowadays my interest in his films has waned somewhat, but I do occasionally watch something. The Skin I Live In has a well-written script, which puts the film on par with Almodóvar's best work. However, the subject matter is so controversial and the central idea so difficult for me to stomach that I can hardly imagine myself ever resorting to watching it again in the future. (75%) (08/01/2021)

A very spicy movie. It takes a while to warm up, a little boring even at first - lots time and little action. But then I began to get lost, but that was when I began finding my feet. It was chilling watching the moments with Robert turning Vincent into Vera and I began completely engrossed. This movie is a quality piece of work which I would categorize as psychological. It’s true that it’s a little rushed at the end, but that didn’t bother me as much as the dragged out beginning, which is the only reason I don’t give this a full set of stars. (19/03/2014)

Another Pedro gender transgression permeated with distilled melodrama and flamboyant visual pose. I was bored to death with one of his films for the first time and left with the hollow feeling that, after excellent self-reflection in the form of Broken Embraces, Almodóvar once again falls into his obsession with empty poses and fetishes, which are interesting in and of themselves, but in terms of any reflection they are mined only by their flamboyant otherness and exaggeration. I understand that this theatrical image of a man's desire for a non-existent perfect body and the flow of sexual desire may theoretically be impressive, but it completely missed the mark for me. (04/07/2011)

An exploitation horror premise in the hands of an arthouse director. The result is a remarkable film that took me from mild cringe to absolute enthusiasm. Beautifully shot, very smart in the way it doses the information (for a moment I was afraid that what was clear already from the middle of the movie would be revealed as a shocking twist by the end, but Almodóvar fortunately doesn’t underestimate his audience), and arousing a whole range of emotions. It’s been long since I saw a film where genres alternate and blend so smoothly and lightly. From The Skin I Live In you could easily cut a trailer for horror, comedy, drama, science fiction and even a romantic film, and I’m sure it won’t take long for something like that to appear on YouTube. PS: If you want to watch an underground horror take of the same premise, have a go at Victim, but not before watching The Skin I Live In, otherwise you’ll ruin the experience). (09/09/2011)

The psychologically powerful and excitably deviant theme of The Skin I Live In is rendered as emotionless, noble cinematic art. It shocks the viewers, but they are unable to relate to the story and they never become mentally unsettled by the film. What is left is “only” enthusiasm for admirable filmmaking perfectionism and elegance. Antonio Banderas is brilliant as a dark doctor without a pinch of medical or human ethics, and Elena Anaya is beautiful. The Skin I Live In is a remarkable and in some ways exceptional work. (16/10/2011)