Under the Skin

Under the Skin (2013, Jonathan Glazer)

Jonathan Glazer's science fiction film of Michael Faber's novel is about Laura (Scarlett Johansson) character, an extraterrestrial in female form. She kills the men because she and her extraterrestrial community need the skins of the men probably to survive on the planet Earth.  Laura's narrative is divided into two parts. In the second part of the film, an awareness of “Other" is present. Laura finally realizes that humanity has voices and faces. Her series of encounters with the men make her more human and finally invulnerable at the end of the film. The minimalistic structure of the film such as avoiding to use of more dialogue invites the audience to analyze the cinematic text with more precision and accuracy. The presence of nature in the film indicates Laura's passion for exploring the world of humanity. The superimposition of her lying on the ground with the trees of the forest gives the audience the clue that she is now a part of that nature that connects her to the world of humanity. The beginning of the film is visually unique and formally remarkable.
Review: Morad Sadeghi