Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  A surgeon works on skin replacement for a woman that he mysteriously keeps locked in his house. Pedro Almodovar has always made weird films that challenge traditional conceptions of sexuality and gender with multiple, intersecting characters, but what has been his weakness in my view… More
  A surgeon works on skin replacement for a woman that he mysteriously keeps locked in his house. Pedro Almodovar has always made weird films that challenge traditional conceptions of sexuality and gender with multiple, intersecting characters, but what has been his weakness in my view was the degree to which the stories interconnect to form a fluid narrative or consistent theme. <i>The Skin I Live In</i> is his best film because it has a fantastic, fluid narrative that unfolds deftly. It's full of surprises and the twists come logically and unexpectedly. Disturbing to the core, Almodovar once again seeks to problematize traditional points of view. What's more, I loved his use of "show" details -- actions that characters perform that tell us about their inner life -- and when Robert's daughter climbs in the closet, I couldn't think of a better way to show her devastation. Antonio Banderas is at his best, evil -- staring over his eyebrows -- when he needs to be and even charming at times, and one of my favorite Spanish actresses, Elena Anaya, gives an astounding performance. Overall, if you only see one Almodovar film, make it this one -- just don't bring your sensibilities or the children.

• Saskia D

  
  The women of Almodovar! Mesmerising.. All the ingredients of a typical Almodovar are present. Those who've seen some of his movies will know what I mean.

• Tony G

  
  Pedro Almodóvar has always been a twisted individual. This is a filmmaker that had destitute nuns, sex addicts, mothers trading their sons to pay dental bills, someone who changes sex to have a sexual relationship with her father, among many others. So "La Piel que Habito… More
  Pedro Almodóvar has always been a twisted individual. This is a filmmaker that had destitute nuns, sex addicts, mothers trading their sons to pay dental bills, someone who changes sex to have a sexual relationship with her father, among many others. So "La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live In)" should be no surprise to anyone who's witnessed Almodóvar's amazing career. What's different about "The Skin I Live In" is that while his prior films always had at least an ounce of humor (some more slapstick "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown", some more subtle and satiric "Volver" and "All About My Mother"), "Skin is pure physiological horror. It's Almodóvar by way of Hitchcock or Argento. And it's a testament to his maturity as a filmmaker that he makes it work. "Skin" is about a grieving plastic surgeon who after 12 years has managed to cultivate a skin that is a shield against any element. The film centers around his relationship with his human guinea pig and how this relationship is affected by the personal losses he's experienced in his life (his wife and daughter). How this psychologically plays out goes into icky territory but it wonderfully twisted and bizarre. You will be rapt by this mental exploration, not only of the God complex doctor but of his guinea pig patient and his motherly accomplice. "Skin" reunites Almodóvar with one of his original, and probably only, male muse Antonio Banderas - and it does wonders for Banderas. He hasn't been this good in a live action film since the 1990s. Almodóvar understands Banderas gifts and allows his to use his penetrating eyes with menace. To pull off such a bizarre story Almodóvar knows he needs a strong cast to make it convincing so he relies on his frequent collaborator Marisa Paredes and the alluring Elena Anaya ("Talk to Her") to help round out this insane trio. But the film belongs to Almodóvar. Despite the darkness of the story he still brings his unique storytelling style to the forefront. His wonderful ear for fluid dialogue and impeccable eye for perfectly framing a scene manages to add to tense, claustrophobic feel of "The Skin I Live In". Despite the film taking some time to find its rhythm, the moment it settles in and grabs you, it doesn't let go. "The Skin I Live In" may not be one of his classics, but it's a great addition to the imaginative world Pedro Almodóvar has created over the last 30 years.

• Nicki M

  
  Good movie. Quite disturbing, and have to admit I didn't see the identity of the girl coming at all! Really quite an enthralling story, kept me interested.

• Mark W

  
  Any time I approach a film by director Pedro Almodovar, I know straight away that I'll have to pay attention. He explores difficult and heavy themes but does them with such style and attention to detail that his craftsmanship cannot be ignored. For anyone wondering whether he… More
  Any time I approach a film by director Pedro Almodovar, I know straight away that I'll have to pay attention. He explores difficult and heavy themes but does them with such style and attention to detail that his craftsmanship cannot be ignored. For anyone wondering whether he achieves the same level of quality with this recent effort, then wonder no more. He does and more so. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) is a plastic surgeon who has perfected a new form of artificial skin. The problem with Ledgard though, is that he's not entirely healthy of mind and as a test subject, he holds Vera (Elena Anaya) captive in his home to conduct his experiments. However, the arrival of a wanted criminal makes an appearance at his home which brings forth the dark history of the doctor and patient and how they came to be in their current situation. Something that I have always tried to avoid when writing down my thoughts on a film is treading into spoiler territory. This is certainly one of those films that's difficult to write about without giving away major parts of the plot. Suffice to say, Almodovar himself described the film as "a horror story without screams or frights" that was loosely based on the novel "Tarantula" by French writer Thierry Jonquet and inspired by Georges Franju's 1960 film "Eyes Without a Face". It also has an odd David Lynch feel to it, or more to the point, Lynch's daughter Jennifer and her 1993 movie "Boxing Helena" (much more accomplished than that of course) In different hands this film could have fell into torture porn territory and ended up hitting the straight to DVD slasher shelf but with Almodovar at the helm, it takes on a whole new shape and form. His ability to construct an elaborate narrative cannot be questioned and he commands an audiences attention, while teasingly, revealing the layers to his story. Quite simply, he's an artist! That statement alone should be enough to simplify this highly creative director's impressive catalogue. Scenes are shot with such an eye for detailed beauty that you'd be forgiven for being reminded of classical pieces of art as he frames his picture like an expressionist painter. The production design is superb and visually, the film is simply beautiful. The beautiful look isn't reflected in the material though. This is dark stuff and despite being, both shocking and bizarre, it possesses a sense of humour - all be it, a sick one. Almodovar's recurrent themes and probing of the human psyche are also explored; masochism, transgender issues and repressed sexuality but ultimately this is a modern, twisted take on the Frankenstein story and one that he imbues with style and creative flair. But nothing is black and white here, he even toys with the morality of the audience in clever use of the Stockholm syndrome in which a hostage begins to identify with and grow sympathetic to their captor. As always with Almodovar though, there are a major plot developments that throw his films off-kilter and take such dramatic turns that they quite near takes your breath away. To reveal any more would be completely irresponsible and wholly unfair of me but rest assured that this is thought provoking filmmaking and a craftsman plying his trade at a very high standard. He's also aided by superb performances by his leads; Elena Anaya could well be the next Penelope Cruz and it's great to see Banderas deliver such an intense and brooding character, making you wonder why he and the Spanish auteur have waited 21 years before collaborating again here. A provocative and macabre near masterpiece from Almodovar. It's one worthy of attention and arguably his finest film to date.

• Emil K

  
  The Skin I Live In is kinda oddity in Almodovar's own career. I admire it's bravery and ideas, but as a whole it just don't work. Almodovar mixes too many elements and too many genres together and the end result feels a bit messy. This film has all the ingredients to… More
  The Skin I Live In is kinda oddity in Almodovar's own career. I admire it's bravery and ideas, but as a whole it just don't work. Almodovar mixes too many elements and too many genres together and the end result feels a bit messy. This film has all the ingredients to be a something different and spectacular but Almodovar fails to make this twisted story alive and delivers what might be one of his weakest films to date. While it is obvious that he never intended this film to be taken completely serious, it still lacks the visual playfulness of his many other films and often feels awfully stiff. It is highly uneven mix of melodrama, comedy and thriller. To say that Almodovar is flirting with horror-genre here is going a bit too far. He certainly borrows from the mad scientist scenario and uses it as main theme here, but there is hardly anything that resembles from pure horror here. The Skin I Live in is more closer to an Hitchcock's surreal Vertigo than pure horror. For me the whole story felt utterly absurd and ridicilous. In a way this feels like a cheap piece of shock-cinema. It seems that good old Spanish maestro has lost his touch as a filmmaker with this particular film and went way over the top.

• Mark H

  
  Almodóvar's fixation on human flesh unsettles and is unsettling. If one asserts that Brian De Palma referenced the sexual ideas in Hitchcock's Psycho when he made Dressed to Kill, then Almodóvar completely perverts De Palma's obsessions past the breaking point.… More
  Almodóvar's fixation on human flesh unsettles and is unsettling. If one asserts that Brian De Palma referenced the sexual ideas in Hitchcock's Psycho when he made Dressed to Kill, then Almodóvar completely perverts De Palma's obsessions past the breaking point. Almodóvar has always been concerned with identity, sexuality and gender. But here he has abused his preoccupations into horror. I'll admit that Almodóvar's storytelling talents are never in doubt. The film has a gorgeous facade. The set design, cinematography and music, promote a lush setting that belies something much more sinister. It's a stylish mix to be sure. The tale grabs your attention, but then so does a ghastly accident. Peel back the artistic flourishes and we're left with a sophisticated version of The Human Centipede with art house pretensions. Dramatically The Skin I Live In fails to answer key questions. It remains at heart a superficial trip within the mind of a sicko. Given that premise, the motivations and the reactions of the characters should make sense. This isn't the case. Robert's desires are hard to believe. His lack of scruples are further disquieting. How did he develop this personality? There's precious little insight into his abhorrent behavior. The script really doesn't have anything to truly explain about this psychopath, other than to offer there are some really messed up people in the world.

• Aditya G

  
  Pedro Almodovar's latest offering is a bizarre, complex thriller which could also be the first of its kind for the talented Spanish filmmaker. Almodovar essentially combines the soap operatic elements of his earlier films like "Broken Embraces" replete with characters… More
  Pedro Almodovar's latest offering is a bizarre, complex thriller which could also be the first of its kind for the talented Spanish filmmaker. Almodovar essentially combines the soap operatic elements of his earlier films like "Broken Embraces" replete with characters with dark secrets, tragedies of the past that can't let go, severed blood ties, trauma, etc with a touch of Michael Crichton-ish medical thriller elements! Nonetheless, the outcome is a surprisingly original film to grace this reviewer's movie watch-list in a long, long time! In Toledo, Spain, Plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) has had a brilliant breakthrough in creating an artificial skin tougher than normal human skin. It is the kind of skin that is resistant to mosquito bites and burns. We learn later, that an incident of the past has made this research of his almost an obsession for him. While Ledgard claims that he has been experimenting with athymic mice, it becomes clear that his guinea pig is actually human, a beautiful girl, Vera (Elena Anaya) who has been confined to a private chamber in his secluded estate where he resides with his elderly maid servant, Marilia (Marisa Paredes) who has been with the Ledgards since Robert was a child. Vera is monitored through various Closed-circuit TVs by Robert and it seems that she has been there for a long time now. She is provided food and supplies through a dumbwaiter but is never allowed out of her room. This place also serves as a center for research and operations hence there is limited or no access to outsiders, barring some of Robert's professional colleagues for specified purposes only. Life goes on and this status quo is disturbed one day, when Marilia's long estranged son Zeca (Roberto Alamo) suddenly shows up at their door .... [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7x2QzKhaDWs/T7zCr0oBUiI/AAAAAAAACnY/1oXkh6fIB6I/s832/vlcsnap-2012-05-23-16h13m04s18.jpg[/img] Loosely based on Thierry Jonquet's novel, "Tarantula", Almodovar's screenplay is magnificent in the manner in which he slowly unfolds the various layers of his twisted story, divulging information to his audiences only as required, in a carefully constructed non-linear narrative. What starts out like a conventional thriller in the first half, gradually melds into a nuanced drama laced with tragedy and subtle emotions. Instead of relying on jump twist endings that sometimes seem forced, Almodovar, in the film's runtime of 120 minutes, progressively 'builds' the story, by in fact, peeling the 'skin' off the package and unraveling the mystery within, little by little. In some back stories and subplots we are introduced to some more characters and it is at this point that the film actually gets its Pedro Almodovar feel! One may feel that the director is going off-track with these random introductions, but do not be fooled, for trust Almodovar to stay focused and not digress from the plot at any cost! There are absolutely no wasted moments or scenes as ultimately it all falls into place beautifully! Not all the characters are fully developed but those who do matter the most are, to a considerable extent; if not through elaborately written scenes, definitely through some back stories provided in flashback monologues. [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hb4KqvZehKA/T7zHUFLQgqI/AAAAAAAACns/o6DlUNIgk4s/s832/vlcsnap-2012-05-23-16h47m09s36.jpg[/img] "The Skin I Live in" is also an actors' film. Antonio Banderas in a never before seen avatar is a revelation; so amazing is his presence, he pulls off a challenging lead role with finesse as the dynamics of his character are revealed to the audience as the story moves forward. Ditto for Elena Anaya who has already established her status as a solid actress in the Spanish film world. It's a spectacular performance, the greatness of which is more evident in the latter half of the film. The supporting actors are not far behind, with some noteworthy performances by actors Blanca Suarez, Jan Cornet and Almodovar regular Marisa Paredes as the loyal maid servant Marilia, tormented by a dark secret of her own! "The Skin I Live In" is a riveting thriller...an almost Shakespearean tragedy with a macabre twist. Pedro Almodovar made one of the finest films of his career and also one of the best films of 2011. It is likely to stay in your mind for a long time after it is over... the kind of film that can get under your 'skin'... literally! Score: 10/10. [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ut5whGKRISY/T7zCrf0-18I/AAAAAAAACnU/uEcAG9dLDRY/s832/vlcsnap-2012-05-23-16h05m46s40.jpg[/img]

• Dan S

  
  A twisted, disturbing movie from the warped mind of Pedro Almodovar, this time dealing with a gifted plastic surgeon who is currently working on a new skin for human beings that would be impervious to some diseases and pain, and how he uses a test dummy (Elena Anaya), a mysterious… More
  A twisted, disturbing movie from the warped mind of Pedro Almodovar, this time dealing with a gifted plastic surgeon who is currently working on a new skin for human beings that would be impervious to some diseases and pain, and how he uses a test dummy (Elena Anaya), a mysterious woman who remains locked in his house for reasons unknown. Almodovar has proven he has got balls in the past, notably with the phenomenal 2002 film "Talk To Her" where he shows compassion for a rapist. It is nice to see Antonio Banderas giving a nuanced, brilliant performance that anchors this film from beginning to end. This is not a movie for everyone, as a disgusting twist thrown into the mix around the halfway point of the film is especially hair-raising, though definitely original and well-executed. This film, like Almodovar's others, is a melodrama inside and out, but it goes a little too far at its conclusion and does not know quite how to end. Other than that, it's a fine film and testament to Almodovar's ability to control the pace and keep the story spiraling out of control into unbelievable madness.

• Stella D

  
  a very clinical horror/thriller that feels at first like the work of a different director but in the end can only be pedro's. from 'vertigo' to 'eyes without a face' to 'bad education' and 'all about my mother'. i liked it much more on… More
  a very clinical horror/thriller that feels at first like the work of a different director but in the end can only be pedro's. from 'vertigo' to 'eyes without a face' to 'bad education' and 'all about my mother'. i liked it much more on reflection than i did while actually watching it. good to see banderas in a decent film once again. he's wasted too many years in hollywood.

• Reid V

  
  The premise of a B picture crafted with the precision and finesse of an A-list director. a hard film to digest, but one very much worth your time.

• Film C

  
  Wow im exceptionally liked movie, in some aspects i can see why, as it is a unique movie and is interesting and holds a lot of suspense and thrills as your never sure whats going to happen and it does have some messed up scenes when you piece different things together! A good looking… More
  Wow im exceptionally liked movie, in some aspects i can see why, as it is a unique movie and is interesting and holds a lot of suspense and thrills as your never sure whats going to happen and it does have some messed up scenes when you piece different things together! A good looking cast, messed up movie but possibly worth a watch, io wouldnt say its fantastic though!

• Randy T

  
  My respect and admiration for Pedro Almodóvar continues to grow. He repeatedly finds warmth and human connection in the most inhumane of circumstances. With Pedro, you not only discover that you can tolerate the intolerable but you find yourself empathizing with it. True to… More
  My respect and admiration for Pedro Almodóvar continues to grow. He repeatedly finds warmth and human connection in the most inhumane of circumstances. With Pedro, you not only discover that you can tolerate the intolerable but you find yourself empathizing with it. True to Almodóvar form, <i>The Skin I Live In</i> is both weird and wonderful.

• Pierluigi P

  
  Almodovar's trademark pastel colours decorate an intricate but perfectly woven tale of unimaginable sexual and moral perversion. Antonio Banderas is great as the mad doctor, and the flawless beauty Elena Anaya is perfectly cast as a sort of human doll. While watching it, I… More
  Almodovar's trademark pastel colours decorate an intricate but perfectly woven tale of unimaginable sexual and moral perversion. Antonio Banderas is great as the mad doctor, and the flawless beauty Elena Anaya is perfectly cast as a sort of human doll. While watching it, I immediatly couldn't help but thinking about George Franju's classic "Le yeux sans visage" and I even recalled the great tagline for Orson Welles' Touch of Evil: The Strangest Vengeance Ever Planned!

• Pedro H

  
  <i>The Skin I live In</i> <b>Twister</b> This is by far one of the top movies of 2011, and surely the best of Almodovar's work. I was never a big fan of Almodovar but in this movie he just does the unthinkable, he makes on of the most twisted and… More
  <i>The Skin I live In</i> <b>Twister</b> This is by far one of the top movies of 2011, and surely the best of Almodovar's work. I was never a big fan of Almodovar but in this movie he just does the unthinkable, he makes on of the most twisted and disturbing films (in a good way) where the magic of storytelling is key. Dr.Robert is a famous and rich plastic surgeon who after a tragic death of his wife due to a car accident, he develops a new skin that is resistible to any burns or scratches, however as the story unveils the audience see's what really lies under the skin and the secrets hidden inside. I can honestly not find words to describe how <b>fantastic</b> the story of this movie is. The movie gets you and grip every second, but the twist close to the end of the movie is mouth dropping -certainly one of the best twists in movies. In Almodovar's unique style he incorporates a unique story. Antonio Banderas is also kickass in this film, he does an outstanding job. Then there is Elena Anaya and Jan Cornet who play wonderful parts. Overall a top movie, certainly one that can't be missed. This movie is for sure one of the best of 2011, and I highly recommend it! <u>Norma:</u> <i>"Clothes make me feel claustrophobic. I wish I could stay naked all the time."</i>

• Anthony L

  
  The Skin I Live In was not at all what I was expecting, it exceeded my expectations that were already pretty high. It's strange, it did and it didn't feel like a Pedro Almodóvar film. So I wasn't surprised when I realised it was based on Thierry Jonquet's novel… More
  The Skin I Live In was not at all what I was expecting, it exceeded my expectations that were already pretty high. It's strange, it did and it didn't feel like a Pedro Almodóvar film. So I wasn't surprised when I realised it was based on Thierry Jonquet's novel Tarantula and I can see why he would want to bring the story to the big screen - I also don't think anyone else could have done so without it turning into something it isn't. This isn't about deviancy, torture or even sex really, this is about obsession and the lengths it can lead to and the madness that can come from it. The story is nothing but compelling throughout and I can't say I saw the twist coming at all, it certainly didn't matter that it comes halfway through either. It's one of the best thrillers I've ever seen, a future classic for sure and definitely one of Almodóvar's best. I'm a fan of his but his recent work blows his old stuff out the water, his evolution as a film maker has never been anything less than fascinating. One of the best films of 2011 by a mile.

• c0up  

  
  'The Skin I Live In'. Pedro Almodovar delivers yet again with a delightfully twisted masterpiece! The film had me questioning identity and attraction, and it ultimately comes down to a short clip Vera sees on TV, with the yoga teacher explaining what yoga does in firmly… More
  'The Skin I Live In'. Pedro Almodovar delivers yet again with a delightfully twisted masterpiece! The film had me questioning identity and attraction, and it ultimately comes down to a short clip Vera sees on TV, with the yoga teacher explaining what yoga does in firmly maintaining the inner person, while all else around them may be destroyed. Grand melodrama, obsession and use of colour; all Almodovar staples, shine through brightly, and the pulsating score demands to be heard.

• Greg S

  
  A research scientist is working on creating an artificial skin that will resist malaria, but who is the strangely docile young woman he's holding at his estate and using as a guinea pig? A complex story about the outer limits of depravity that shocks through its plot and its… More
  A research scientist is working on creating an artificial skin that will resist malaria, but who is the strangely docile young woman he's holding at his estate and using as a guinea pig? A complex story about the outer limits of depravity that shocks through its plot and its understanding of human psychology, not cheap tricks. There are many delightfully perverse secrets buried in the story, so the less you know going in, the better.

• Kristijonas F

  
  It retains the signature sexual perversion and visual extravagance that Pedro Almodóvar is so famous for, but this outing injects his art-house horror-romance with one of the most bizarre and satisfying plot-twists ever, as well as a mad-scientist story for the ages. I haven't… More
  It retains the signature sexual perversion and visual extravagance that Pedro Almodóvar is so famous for, but this outing injects his art-house horror-romance with one of the most bizarre and satisfying plot-twists ever, as well as a mad-scientist story for the ages. I haven't seen Antonio Banderas this intense in a long time, and Elena Anaya... wow, just... wow.

• Aaron N

  
  Robert: I have performed three of the nine facial transplants in history and nothing has given me more satisfaction. The Skin I Live In is a twisted suspense thriller that takes an arthouse approach to a mad scientist story. Leave it to Spanish director Pedro Almodovar to take all… More
  Robert: I have performed three of the nine facial transplants in history and nothing has given me more satisfaction. The Skin I Live In is a twisted suspense thriller that takes an arthouse approach to a mad scientist story. Leave it to Spanish director Pedro Almodovar to take all of the various trademarks of his usual types of films (strong uses of color, strong female characters, themes involving desire, passion, and family) and apply it to a macabre tale involving a brilliant surgeon going to extreme measures to deal his own past tragedies. Graphic is one term that can be used to describe the film, but it is also strongly acted, very well shot, and certainly unique in its story. The Skin I Live In is the kind of film that starts off with intrigue and goes on to have its characters become more understood as its plot becomes crazier and crazier. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

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