Under the Skin (1997)

87% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(740 ratings)

Samantha Morton, who soon after this film gained attention for her role in Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown, makes an impressive feature debut in first time writer-director Carine Adler's bittersweet saga about a troubled woman's uneven progress toward self-realization. Morton plays Iris, a woman who… More Samantha Morton, who soon after this film gained attention for her role in Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown, makes an impressive feature debut in first time writer-director Carine Adler's bittersweet saga about a troubled woman's uneven progress toward self-realization. Morton plays Iris, a woman who feels ignored by her boyfriend Gary (Matthew Delamere), her self-possessed pregnant sister Rose (Claire Rushbrook), and even her beloved mother (Rita Tushingham). After their mother dies suddenly of a brain tumor, Iris falls apart. Tired of a supervisor's hostility, she suddenly quits her job as a clothing saleswoman and has a sexual encounter with Tom (Stuart Townsend), a man she meets in a movie theater. Iris leaves Gary, starts wearing her mother's wig, and dresses like a slut. She gets drunk and desperately picks up men in bars, and she ends up being abused by Max (Daniel O'Meara). Iris mooches money from her sister and they fight over a ring that Rose claims their mother gave her. She finds out that her best friend Vron (Christine Tremarco) has taken up with Gary and tries to seduce Rose's husband Frank (Mark Womack). ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: Billy Burke, Carine Adler
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Feb 12, 2002

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
In her feature debut, Adler shapes her film gracefully and elicits a scorching no-holds-barred, totally selfless portrayal from Morton.
John Hartl, Film.com
Morton's Iris keeps going in circles... It's a spooky, movie-dominating performance.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Morton makes Iris real. Every moment she's on screen, the actress forces us to accept Iris as a living, breathing individual.
Elizabeth Weitzman, Film.com
Although Iris has no idea who she is, Morton is utterly certain, and inhabits her temporarily defeated soul with an ease that knocks you out.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
While Ms. Morton embodies the role with furious intensity and with a raw yet waifish presence that brings both Emily Watson and Claire Danes to mind, Ms. Adler directs the film in ways that live up to its title.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It isn't often that a film offers a heroine who is this aggressive, angry and self-punishing, and the filmmaker and her star work in perfect harmony to get at all the complexity behind it.
Brandon Judell, Detour Magazine
In what is one of the great "woman-descends-into-madness" flicks alongside "Repulsion," Morton is never less than searing.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
... a raw and occasionally depressing first film with moments of chilling recognition and a remarkable young star.
Stephen Farber, Movieline
Reminds us what it's like to see an actress go to work when she has a juicy role to play.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

This film was shown last night on UK TV. Unfortunately I missed the first 20 minutes or so but the rest was so good I feel it is still worth commenting on. The film centres around the different reactions of two sisters to their mother's death - don't however get the… More
This film was shown last night on UK TV. Unfortunately I missed the first 20 minutes or so but the rest was so good I feel it is still worth commenting on. The film centres around the different reactions of two sisters to their mother's death - don't however get the impression that this is a film to be endured rather than enjoyed. Although the subject matter is serious and the film very emotionally moving, there are flashes of humour throughout and it is not boringly earnest for one moment. I read somewhere that the director is an admirer of Mike Leigh's "Naked". While it is no poor relation, if you appreciate the work of Mike Leigh you would probably also enjoy "Under the Skin".