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Under the Skin
Under the Skin
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Under the Skin

Under the Skin

2014
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 48m
A mysterious young woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. (imdb)

Directed by:

Jonathan Glazer

Screenwriter:

Jonathan Glazer, Walter Campbell, Michel Faber

Starring:

Scarlett Johansson, Krystof Hádek, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Joe Szula, Paul Brannigan, Jessica Mance, Scott Dymond, Michael Moreland, Adam Pearson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lee Fanning, Lynsey Taylor Mackay

Genres:

Drama, Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller, Horror

Countries:

UK, USA

Language:

English
imdb IMDb
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Under the Skin

2014
Drama, Sci-fi
1h 48m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 54.68% from 3409 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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paxtonPaxton
Rated 25 May 2014
84
81st
Strikingly beautiful, entrancing, busty. Oh, sorry, that last one wasn't about the cinematography. Slow moving but never exactly dull, there's a lot of unstated development. I highly recommend coupling this with a second feature of Over the Top. Both involve a lot of driving and since you can't understand a word Stallone says, there's almost as little dialogue to get in the way.
Rated 25 May 2014
theficionadotheficionado
Rated 06 Jun 2014
100
97th
Half Kubrickian aloofness, half Cronenbergian insectile intelligence. Johansson is humanity's dark mirror, converting the indelibly human -- curiosity, compunction, compassion ("You have beautiful hands") -- into something altogether alien & terrifying. The aesthetic clash of naturalism & sci-fi hypernaturalism embodies the struggle of Johansson herself, as she becomes infected with humanity (and the intro suggests this isnt the 1st time). Befitting its title, it gets under your skin & stays there
Rated 06 Jun 2014
beedubBeeDub
Rated 31 Dec 2023
88
74th
A nice little abstinence PSA for young men.
Rated 31 Dec 2023
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 21 Jul 2014
6
98th
The clinical detachment of Kubrick wedded to the psychosexual horror of Alien and the abstract retro-futurist aesthetic of Beyond the Black Rainbow, in service of an alien(ating) exploration of what it means to be a flesh-and-blood human/woman, for better (compassion, curiosity, intimacy) and worse (distrust/hostility, pain and suffering), made by a director with a singular vision and an aesthetic mastery of his medium: in short, the kind of film that makes me love films.
Rated 21 Jul 2014
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 07 Jul 2014
86
93rd
Being baked as a potato might have had something to do with it, but parts of this movie absolutely terrified me. It doesn't spell out a lot to the viewer, instead drawing us in with hypnotic visuals, unnerving ambient soundscapes and an atmosphere so thick you can cut it. The themes of empathy, survival and what it means to be human are always engaging and take the story in a fascinating direction. So many moments that will stick with me for a while... An apt title indeed.
Rated 07 Jul 2014
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 20 Apr 2014
96
94th
Visually sumptuous and gorgeously scored, Under The Skin is likely to be the most haunting, cerebral film of the year. It is told with a steady, glacial tone that never wavers; yet, it never loses any bit of the gradual momentum or intoxicating mystery it spins for the viewer. Johansson played the role of detached-yet-curious alien perfectly, making her eventual transition from clinical seduction to a very human desire for connection all the more believable. My favorite film of 2014 so far.
Rated 20 Apr 2014
kasperlKasperL
Rated 19 Jul 2014
80
86th
The audiovisuals are through the roof amazing. I'd have preferred slightly less abstraction, but - along with his technical proficiency - the audacious originality of Glazer's oddball docu-arthouse-meets-genre pic has me standing first in line for whatever he conjures up next. Even if it means "putting up with" more tasteful nudity.
Rated 19 Jul 2014
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 19 Apr 2014
87
87th
Remember when Beyond the Black Rainbow tried to be the ultimate mindfuck hybrid of Kubrick and Cronenberg but ended up falling short? This is the movie we all hoped that would be, plus much more. Actually, at it's best (which is often) it's far closer to Sombre or Morvern Callar, so much so that the more overtly Kubrick-ian sci-fi bits feel almost superfluous (although they are often visually pretty "cool"). Johannson is nothing short of a revelation here, between this and Her this is her year.
Rated 19 Apr 2014
terrymacterrymac
Rated 16 Jul 2014
79
81st
I'm glad BFI/Film4 are continuing to produce these leftfield efforts. An unsettling, ambiguous effort, underpinned by a nicely understated central performance from Johannson. Perhaps not the easiest watch; explanations are rarely forthcoming, and sparse/implied when they are. The direction is clean and tidy, the cinematography works well, and the score is subtly effective. An ambitious work, probably not for everyone, but one which I rather enjoyed. Be interesting to see what Glazer does next.
Rated 16 Jul 2014
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 29 Jun 2014
10
97th
(2nd viewing) With the barest of bones in terms of clunky exposition and hackneyed dialogue, Glazer's visually indelible odyssey is one of those rare meditations on the human condition that modern cinema so seldom offers. Ripe with a sense of hopeful disillusionment, the futility of our character's benevolence becomes gradually apparent as she's eventually, if not ironically confronted with the tragic reality of our thankless and debased humanity. Sublime piece of filmmaking.
Rated 29 Jun 2014
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 22 Apr 2014
9
90th
UNDER THE SKIN seems to play with the idea of a woman having a body without a voice. When this woman is on the prowl, men looking for some quick action couldn't care less about her lack of a voice, and go straight for the body (and they meet a hilarious and bizarre end), but as the narrative progresses things become more complicated. She meets the lonely, she meets the disfigured, and as a result begins to develop a sympathy for humanity that ultimately makes her vulnerable.
Rated 22 Apr 2014
ytadelYtadel
Rated 31 Jul 2014
0
0th
Species as remade by a talentless film school sophomore.
Rated 31 Jul 2014
seethruskinSeethruskin
Rated 18 May 2014
5
81st
I've never been so eager to contribute to the delirious overrating of a new movie.
Rated 18 May 2014
juntakinte99juntakinte99
Rated 15 Aug 2021
87
77th
This is a perfect film if you're out for a creepy mood that doesn't try to force feed you too much exposition. Many filmmakers attempt a Kubrick style, but Glazer nails it by being off kilter in his examination of a dehumanizing theme. And all the technical components work; including an eerie music score & Johansson's stilted performance. I have a minor complaint with how quiet the picture becomes at times. But it makes up for that with a late emotional scene and a stunning ending. Recommended.
Rated 15 Aug 2021
ludvigsenludvigsen
Rated 22 Jul 2014
80
86th
A film light on answers wrapped in strong visuals, would normally be an easy target for the "form over content" critique. Glazer however gets the balance right, and guides the audience with a bleak tone and utterly thrilling and captivating sequences. The random beach encounter scene especially will hold you from blinking, start to finish.
Rated 22 Jul 2014
three-questions_ii???
Rated 12 Jul 2014
39
23rd
Rocket number 9, take off to the planet, ~to the planet~, PENIS
Rated 12 Jul 2014
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 05 Jul 2014
5
73rd
"... this isn't tesco, is it."
Rated 05 Jul 2014
riverriversRiverRivers
Rated 16 Apr 2014
86
90th
I found this incredibly engaging throughout. A very haunting film. Definitely got under my skin, and then some. I'll be thinking about this film for days. And several scenes will stick with me for a very long time. I find it interesting that the things I loved most about the film are the same things many people hated about it.
Rated 16 Apr 2014
wezzoWezzo
Rated 31 Mar 2014
95
93rd
Unsettling and horrifying, like the bastard brainchild of David Lynch, Scott Graham of rural Scotch drama Shell, and that one nightmare that you just can't shake, the one you fear will haunt your subsconcious for decades to come. The eerie, beautiful acoustics are the highlight: there's one key music sequence that plays multiple times throughout the movie, it's the greatest marriage of soundtrack and visuals since the Twin Peaks love theme. But that's merely the bow on a deliciously dark package
Rated 31 Mar 2014
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 08 Nov 2015
92
93rd
A hypnotic soundtrack and lovingly shot Scottish countryside bolster the skeletal (and, to a Southern Californian, often inscrutable) script, and the competing art-house/documentary modes kept me guessing whether I was watching hard sci-fi or pure surrealism. A sordid first half gives way to a gorgeous final act that goes primal and alludes heavily to classical greek elements, all reveling in naked anonymity. Manages to leave me with a warm feeling despite being a huge downer.
Rated 08 Nov 2015
chemical404chemical404
Rated 08 Dec 2014
36
19th
I know it's not the case with Glazer, but this film has this 'oooh, I just graduated from film school and I am artiste' vibe that I really dislike. Upstream Color and Another Earth are another examples of this type of film. It's just slow, annoying, plotless and pointless film that tries too hard. Frankly I find the popularity and praise this film gets baffling. I suspect it's all about Johanssons butt?
Rated 08 Dec 2014
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Oct 2014
60
63rd
A very abstracted science fictional examination of the predatory and nightmarish aspects of contemporary sexuality. Much effort has been expended in audio and visual design, and indeed in casting, but the whole "learning to feel, and hence to become more human, and hence vulnerable" theme is a rather tired and unexciting narrative journey. Yet while the storytelling is undoubtedly minimalist, the aesthetic effect does seem to be delivered hypodermically, and hence in the form of an après-coup.
Rated 14 Oct 2014
shauny18shauny18
Rated 21 Jul 2014
23
2nd
You are either going to love or hate this film. I found it incredibly dull that had nothing in its plot to captivate its audience. It felt like I was watching some student art film who just got lucky that one of Hollywoods biggest stars agreed to play the lead role. The only reason people will talk about this film is because Scarlett Johansson gets completely naked in a scene. Mostly you will end up questionning why you have wasted 108 minutes of your life watching it.
Rated 21 Jul 2014
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 03 Jul 2014
85
86th
Species with a lil bit of class
Rated 03 Jul 2014
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 01 Jul 2014
99
96th
A deep, dark, incomparable atmosphere permeates this little masterpiece, littered with moments that nearly made me vomit with joy and that stand up there with some of the most remarkable and disquieting in cinema. I watched this two days ago and I'm still hard.
Rated 01 Jul 2014
thegreyfoxthegreyfox
Rated 06 Apr 2014
84
81st
A film I knew nothing about, but one that gripped me completely. This is a film that doesn't answer any questions, but rather, asks them. Not, thankfully, in a "What the hell is going on?" Lynchian way, but one that gets you thinking about the allegorical questions it raises for days afterwards. Aided by a brilliantly unnerving sound track, and a spot on performance from SJ, this is a film that, apart from a couple of "cop out" scenes which revert to mainstream cinema, so nearly gets it perfect
Rated 06 Apr 2014
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 29 Mar 2016
60
48th
Has some really pretty shots, and Scarlett isnt bad, but I personally would've liked more explained. When it finally gets spooky and interesting, it never continues on that path, and felt really disappointing to me. On another note though: dicks.
Rated 29 Mar 2016
cocoramirezCocoRamirez
Rated 08 Feb 2016
25
2nd
Well that's 108 minutes I'll never get back, what a waste of time. This movie is just crazy and stupid and very irritating! I get that it's supposed to be an artsy fartsy film and that a lot of weird heads like it a lot. But it's just really not my taste. And it doesn't even help that Scarlett Johansson is naked in a lot of scenes. She's actually not that hot as an alien, sorry
Rated 08 Feb 2016
kojilessKojiless
Rated 22 Oct 2015
80
85th
A wonderfully miserable film in which a megalocephalic loner proves to be humanity's most beautiful creation and Scarlett Johannson shows us again that she's at her best when playing something non-human.
Rated 22 Oct 2015
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 13 Oct 2015
4
52nd
the second half was an utter catastrophe. what a disappointment. the greatest waste of potential i've ever seen.
Rated 13 Oct 2015
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 27 Apr 2015
1
12th
r/im14andthisisdeep
Rated 27 Apr 2015
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 05 Mar 2015
85
91st
Scarlett Johansson plays an alien who takes the form of a seductress to prey on men in Scotland, providing a fascinating lens through which to view the human experience. It's a brilliant high-concept yet sparse sci-fi that explains absolutely nothing about the fantastical things it shows you but leaves little doubt about its intentions. The subtly ominous sound design is superb. Scarlett gives a riveting performance, and she doesn't look half bad naked, either.
Rated 05 Mar 2015
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 21 Feb 2015
5
93rd
An abstract metaphor on urban alienation, perhaps skewed with gender subtext but ultimately more complicated than being simply an allegory about the plight of women. Nevermind what it's all about, though. It inspires sheer curiosity with its elusive and captivating energy, short on dialogue but full of hallucinatory imagery.
Rated 21 Feb 2015
daphnlDaph_NL
Rated 30 Nov 2014
11
1st
I just ranked Starred Up as the worst movie I have seen in a while, but I judged too quickly. Under The Skin is the worst movie I have seen in a while... 11/100.
Rated 30 Nov 2014
amirmovieamirmovie
Rated 26 Nov 2014
65
8th
Except for breathtaking views of Scotland landscapes, the movie is completely waste of time. even scarlette's body can't make the movie.
Rated 26 Nov 2014
therealj_roTheRealJ-Ro
Rated 18 Nov 2014
80
70th
I don't think the first 15 minutes of a movie has ever confused me this much and drawn me all at once. I mean I know what's going on but everything is so surreal, and it's filmed and presented in this cool retro way, with the camerawork and ambient soundtrack; it sets a real atmosphere which I think is probably vital to a film like this. This director doesn't work very much (3 features in 14 years) but establishes a style here that really makes his movie stand out. Slow, but worth experiencing.
Rated 18 Nov 2014
woodoowoodoo
Rated 07 Oct 2014
90
82nd
Brilliant touch, reversing the typical alien POV scenario by making the humans a bunch of Glasgewegian mutants. A man-catcher drone glitches out, craving the warmth of funny apes.
Rated 07 Oct 2014
kurochocoleKurochocole
Rated 16 Jul 2014
65
11th
Excellent film editing and cinematography. Meticulous use of CGI accompanied by eerie soundtrack evokes the abstractness of the film. It's a shame that the plot is underdeveloped and the pacing is slightly slow.
Rated 16 Jul 2014
cgcorecgcore
Rated 07 Jul 2014
43
19th
tries to get hypnotic, but looks horse shit more likely.
Rated 07 Jul 2014
supergloosupergloo
Rated 06 Jul 2014
7
38th
The first half of this movie will make you think you're watching something truly great. Unfortunately, by the time the film's over, that thought will have more or less evaporated.
Rated 06 Jul 2014
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 06 Jul 2014
95
91st
Fascinating creation is impossible to classify (and even harder to grasp) but its ambiguous, impenetrable narrative provides a fascinating framework to consider what humanity really means (especially as viewed from an outsider). Johansson's teasingly obscure characterisation marks her finest work to date; brilliant decision to film her interactions with fellow cast mates as improvised acting exercises. Marriage of offbeat sound and cinematography equal parts unique, original and disturbing.
Rated 06 Jul 2014
burkayadaligburkayadalig
Rated 03 Jul 2014
30
2nd
I had to stop it in 20 minutes... Good luck to everyone who wishes to see it
Rated 03 Jul 2014
gideonGideon
Rated 27 Jun 2014
2
59th
Overrated, that much is clear.
Rated 27 Jun 2014
matthew_parkinsonMatthew Parkinson
Rated 29 May 2014
90
97th
Under the Skin is likely going to be a polarizing film. It's a visual marvel and a thinking-man's best friend, but for some it's going to be too slow and repetitive. Different people might come away from it with vastly different interpretations of what it has to say, but for me, it's a treat to watch a movie like this. It has a lot of depth, some great acting, unique visuals, and interesting themes and topics to discuss afterward. It's not one you're going to forget about any time soon.
Rated 29 May 2014
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 21 May 2014
90
85th
Unforgettable imagery. The overall tone is off balance and at times terrifying. The repetition doesn't hurt it, either as it purports ritual leading into a strange evolution.
Rated 21 May 2014
dougiedDougieD
Rated 10 Sep 2013
80
54th
Jonathan Glazer's follow-up to the under-appreciated Birth is a cerebral experience detailing an alien's attempt to survive in Scotland in the skin of a human. Glazer makes no attempt to explain the hows and whys of the story and just shows the alien's routine. Under the Skin won't be for everyone, but those patient enough to sit through the film might find themselves sucked into its harsh world. The visuals are haunting and the soundtrack exudes the film with an otherworldly quality.
Rated 10 Sep 2013
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 09 Sep 2013
100
99th
A truly unique cinematic experience unlike any other. It was alienating at first (as it should be), but it haunted me for days until I came around to it. The astounding cinematography helped.
Rated 09 Sep 2013
quintonjaminQuintonjamin
Rated 29 Apr 2020
10
2nd
WTF? No, thank you. These were my continuous thoughts throughout this film.
Rated 29 Apr 2020
braddad68braddad68
Rated 07 Aug 2018
90
52nd
Though very light on dialogue, it's visually mesmerizing, unique and intense.
Rated 07 Aug 2018
tjlmovfrks23TjlMovFrks23
Rated 24 Jul 2018
90
82nd
A truly one-of-a-kind Sci-Fi tale from Jonathan Glazer who clearly tried to redefine the genre. Some people have compared this experimental film with Kubrick's space odyssey for a good reason. Long takes and wide shots applied to capture the narrative purely through visual. Hence, the intriguing atmosphere complements the main siren of the story. Johansson gave it all and the result is perhaps her strongest act since Lost in Translation.
Rated 24 Jul 2018
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 27 Nov 2017
51
8th
An utter failure as a sci-fi movie, it explains next to nothing and barely has a story in there. What it does have is weird and pretty images, a weird and pretty girl, and a handful of lines of dialog, often delivered by people with no background in acting. If it were a nobody in the spotlight, instead of Johansson, and they were fully clothed throughout, I doubt I'd even rate it above thirty. Shows you how important pretty people are to me.
Rated 27 Nov 2017
jlewisjlewis
Rated 24 Feb 2016
90
83rd
In which aliens learn about human customs such as cake, taking busses and eating beans on toast in front of the telly.
Rated 24 Feb 2016
smilkstasmilksta
Rated 31 Jan 2016
55
20th
Maybe the catch of this movie is that no one is going to catch it. I bet Glazer was thinking something when he did this. Next time please oh please tell us what. The difference between the novel and the movie is that the novel is readable and the movie is indecipherable. I genuinely hoped that she's some chaotic evil serial killer. Why the bleakness and pointless nothingness?
Rated 31 Jan 2016
nobletNoblet
Rated 20 Jan 2016
86
87th
I haven't felt this disturbed by a film in a long time. That one sequence mid-way through the film is an all-time great scene.
Rated 20 Jan 2016
okayfrogokayfrog
Rated 31 Oct 2015
65
62nd
Oddly enough, this film reminded me of Taxi Driver in that both have first halves that are slow-moving but surprisingly engaging. The alien rides around Scotland, leading men who speak some form of English I could hardly understand to their doom and it becomes increasingly haunting. Little is said and it allows the viewer to paint their own picture of what is going on. Then the alien begins to wonder what it's like to be human and we get a rather ho-hum second half. A real shame.
Rated 31 Oct 2015
ebelcEbelC
Rated 31 Aug 2015
20
8th
* 2015: Probable Score 70... sure. I've seen many commentaries and critics saying one of the best sci-fi ever, masterpiece, perfect, Kubrick-like... My bet: in 10 years nobody will remember this and it won't appear in anyone's Top 10 or even Top 25 sci-fi films. Less likely will appear in any list without genre or someone would spontaneously talk about it. Just my bet. * 2018: Probable score changed to 60. It's already wearing out.
Rated 31 Aug 2015
goldblumingGoldbluming
Rated 02 Aug 2015
63
26th
repetitive. kept waiting for something to happen differently. kept waiting for their to be a point. kept waiting for something to engage me.
Rated 02 Aug 2015
boriajboriaj
Rated 03 Jun 2015
50
18th
Not enough story content for an almost 2h movie. Well, at least it has naked Scarlett Johanson.
Rated 03 Jun 2015
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 27 May 2015
50
4th
Some memorable images & a disconcerting ending aren't enough to forgive the lugubrious, repetitive trek that precedes it, as Glazer takes 2 hours to tell a "story" that should take no longer than 30 minutes. He does leave out plenty of details to make it all more "dream-like" & give the more pretentious plenty to read into - if you're into that kind of thing. Anyone interested in something more than a visual haiku however, look elsewhere, or fast forward through it.
Rated 27 May 2015
letskillrobotsletskillrobots
Rated 25 Mar 2015
27
81st
Going to have a hard time hanging out with Scarlett Johannson after seeing this.
Rated 25 Mar 2015
panomadgreekpanomadgreek
Rated 15 Feb 2015
48
8th
Tedious. There are some interesting good scenes/moments but it just doesn't work, the themes and ideas it touches on don't get explored, there's no narrative, no engagement and well it just ends up being boring. Feels a bit like a mediocre student film, but longer, much longer
Rated 15 Feb 2015
misterlizardmisterlizard
Rated 29 Jan 2015
10
12th
Might have been OK as a 10-min film school student remake of Species (with the bonus being that I'd probably never have to see it). Just because a film has an ambient soundtrack and lots of lingering scenic shots (to make up for the fact nothing is happing) doesn't make it worthy of critical acclaim; they just make it boring and pretentious. Comparisons to Kubrick are just...no.
Rated 29 Jan 2015
lauftLäuft.
Rated 01 Jan 2015
24
4th
Failed at everything and thanks for destroying my imagination of scarlett naked
Rated 01 Jan 2015
ar656ar656
Rated 22 Dec 2014
10
0th
Terrible. One of the worst movies I have seen in my entire life.
Rated 22 Dec 2014
twincinematwincinema
Rated 20 Dec 2014
85
85th
A beautiful, slow-moving, haunting film that ensnares you in its spell. One of the few films that I have wanted to re-watch immediately after the film ended.
Rated 20 Dec 2014
oretyo_rety
Rated 09 Nov 2014
10
0th
Way too artsy-farsty for it's own good. Also sick and morbid and deadly serious about it. Maybe there's some brilliant resolution at the end (as much as I doubt it) about which I won't tell you anything as I haven't ever got there. It was too fucking painful not to hit the stop button after the excruciating 45 minutes I endured.
Rated 09 Nov 2014
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 07 Nov 2014
30
12th
This year's Upstream Color. A one thousand piece puzzle that I'm not interested in putting together, especially if it means once again watching a half-reformed psychopathic alien get immolated. Ceaseless images, characters, situations, and even colors are either opaque metaphors, or completely useless. I get to just make up my own meaning. These kind of intellectual, "hypnotic", inscrutable picture shows do less and less for me with each passing day. I feel more alone...great.
Rated 07 Nov 2014
alberteAlbertE
Rated 30 Oct 2014
0
10th
bullshit!
Rated 30 Oct 2014
livLiv
Rated 29 Oct 2014
10
0th
Awful movie, no point in watching, loss of time.
Rated 29 Oct 2014
henrikHenrik
Rated 18 Oct 2014
90
96th
Fascinating, dark, deep and atmospheric study of mankind, our feelings and our bodies, as if done by an alien anthropologist ... with a taste for flesh.
Rated 18 Oct 2014
johnd11JohnD11
Rated 15 Sep 2014
20
2nd
15 just for Scarlet's boobs, the other 5 for .. not sure for what. I watched it expecting sci-fi movie. well .. fi was present. sci not really. Disturbing movie with no answers and explanations.
Rated 15 Sep 2014
yiannosYiannos
Rated 17 Aug 2014
68
66th
Effective to a point, but there just aren't enough ideas to sustain a feature, even if it does use the sci-fi genre quite intelligently to raise questions about what it means to be human. Its appeal largely rests on the viewer's response to Scarlett's 'sexiness', and admittedly she performs better here than usual, but the formal aspects have been overpraised, even if they are commendable. The seduction scenes with the black backdrop are quite memorable though.
Rated 17 Aug 2014
chadisdangerchadisdanger
Rated 04 Aug 2014
90
95th
Bold, haunting and beautiful cinema. I'm not saying anything new by comparing this (or "Birth", for that matter) to Kubrick, but it fits, from Glazer's detached tone and stunning imagery to Johansson's quiet, unnerving performance. The best sci-fi dares to answer the biggest questions, and this appears to be prodding at nothing less than what humanity (and more specifically, sexuality and the body) consists of. But even setting lofty content aside, this is a transfixing cinematic experience.
Rated 04 Aug 2014
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 28 Jul 2014
65
47th
I understood the premise, it's a great looking flick, and it held my attention throughout (Scarlett is pretty good), but by the end I think I let out a hearty "alright then".
Rated 28 Jul 2014
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 23 Jul 2014
70
36th
What.
Rated 23 Jul 2014
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 22 Jul 2014
40
19th
From the synopsis I was expecting some kind of perversion of The Man Who Fell To Earth, which had me very excited. Instead, sorry, but the first hour of this movie is like watching paint dry. There are some interesting visuals, but they're placed between some awfully tedious 15 minute scenes. I honestly wish I had started watching the movie at the 60 minute mark, because it slowly turns into a good movie. But I can't get past the first hour, which I found nearly unwatchable.
Rated 22 Jul 2014
dunetailsdunetails
Rated 12 Jul 2014
65
44th
I can't recommend this UNLESS you've read the book or the wiki frankly. Visually interesting, incredibly tense soundtrack, but glacial and with barely any dialogue. Biggest annoyance is another female protagonist threatened with rape and violence, it's like they couldn't think of an ending.
Rated 12 Jul 2014
patmanpatman
Rated 03 Jul 2014
43
14th
A surreal, mysterious and uncomfortable experience. Scarlett takes the form of an alien, set in Scotland. She picks up, seduces and kills lonely guys. But the more she learns about human nature, she changes. The movie is trying to look at our society with alien eyes, it challenges our perception of beauty. But personally I'm left with too many questions to appreciate what some might view as a masterpiece.
Rated 03 Jul 2014
guy-piranhaguy piranha
Rated 25 Jun 2014
90
98th
Aaaah humans. As soon as you take pity on one of them, you'll eventually get burned.
Rated 25 Jun 2014
superargoSuperargo
Rated 07 Jun 2014
88
91st
Visually sumptuous. Meditative. An intoxicating puzzle to be solved. Sometimes impenetrable, but I grooved on it pretty heavily. It's a trip. Johansson's eloquently, movingly blank-faced performance deserves awards consideration, and if the film's awfully damn difficult to parse at times, Glazer succeeds in conveying how INTIMIDATING, how OVERWHELMING, how ALIEN movies can still sometimes be. Strong stuff, the likes of which we probably won't encounter again all year.
Rated 07 Jun 2014
xacviantxacviant
Rated 01 May 2014
77
43rd
An alien assuming human form (Scarlett Johansson) arrives in Glasgow and lures young men to their deaths (by some kind of harvesting). The alien begins to develop empathy and tries to live a human life, but that is easier said than done. Brilliantly shot by Daniel Landin and score by Mica Levi, with some marvelous sequences, but the overall effect is somewhat heavy and calculated, and it rarely achieves the sort of abstract freedom it seems to seek. Johansson is good but has little to work with.
Rated 01 May 2014
pluggedinPluggedIN
Rated 20 Apr 2014
20
12th
This is a slow, surreal dreamscape composed of abstract visuals, long, unmoving close-ups and intrusive images of shadow-shrouded nakedness. It's the kind of project that hard-core film critics and jaded English Lit majors seem to love because they can assign nearly any meaning they want to what they've seen onscreen. (pluggedin.com)
Rated 20 Apr 2014
sidehackersidehacker
Rated 20 Apr 2014
83
86th
I swear, if you take away all the trippy stuff (and that forced "jarring" music) you basically have a Naruse film. Maybe that's a little bit of a reach, but here's a film whose science-fiction surface is basically just a setup/explanation for something that is really obviously about being a woman. It feels maddeningly slight and under-explained, but Johansson's "origins" or whatever are not really necessary as what we see her experience.
Rated 20 Apr 2014
ottott
Rated 28 Oct 2023
75
68th
i like it, it not about this one thing like rape or women or predjudice or poverty or survaillance but a complex open ended something, could this be even better as a video? an installation? what is under the skin of anyone is left a mystery
Rated 28 Oct 2023
sfgse83rf3sfgse83rf3
Rated 03 Mar 2023
4
90th
Starts very strange and surreal, but the plot is eventually revealed -- bit by bit. It's very good.
Rated 03 Mar 2023
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 22 Mar 2021
75
89th
Seen: 2. After being lukewarm to this movie six years ago, I vowed to see it again someday. And I am glad I did. It is ultimately a study of humanity, good and bad. It is a cold, calculated mystery all the way through. Some elements are severely undercooked, but that sort of plays into the mystery of it all. This movie exists in a weird place, as it is a very good movie for those patient enough, but it is a very hard one to recommend fully.
Rated 22 Mar 2021
calexicoCalexico
Rated 22 Aug 2020
90
91st
Mesmerizing. Visually and sonically masterful. Surprisingly poignant too.
Rated 22 Aug 2020
king_zazvorking zazvor
Rated 15 Mar 2020
90
93rd
I'm thinking of it as the best music video I've ever seen.
Rated 15 Mar 2020
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 08 Dec 2019
60
63rd
okay movie
Rated 08 Dec 2019
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 21 Nov 2019
60
32nd
This film left me feeling a lot of things but probably the most unforgettable thing is that it unironically used darude - sandstorm in a nightclub scene
Rated 21 Nov 2019
tinychristinychris
Rated 09 Nov 2019
17
96th
Really liked the mica levi soundtrack
Rated 09 Nov 2019
roymovtomarsRoyMovToMars
Rated 27 Aug 2019
85
81st
Sweeping and squeezing your attention and puzzlment
Rated 27 Aug 2019
treeoflifetreeoflife
Rated 04 Jun 2019
92
95th
What it's like to be seen as a woman while trying to be a human? It's not fun and it ain't pretty.
Rated 04 Jun 2019
jetsetsoulJetSetSoul
Rated 02 Feb 2019
100
90th
My all-time favorite film. Inventive art study on gendering and how it shapes the human experience.
Rated 02 Feb 2019
hotsakehotsake
Rated 11 Nov 2018
70
75th
Scarlett Johansson is good in this in fact her normally wooden acting really suites the character. The score, editing and direction are the strongest parts of the movie and establishes the tone much better then special effects could've.
Rated 11 Nov 2018
metalhankmetalhank
Rated 10 Apr 2018
89
99th
A great film that is truly appreciated by a rather small audience. It has a lot of sci-fi/fantasy elements while at the same time being quite an artsy movie. If you don't appreciate these styles you will not enjoy this flick. The stark rural, urban and fantasy settings are combined to make this a visually stunning film. Johansson is brave to take off the veil and really delve into her alien role. The music of the film is also so well done that it also deserves mention.
Rated 10 Apr 2018
supersuiSuperSui
Rated 25 Dec 2017
31
10th
I bet Casey Affleck took acting lessons from Scarlett Johansson for "A Ghost Story" because of this movie. Affleck:" Scarlett, how did you get the bland look on your face for this film" Scarlett:" It's like I'm acting nothing at all,...nothing at all...nothing at all" Stupid sexy Johanson
Rated 25 Dec 2017
lawlaw
Rated 04 Aug 2017
65
72nd
If I have to go to the internet to find out what your movie was about, you've failed on a fundamental storytelling level. I also didn't care for the self-indulgent overuse of slow-mo that could have been trimmed by half. Despite its significant faults, the movie's mesmerising and beautiful, probably almost entirely thanks to Scarlett Johansson, who delivers a magnetic performance as an alien doppelganger. Without her, this wouldn't have worked.
Rated 04 Aug 2017
angrypierreangrypierre
Rated 01 Feb 2017
81
77th
Jonathan Glazer puts together a visually arresting, atmospheric piece that answers no questions and remains caked in mystery. Like an art installation with the sole aim of fucking you up. Excellent.
Rated 01 Feb 2017
satsujinsatsujin
Rated 16 May 2016
6
10th
Becomes boring very soon. Maybe cos I had high expectations. I'm guessing the book is way better.
Rated 16 May 2016

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