Under the Skin (1997)

Featuring vertiginous handheld camera work with lurid colors and unsettling imagery, Under the Skin is a visceral film that is not particularly enjoyable to watch. Much of the movie is devoted to the emotional turmoil and suffering of Iris (Samantha Morton), who copes with grief over her mother's death and an erosion of her own sense of self by engaging in degrading sexual liaisons. The film seems to equate her sexual promiscuity with lack of self-respect and includes several sex scenes that are more depressing than erotic; one of her lovers urinates on her and we even see footage of her sexual activity juxtaposed with her mother's cremation. There isn't much fun in the voyeurism of watching this type of sordid sex, and the overly schematic plot seems, at times, like an endless parade of humiliation and abuse. However, the actors are so good that they provide a sense of coherence to the film. Samantha Morton gives a complex, emotionally naked performance as Iris that conveys her sweetness, vulnerability, and deep sense of longing as well as her compulsiveness, self-loathing, and occasional cruelty. Whether she's having phone sex or singing "Alone Again (Naturally)" at a nightclub, Morton manages to communicate a wealth of insight into Iris without ever stepping out of character or trying too hard to make her seem sympathetic. Claire Rushbrook is also excellent in a less ostentatious role; she conveys the complicated mixture of feelings that motivate Rose's behavior, including a need to feel in control as well as genuine love for her sister. Rita Tushingham is also good in a supporting role as their mother, and while some of the male roles aren't fleshed out, the actresses make the film worth watching. ~ Todd Kristel, All Movie Guide