Searching for meaning in Under The Skin is very difficult. It's not that there is no meaning to the film, rather it is up to the audience to find their own interpretation of the film, much like when you watch 2001: A Space Odyssey for the fiftieth time and think you understand it.
There is no real plot as such. Rather it is a series of events that fluidly evolve into each other. Scarlett Johansson plays an alien who has taken the body of an attractive young woman. She drives around the Scottish highways luring in young men whose flesh she harvests. After an encounter with a deformed man, she becomes more conscious of her human form.
This film is littered with beautiful and very Kubrickian imagery. There are beautiful shots of the Scottish countryside to masterfully crafted interiors of the alien's all black and extremely reflective lair. The nighttime road scenes are also amazing to look at.
Johansson's performance is chilling and captivating. Although most of the film is without dialogue, she uses her gaze to convey a variety of emotions, from seductive glances at her prey to distant stares at her own body. Through these looks we really get an insight into the characters thought process.
Verdict: Although a very minimalist film in terms of story, Under The Skin is breathtaking and thought-provoking.
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