Under the Skin
An alien predator moving through Scotland in a woman's body begins to experience humanity from the inside, with devastating consequences.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Labyrinthine
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- foreboding
- surreal
- late night viewing
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a visually stunning, deeply disturbing, singular work of arthouse science fiction, though some found its narrative too opaque and incoherent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The unnamed alien visitor observes and imitates human life while hunting men across Scotland.
The visitor inhabits a human female body and gradually confronts the vulnerability and meaning of physical humanity.
The film offers little explicit explanation of the alien's origin, mission, or otherworldly realm, relying on images and behavior.
The visitor lures isolated men through apparent sexual availability before subjecting them to an otherworldly process of consumption.
Films like Under the Skin, and why
The Man Who Fell to Earth
shares enigmatic arthouse science fiction, alienation, philosophical themes, and unsettling body transformation
Possession
shares surreal science fiction, fragmented identity, erotic menace, and disturbing visual abstraction
The Neon Demon
shares minimalist psychological horror, predatory ambiguity, and slow-building existential dread
The Lobster
shares alienated observation of human behavior, austere atmosphere, and unconventional science fiction storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonathan Glazer
- Release Date
- 2014-03-14
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (3953)
Cast
- Scarlett Johansson
- Jeremy McWilliams
- Lynsey Taylor Mackay
- Dougie McConnell
- Kevin McAlinden
- D. Meade
- Andrew Gorman
- Joe Szula
- Kryštof Hádek
- Roy Armstrong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Under the Skin about?
- An alien predator moving through Scotland in a woman's body begins to experience humanity from the inside, with devastating consequences.
- What is Under the Skin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Under the Skin as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as labyrinthine.
- Is Under the Skin violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Under the Skin as graphic.
- What did critics think of Under the Skin?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a visually stunning, deeply disturbing, singular work of arthouse science fiction, though some found its narrative too opaque and incoherent.
- Which films are like Under the Skin?
- Films with a similar feel include The Man Who Fell to Earth, Possession, The Neon Demon, and The Lobster.
- How long is Under the Skin?
- Under the Skin runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Under the Skin?
- In United States, Under the Skin streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
