Scarlett Johansson as a man-hunting alien: this film did not have its heyday. A look back at a unique science fiction film, which the press loved, and which nevertheless went unnoticed…
A science fiction film with Scarlett Johansson: we immediately think “blockbuster hit”? In theory yes, but in practice, Under the Skin, one of the most unusual films of the genre in the last ten years, was a box office failure when it was released in 2013 (in 2014 here). Despite its already “low” budget of $13 million, the film was only able to gross $5.8 million at the international box office.
And yet, the press, French in particular, liked it: rating the film 4 out of 5 on our site, one would have thought that this would have encouraged spectators to give the film a chance. Those who have done it, however, have had mixed opinions: some love it, others hate it. AlloCiné spectators, for example, were rather cautious about Jonathan Glazer’s third feature film (The Zone of Interest), giving it a low score of 2.6 out of 5…
But some movie buffs insist: the film is worth a watch and would even be quite simply a masterpiece. On the program, it is ultimately not a science fiction blockbuster but the odyssey of an extraterrestrial (Scarlett Johansson) who travels across Scotland to lure unsuspecting men into a trap that is as mysterious as it is visually stunning. The film, rather experimental, is difficult to describe, being truly – and we stay with the theme – a UFO.
For some people, Under the Skin sometimes reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, while Jonathan Glazer plays on the semi-documentary aspect of his project, while critics spoke of the project in 2014 as “one of the most exciting feature films of recent months” (Le Monde) or even a “fascinating film that questions the power of cinema” (Les Inrockuptibles).
Although it addresses important questions about the nature of humanity, Under the Skinloosely adapted from the novel by Michael Faber, The World Changer, provides no solution to most of its many puzzles – which can fascinate or downright frustrate. For Première, this is one of its strong points: “by getting rid of ultimately useless explanations, the director has refined the story to the point of bordering on abstraction. The result is a dive into a world of pure sensations, the result of an incredible harmony between image and sound.”
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At any rate, Under the Skin remains a daring undertaking, a film certainly unlike any other,”formally very beautiful, dark, surreal, confusing” as described here.
And for the record, originally, it was not Scarlett Johansson who was to play the main role… but Brad Pitt! After Jonathan Glazer rewrote the script, Gemma Arterton, Eva Green and Olivia Wilde were considered for the role but the studio only wanted to finance the film if a very big name was attached to the project. Fortunately, the Marvel star and interpreter of the legendary Black Widow was ready to experiment!
Now your turn? Ready to experience Under The Skin? If you haven’t already done so, we suggest you make up your own mind: the film is available for streaming on Filmo.