Review of In My Skin (2002) by Luke S — 06 Aug 2010

After hearing a lot about this movie, I had myself braced for some terrifying images of self-mutilation. Come to find out that many of the most gruesome images are totally off camera. There is definitely some psychologic morbidness, though.

I kept thinking that maybe the character Esther could have potentially had a depersonalization disorder, where a person feels separate from their bodies as well as their emotions and environments. However, from what I've read from the director the main character is simply fascinated with the endurance and disfigurement of the human body.

Anyway, it made for an interesting fictional case study. I do not agree with the statement, albeit totally valid, that there was not enough focus shed on Esther's inner thinkings and motives. I believe that this placed the viewer in the confused and baffled position that those around Esther, and probably Esther herself at times, were in.

I like that the answer for why she acts so bizarrely is not made obviously known, for I don't even really think that it was clear to Esther either. However, there were some parts that seemed to be pointlessly bizarre, as in they didn't really add anything to the development of the character or the story (skin chips? wtf?).

Overall, I appreciate the tackling of the subject matter, but am left feeling like it could have been done much better.