Review of The Skin I Live In (2011) by John R P — 05 May 2012

The movie's official site, including previews, doesn't prepare you for all the taboos, ethics and moral standards this film is unafraid to break through. The story is oh, so unpredictable! It has special effects that makes the gruesome scenes realistic, like nothing I've seen before. The aesthetic imagery contrasts with the psychologically horrific moments. Take a minute to read the official movie's advisories on sex, nudity, violence, gore, profanity and intense scenes; then you probably will not want to see it, or, like me, you will be eager to see if all of it is as extreme as it is depicted to be. I think it's close enough.

How director Pedro Almodvar manages to make all of it make sense, even the bioethics arguments, is a tribute to his skills, I just discovered. Antonio Banderas plays a mad genius surgeon with a complex obsession; an obsession you think is one thing but turns out (about half way into the film) to be wildly different than what you expected. And not only is it different, it pushes the boundaries much further. This film may well revive his reputation with the discerning movie enthusiasts. I had not truly enjoyed a film of his for I don't know how long.

Elena Anaya, whose beauty I discovered watching the 2010 erotic drama (nowhere is it written it's erotic, but I know what I saw) "Room In Rome", still manages to captivate me. I trust more people wanted to see this movie because of her starring role. I'm not about to forget this movie; I would not recommend it to people who aren't very open minded and don't have a strong stomach. One of the reason I watch an inordinate number of movies, is to catch rare birds like this one; it makes my movie going experience worth the wait.