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Cold Skin

Play trailer 1:46 Poster for Cold Skin 2018 1h 36m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
50% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
On the edge of the Antarctic Circle, a ship approaches a desolate island, far from all shipping lanes. On board is a young man who is on his way to assume the post of weather observer and live in solitude at the end of the earth. He finds no trace of the man he has been sent to replace, just a deranged castaway who has witnessed a horror he refuses to name. For the next twelve months, his entire world will consist of a deserted cabin, trees, rocks, silence and the surrounding sea.
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Cold Skin

Cold Skin

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Critics Consensus

Cold Skin exerts a strong visual pull, even if all that icy atmosphere isn't a truly satisfying substitute for a story that dares to go somewhere different.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle 09/06/2018
3/5
Somehow [Gens] turns the vacation destination of Lanzarote into the ends of the Earth, and you'll feel that chill on your soul. Go to Full Review
Kristy Puchko Pajiba 08/01/2018
Cold Skin doesn't have anywhere satisfying to go or anything fresh to say. Go to Full Review
Dennis Harvey Variety 07/26/2018
The actors... invest their roles with conviction and craft, even if the story ultimately doesn't quite reward such seriousness of approach. Go to Full Review
Dave Golder Radio Times 10/16/2023
3/5
While the film is genuinely horrific at times, some underwhelming special effects occasionally blight the exquisite imagery. The story, too, falls flat, with few surprises and little to ultimately say about war or the human condition. Go to Full Review
Emilie Black Cinema Crazed 04/11/2020
3.5/5
Cold Skin is a beautiful dark film that feels like it unfortunately is missing something story-wise for it all to be absolutely fascinating. The acting and practical effects show great talent ... Go to Full Review
Víctor López G. Espinof 08/08/2019
It is doomed to lie in that limbo of productions that, despite having a good number of elements in its favor, can fall into a sad oblivion fueled by its lack of "ground". [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Logan D 6h A young weather observer (David Oakes) arrives on an isolated South Atlantic island to find a gruff lighthouse caretaker (Ray Stephenson) keeping secrets. Loved the rugged setting of this film and the ideas. I almost didn't recognize Stephenson, his character's personality reflecting the harsh environment. The execution is a bit clumsy and it won't go down as one of my favorite Lovecraftian films but I did enjoy it. See more Mica B @Mica_B 1d It was very interesting at first, but unfortunately, the longer it went on, the more flawed it became. There was barely any story to this, and the little that there was, wasn't explained, leaving many questions unanswered. Overall, it just wasn't good storytelling. The whole movie lacked character backstory for our main character called "Friend" and the one other guy on the island who is very obviously insane at the beginning called "Gruner." Sure, maybe it's meant to be like that to add mystery, but they don't give any to "Friend" later on, and they give "Gruner" the smallest bit ever that just adds more questions that are left unanswered by the end. And character development? Well, to be honest, you probably can't do much for a movie that's a one and done type of film that's pretty much about extreme loneliness and isolation, but yeah, that's pretty much non-existent as well. At the beginning when "Friend" was in the weatherman cabin, I thought we finally had another smart horror protagonist, but once he's at the lighthouse with Gruner, all of that go out the window. I was expecting more "Lovecraftian" than this, but the fish people were underwhelming, and so was the set location. Another thing this movie suffers from is repetitiveness. It's almost the same thing over and over for like half (or more) of the movie. It really started to drag on. This wasn't a scary horror movie. There was only one jumpscare and maybe a couple unsettling scenes. The ending was underwhelming and a bit ambiguous. I suppose the actors were pretty good. It was just the story and the lack of answers that made me disappointed with this. I was really hoping this was going to be a hidden gem. See more Joel P Apr 17 Yeah, I can't really recommend it. It lacks that quality in a movie that makes you say: "Man, I can't wait to watch that again". It is a waste of time. Watch "The Descent" instead (or again) if you want to see a creature(s) movie. See more Cameron M @ff2327 Mar 28 So much better than I was led to believe. This is Lovecraft without the nihilism and it goes down smoothly. See more E. C @IzzyB68 10/13/2024 Without ruining anything specific, I feel that this movie 'wants' to be more than it is. If you are seeking in-your-face action & horror, you'll likely be disappointed. (I was the 1st time I saw it.) When I watched it again, it was without those expectations, & I truly liked it. Characteristic of the 'Us v. Them' theme prevailing throughout, this story reveals the cold, dank & sometimes dreadful aspects of what it is to be human. See more Will S 04/10/2024 I loved it, so immersive. See more Read all reviews
Cold Skin

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Movie Info

Synopsis On the edge of the Antarctic Circle, a ship approaches a desolate island, far from all shipping lanes. On board is a young man who is on his way to assume the post of weather observer and live in solitude at the end of the earth. He finds no trace of the man he has been sent to replace, just a deranged castaway who has witnessed a horror he refuses to name. For the next twelve months, his entire world will consist of a deserted cabin, trees, rocks, silence and the surrounding sea.
Director
Xavier Gens
Producer
Mark Albela, Denise O'Dell
Screenwriter
Jesús Olmo, Eron Sheean
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 7, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 7, 2018
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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