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Knives and Skin

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for Knives and Skin 2019 1h 52m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In the wake of a high school student's mysterious disappearance, a collective awakening seems to overcome the town's teenage girls -- gathering in force until it can no longer be contained.
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Knives and Skin

Knives and Skin

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Critics Consensus

Knives and Skin's daunting ambitions occasionally elude its grasp, but this remains a powerfully written and uniquely timely coming-of-age thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Cody Corrall Chicago Reader Carolyn is a martyr for Reeder's message-a complex and twisted commentary on the plights of human nature. Rated: 3/4 Dec 18, 2019 Full Review Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune Reeder is deadly serious about the film's themes of teenage girls' fears, desires and demons, though there's a fair amount of deadpan black comedy... Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 11, 2019 Full Review Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Social satire's strange sights and sounds are sure to stick with you. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 10, 2019 Full Review Julian Singleton Cinapse What makes Knives and Skin stand out from the shadow of its influences is in frustratingly short supply. Jul 12, 2025 Full Review C.H. Newell Father Son Holy Gore Knives and Skin tackles a number of heavy topics. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter if things get dark in the midst of the film’s beautiful colour palette. Rated: 4/5 Nov 22, 2022 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast More interested in emotions than a straightforward narrative, Jennifer Reeder's Knives and Skin is simultaneously compelling and confounding. Rated: 3/5 Nov 8, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Austin M Most "audience" viewers that have rated this clearly do not get it. Think along the lines of Twin Peaks. It's not David Lynch, but it is fantastic, weird, and thought provoking. It's a unique, slow burn and it really works. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes to watch real movies. I hope Jennifer Reeder has a chance in her career to make some films with full creative control. I think she'd blow is away. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Brian K The rest of my life i will live in mourning and sadness thinking about the 1 hour and 59 minutes this movie has taken away from me. The plot was nonexistent, as i believe i could have written a better one with my finger, in the sand, on a beach. As the description of the movie states it will “haunt like a half remembered dream” although unfortunately this movie was not a dream and unfortunately i remember it all. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Audience Member The movie has no conflict or resolution, and nothing happens. Pointlessly salacious behavior. All of the pretense of high cinema, but ultimately nothing is accomplished and no meaning or message is conveyed. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review laurent b A beautifully crafted arty movie, that never goes where you think it will, and that is deeply full of shadows and lights, delicate poetry, vibrations, colors and humanity. The best movie I've watched this year, and probably one of the greatest I've ever watched. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This was a visually pretty movie but it was very weird. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Brad P Ambitious ‘Knives and Skin' Emphasizes Style Over Narrative Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Knives and Skin

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Cast & Crew

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Jennifer Reeder

Director

Marika Engelhardt

Lisa Harper

Grace Smith

Joanna Kitzmiller

Ireon Roach

Charlotte Kurtich

Kayla Carter

Laurel Darlington

Tim Hopper

Dan Kitzmiller

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Knives and Skin

Knives and Skin: Trailer 1 Knives and Skin: Trailer 1 2:07 View more videos
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Knives and Skin

Audrey Francis as Lynn Kitzmiller and Grace Smith as Joanna Kitzmiller in a scene from "Knives and Skin. Ireon Roach as Charlotte Kurtich in a scene from "Knives and Skin." Ireon Roach as Charlotte Kurtich, Grace Smith as Joanna Kitzmiller and Kayla Carter as Laurel Darlington in a scene from "Knives and Skin. Aurora Real De Asua as April Martinez and Ireon Roach as Charlotte Kurtich in a scene from "Knives and Skin. Raven Whitley as Carolyn Harper in a scene from "Knives and Skin. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the wake of a high school student's mysterious disappearance, a collective awakening seems to overcome the town's teenage girls -- gathering in force until it can no longer be contained.
Director
Jennifer Reeder
Producer
Brian Hieggelke, Jan Hieggelke
Screenwriter
Jennifer Reeder
Distributor
IFC Midnight
Production Co
Chicago Film Project (CFP)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 6, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 8, 2019
Runtime
1h 52m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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