The Serpent's Skin

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The Serpent's Skin

Mar 2026

1h 23m

Horror

Romance

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After escaping her transphobic hometown, Anna meets goth tattoo artist Gen. They bond over shared supernatural abilities, but Gen's tattoo work accidentally conjures a demon before their romance can bloom.

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Critics Consensus

The Serpent's Skin sheds some light on the trans experience with its narrative ingenuity and an evocative color palette, delivering a feel-good horror hybrid in its sleek runtime.

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Kyle Logan

Chicago Reader

Apr 15

A beautiful film, emotionally and aesthetically ... that fits right in among the other sure-to-be cult classics in Mackay’s ever-growing oeuvre

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Katie Rife

Inverse

Apr 3

This is a fantasy — of belonging, of strength through softness, of being able to protect those you love from everything violent and hateful in this world — but it’s rooted in a lived experience that makes it feel very grounded and authentic.

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William Bibbiani

TheWrap

Mar 28

All the inspirational, kitschy parts of your favorite nostalgic fare in a mature, sensitive motion picture with indie credibility. Sure, it’s cheap, but it wears its cheapness like a badge of honor. If this is the future of cinema, I say bring it on.

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Stephanie Malone

Morbidly Beautiful

2h

4/5

Tailor-made for viewers who prefer mood and atmosphere over a rigid plot, The Serpent’s Skin sheds convention in favor of something raw, intimate, and defiantly punk-rock. Essential for those seeking out authentic trans representation in horror.

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Sean Burns

Spliced Personality

4d

It’s astonishing what Mackay has already accomplished at 21 years old. From here it looks like the sky’s the limit.

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Matthew St. Clair

AwardsWatch

Apr 20

A-

Along with great central performances, The Serpent's Skin possesses vibrant cinematography by DP Aaron Schuppan.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 1

Successful pride movie in 1 hour and 23 minutes.

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PVD H

@PVD_Horror Mar 31

The Serpent's Skin is a fast-paced film that captures a dreamlike-indie feel that plays out like a YA novel come to life. Alice Maio Mackay has once again tapped into themes of finding strength in being an outsider and the importance of finding and protecting your community. The film has some intriguing imagery and beautiful shots, some of them reminiscent of an Italian horror. The soundtrack featuring H6LLB6ND6R is perfect as well. The pacing of this film, which as mentioned is fast, both helps and hurts the film. While there is very little lag or dullness, there's also moments the film seems to move too far ahead and not flesh out details or character development. While this feels intentional, perhaps to capture the YA novel feel, it can feel as though aspects such as relationships move at an unrealistic pace. Overall this was an interesting watch and a worthy sixth installment for Mackay. Fans of I Saw the TV Glow, teen dramas, RL Stine and Christopher Pike must watch.

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B P

@Bradster69 Mar 28

‘The Craft’ Meets ‘Scanners’ in Alice Maio Mackay’s Latest

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Alice Maio Mackay

Director

Alexandra McVicker

Actor

Avalon Fast

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Jordan Dulieu

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Charlotte Chimes

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Scott Major

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Synopsis

After escaping her transphobic hometown, Anna meets goth tattoo artist Gen. They bond over shared supernatural abilities, but Gen's tattoo work accidentally conjures a demon before their romance can bloom.

Director: Alice Maio Mackay
Producer: Alice Maio Mackay, Louise Weard
Screenwriter: Benjamin Pahl Robinson, Alice Maio Mackay
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Production Co: Dark Star Pictures, One Manner Productions
Genre: Horror, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2026
Runtime: 1h 23m