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The Skin I Live In

R Released Oct 14, 2011 2h 0m Drama Mystery & Thriller List
81% Tomatometer 181 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Ever since his beloved wife was horribly burned in an auto accident, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a skilled plastic surgeon, has tried to develop a new skin that could save the lives of burn victims. Finally, after 12 years, Ledgard has created a skin that guards the body, but is still sensitive to touch. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper (Marisa Paredes), Ledgard tests his creation on Vera (Elena Anaya), who is held prisoner against her will in the doctor's mansion.
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The Skin I Live In

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Critics Consensus

The Skin I Live In lacks Almodovar's famously charged romance, replaced with a wonderfully bizarre and unpredictable detour into arthouse ick.

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Critics Reviews

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Gabrielle Rivera Autostraddle Banderas settles into the dark character of Dr. Ledgard with a stillness and apparent ease that gave me the chills I left the movie theater wondering if it worth it. Jun 11, 2021 Full Review José Teodoro Film Comment Magazine Almodóvar has a body of work as rigorously personal as any out there, and, even with its flaws, he wears this latest Skin rather well. Nov 5, 2013 Full Review Nicolas Rapold Film Comment Magazine Despite the typically invigorating sense of line and framing, The Skin I Live In withholds the director's customary satisfactions and affirmations. The result is a saga of obsession that, in its saturnine undertone, maintains a hard-to-enjoy integrity. Jul 1, 2013 Full Review Bianca Garner Filmotomy Banderas’ Ledgard is charismatic, sinister and full of deep rooted rage. Banderas’ performance is very remisicitant of Cary Grant in Suspicion (1941), but our suspicions of Ledgard is very much justified in The Skin I Live In. Oct 4, 2024 Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek Alberto Iglesias' astounding score is a diverse work, taking in a wide array of tones and arrangements, shifting from high tension string sections, to electronic backbeats, from guitar drones to moody saxophone. Rated: 4/5 May 7, 2024 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast The closest Almodóvar has come to making a horror film, The Skin I Live In is a deeply uncomfortable yet fascinating puzzle box of a film. Rated: 4/5 Feb 27, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ricardo W Qué extraño conflicto: para calificar esta película estuve oscilando entre "Se puede ver, pudo ser mejor" y "Hay que verla!". Pero creo firmemente que sólo un gran director puede ser capaz de hacer una película tan obligante, bien hecha y fascinante con un guión tan innecesariamente rebuscado y retorcido. De esta manera, desde un punto de vista muy formal y aunque el producto final no me haya encantado, debo admitir que es una obra digna de toda recomendación. Es su estilo, no cabe duda, pero a ratos parece que se le va la mano. Ya lo habíamos visto en Los Abrazos Rotos: excesivo melodrama que termina pintando con brochazos de telenovela lo que pudo haber sido una historia mucho más interesante y oscura. Personajes de construcción intensa desarrollados tan someramente que no terminan de cuajar o resultar creíbles. Como remate, Antonio Banderas no logró lo que Penélope Cruz: demostrar que sabe actuar si lo hace bajo la tutela de su cuasi-padre. Se quedó a medias, ganaron los muchos años de roles mediocres. Sin embargo, la historia es envolvente, y la dirección, como es de esperar, tiene una precisión alucinante. Es un film hermosamente hecho, delicadamente perverso, visualmente sólido y, por encima de todo, cautivador. El ritmo no decae, y el espectador entra inevitablemente en una especie de trance voyeurista que le impide apartar la mirada aunque sepa que lo que viene tal vez no lo quiera ver. Esa es la rúbrica de Almodóvar, y en ese sentido el film logra su cometido de manera eficiente. Su estilo es inconfundible y es un gusto verlo consolidar sus elementos característicos con pulso firme. Es interesante igualmente verlo coquetear con el género de suspenso, bien puede subirle el volúmen con confianza en ocasiones futuras, porque le calza maravillosamente. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review Prabudhjeet A A totally different revenge movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review Cat K Thematically and morally confused, and character motivations are implausible and absurd. The big plot twist is predictable. If you want someone to try making you sympathize with creepy rapists, give this one a try. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Hargie M "The Skin I Live In" is a film that shocks, disturbs, and ultimately, compels viewers to reflect deeply on the harrowing journey it presents. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/30/24 Full Review g j A deranged and elegant masterpiece. The script, acting and camerawork are all superb. It also has the restraint not to heap on the body horror and let the psychological aspects stand on their own. Even its allusions to Les yeux sans visage are subtle and effective. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review Emilliano Jr S It has an intriguing story which makes you wonder until the end. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Ever since his beloved wife was horribly burned in an auto accident, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a skilled plastic surgeon, has tried to develop a new skin that could save the lives of burn victims. Finally, after 12 years, Ledgard has created a skin that guards the body, but is still sensitive to touch. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper (Marisa Paredes), Ledgard tests his creation on Vera (Elena Anaya), who is held prisoner against her will in the doctor's mansion.
Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer
Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García
Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
El Deseo S.A., FilmNation, Canal+ España
Rating
R (Drug Use|Disturbing Violent Content|Strong Sexuality|Graphic Nudity|Language|Sexual Assault)
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 14, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 10, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.2M
Runtime
2h 0m
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