In My Skin (2002/2003) (AKA Dans ma
peau)
Quite possibly the most disturbing
and revolting horror film with an intelligent script
and a thought-provoking plot to be released since
George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." "In My Skin" is
a fascinating film, one that ultimately becomes so
ghastly and vile that it is impossible to look at
it; one must turn away. And yet, even for the most
squeamish, even with eyes mostly closed, it is nearly
impossible to walk away from this film. It is ultimately,
and without a doubt, compelling. This is a film that
will trouble and nauseate the viewer for several hours
after seeing it.
For those who enjoy bloody gore
films, this film is a given. Don't read any more about
it. Just go see it. For those who enjoy vampire films,
ditto. And if you were compelled by recent films like
"Secretary" and "May" and/or the French film "The
Piano Teacher," ditto, ditto, ditto. This is the best
film you will ever see. This is a must-see for fans
of the "blood" genre.
Now, for those of you who have seen
it, or for those who feel like it will be just too
much to see but you'd like to know more - we will
continue with a discussion here, but there will be
some spoilers for the uninitiated.
"In My Skin" starts simply enough.
I knew nothing about the film walking in, as is my
wont, and found myself slightly interested. A young
woman, not very attractive, goes to a party and hurts
her leg. What is interesting is that she does this
without realizing it and it is several hours before
she becomes aware that she has gashed her leg up quite
badly. When the woman shows her boyfriend/fiance the
wounds, they engage in a somewhat playful romantic
session and one begins to believe the film will be
about sickening, repulsive images. After all, the
woman and her boyfriend are not very attractive and
watching them kiss deeply is almost as revolting as
watching her wounds being stitched up.
But what follows is truly an odd
odyssey. The woman soon finds herself entranced, unthinkingly
cutting on her leg with a piece of scrap metal, and
the film begins a dizzying spiral into the depths
of self-mutilation unlike any film we have ever seen
before. There are no less than two elongated, vile,
sickening, bloody scenes where the woman mutilates
herself and drinks her own blood. These are two of
the most despicable and repugnant scenes I have ever
seen in a film. The piece would be totally unwatchable
if it weren't so utterly realistic and so well-delivered.
Filmmaker Marina de Van, who also
scripts here as well as playing the lead female role,
is simply amazing at making the film captivating.
A scene at a restaurant table, where her protagonist
Esther becomes drunk from wine and begins to envision
her arm detached from her body simply makes us connect
to the character. Up until this point, we have had
trouble understanding the character. But with this
one scene, suddenly seeing things from her point of
view, somehow, Esther comes into focus for the audience.
We begin to see her delirium and insanity through
her own eyes and it is creepy and yet, no pun intended,
somehow detached. De Van's ability as a filmmaker
and actress make us easily engaged in what is happening
to Esther. We are astounded and repulsed and yet captivated
and desperate to find a resolution to the story. De
Van is such an excellent actress and filmmaker that
she actually exposes a resolution to the story without
really resolving it at all at its end. This is amazing
filmmaking, writing and acting. De Van should be rewarded
for her wonderful work in all three areas in this
film.
I guarantee that "In My Skin" is
unlike any film you will ever see. That is: If you
can keep your eyes open to see it. I myself, no fan
of gore, had to watch much of the film through my
fingers as I squirmed in my seat. Occasionally, I
just had to shut my eyes and pray that the film wouldn't
be too gruesome when I did work up the nerve to open
them again. This is not the most pleasant of film-going
experiences but for those who can stomach it, the
ride will seem incredible and audacious.
Notes:
Viewed at a press sneak at the Dobie
in Austin in November 2003
