Scarlett Johansson's 108-Minute Sci-Fi Thriller Is the Perfect Watch Before It's Cut From Netflix

Scarlett Johansson has touched virtually every genre, but there is one movie that should be considered her crowning achievement. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the 2014 horror movie Under the Skin is more a work of art than simply content. In only 108 minutes, the sci-fi thriller achieves what few films have been able to. Lauded for its music, directing, and performances, the movie is a plot-lite exploration of the human condition. Johansson portrays a nameless protagonist, known only as the Female. As she traverses through Scotland, her motives become clearer, though it is up to the viewer to establish her ultimate goal. After stripping the body of a woman for her clothes, the Female drives a van through Scotland, speaking to men and asking for directions.

Through small talk, she ascertains their situation, and it soon becomes clear what she is looking for. She lets the men with families and rich inner lives go, but the unattached men aren’t so lucky. She brings the first to a warehouse where he is submerged in a tar-like substance. In a subversion of expectations, the Female is obviously the predator in this scenario, which leaves the audience guessing until the final moments. Under the Skin is a testament to Glazer’s directorial style, and viewers should make sure to catch it before it leaves Netflix on October 31st.

‘Under the Skin’ Uses Aliens to Tell a Human Story

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It is safe to say that there are no movies quite like Under the Skin. While alien invasion films are a dime a dozen, the Scarlett Johansson vehicle does something quite different. This alien narrative is less about conquering and more about observing. The Female takes on the guise of a beautiful woman because that is the easiest way to get information. Men give it willingly, especially when it seems as though they are going to get something out of it.

Under the Skin turns these men into victims the way women so often are in pop culture. They are the ones who need to be wary after the sun goes down of a human-looking predator. One of Jonathan Glazer’s best movies also quite literally points a camera at the realities of humanity. Much of the film was shot with hidden cameras to give the story a more authentic feeling. The actors themselves – save for Johansson – were relatively uninitiated in performing.

The viewers see people the way the Female does, with curiosity and a sense of separation. She eventually comes to understand the true evils of mankind, all wrapped up in captivating visuals and a mesmerizing score. The Female experiences the crimes of men with fresh eyes, even as Glazer leaves the ending up for interpretation while weaving a genuine horror story about the senselessness of humanity. An A24 movie in the truest sense, Under the Skin is a modern classic. Perfect for spooky season, the thriller only has a few weeks before it is scrubbed from Netflix. Audiences should use that time to reintroduce themselves to arguably the best alien thriller that has hit the entertainment industry in a long time.

Under the Skin