Peles

2017 was a fantastic year for weird movies. While the blockbusters kept coming and often were unsurprisingly mediocre and uninteresting, many genius projects slipped between cinematic cracks and have leaked themselves into the consciences of extreme cinephiles like myself. As a person who normally considers themselves to be a semi-reasonable individual, it is essential for me to point out that most people will probably hate this movie...and for good enough reason. It can be repulsive and largely focuses on topics that are extremely disturbing (ex: pedophilia, rape, suicide, depression, incest, & plenty more) to intentionally shock the viewer...but, despite all of this and whatever other slight problems I may have with the film, I believe it to be a masterpiece...a masterpiece that I cannot actually recommend to anyone unless I am SURE this is the sort of movie they can a) handle, b) finish watching, and c) be at least somewhat entertained by for around half its runtime at the very most. Not many people will fall under all three categories, but I certainly do! To me, the dark comedy at work here is on par with the likes of Todd Solondz and John Waters, which is to say that it is transgressive, "black as night on a moonless night" (as Agent Cooper would put it), and absurd to the max while still containing some sort of truth and sense to it. Most of the film's elements do have a genuine purpose, whether it be injected with a bit of shock value or not, and the film also is heavily emotional. I cried at multiple little points throughout it, and my heart was surprisingly touched by the end. This film does not necessarily glorify any of its characters and the abhorrent things they may do or say, but it certainly gives everyone at least one moment of sympathy and/or understanding, which I believe to be an often essential trait that is prevalent in many of the films I hold near and dear to my heart, and while it does feel strange to call a film of this shocking, disgusting, and disturbing variety as such, I must admit that, as of now, "Skins" is certainly a film that is near and dear to my heart, It probably won't really be to yours, though. Just a warning.

Taking Freaks (1932) and The Elephant Man (1980) as starting point, Eduardo Casanova's debut runs essentially in a very superficial way: A set of scenes remarkable for their delicacy in the composition and for the joy of pink, comprises a "late baroqueer" Cabinet of Curiosities. It's a movie with a very bold language that talks about desire and suffering, loneliness, about what is erotic and what disgusting, about the monstrosity in the meaning and shape. About accepting oneself and the right to replace our limits with new ones. The contradictions that produced the subjectivity of beauty. "You're only interested in the way I look" says one of the female characters. In this context it is a brilliant paradox. Superficial, I said, and frivolous: Very Louis XV style. But no superfluous. The dramatic central dialogues give depth and direction to the film. Its non-correct spirit and daring language make it one of a kind.

If you liked the Human Centipede, you'll love this.

a movie that seems to come from a similar but different world... the colours, the weird and beautiful pictures playing around with the soundtrack, the body positivity message, the tragic, the darkest dephts of human desires, the laughter that sometimes gets stuck in your throat... this movie has everything. if you're looking for something that touches you in 51 shades from pink to deep dark soul black, this is your movie. no scene is everage. i couldn't stop getting enough of it. for all those shiny perfect body/faces/etc. movies (with one fat/gay funny friend for the laughs) this film is the electrifying antipode.

btw, i do not had the feeling this movie glorifies child molestation at all (what another user found). in my opinion it wants to show how cruel the world is - and in the other hand - how beautiful it can be.

Just when you think no movie can surprises you, something small and sharp like this strikes you and leave you shocked. A brilliant non hollywoodish masterpiece out of nowhere.