Two people are lost in the monotony of life on a hot summer day. Billy, a shy young man, works at a pet store and is bored out of his wits. He survives through his affection for a six-foot python, the most exotic animal in the store. Gwen, a Gothic, freakish but beautiful young woman, is stuck waiting in a car with her mother, who doesn't seem to care too much for her. The two meet when Gwen decides to buy the python. Being the only animal he cares about, Billy, without thinking, decides to pursue Gwen on a bus ride back to the suburbs. This is when we see the real story.
"Second Skin" is both about a bizarre love triangle between a young man, a young woman, and a snake (note the obvious reference to Adam, Eve, and the serpent in the Garden of Eden) and a commentary on the monotony of life and the whole scheme of things. Billy and Gwen are two outsiders caught in a life where they don't belong. The two actors who portray Billy and Gwen are excellent--after watching, you can't picture anyone else portraying these roles. Particularly watch Aleksa Palladino as Gwen, who is almost unrecognizable from her wonderful role as Lo in "Manny and Lo" (1996). Glenn Fitzgerald does a great job as Billy.
The scene that really interested me was the final scene, after the two get off the bus (a bus ride noteworthy of a short story, as Gwen is groped by a football player, an attack she handles well with the help of, first, the python, and then Billy). The road is silent and deserted, with green surrounding them. Billy has nowhere else to go, and Gwen, on her way home, decides to keep him company, though, in reality, she has nowhere else to go either. The two are made for each other, and through their performances, the actors made Billy and Gwen real.
The characters and the storyline are too interesting to forget. The only problem with the short film is that it's TOO SHORT. After the final scene, I was left with the feeling that it wasn't complete, that I wanted to see what happens next in the life of Billy and Gwen. And there's potential for a lot more in this romance. This is one short film (like "Sling Blade," "Bottle Rocket," etc.) that could turn into a full-length feature film, but only with Glenn Fitzgerald and Aleksa Palladino reprising their roles.
Whenever you get a chance to see "Second Skin," tape it. It's a wonderful short film.
