MattBirk In My Skin wasn't nearly as intriguing or repulsive as I was led on to believe, unfortunately. While it does feature some nasty self-mutilation which eventually leads to cannibalism, the movie was quite tame when compared to others in the French Extremity. However, that wasn't the problem with the movie, my main problem with Skin was it was basically a bore most of the time. What the movie does extremely well is display the power of addiction has on a user. Like most cases, the first time use seems harmless or happens by accident, something the user thinks nothing of. But over time that addiction grows and grows and becomes something the person wasn't expecting, an addiction. In My Skin does exactly that, the first time she gets hurt it is by accident and she merely brushes it off. But as the movie progresses, she becomes more fascinated with that 'high' which pulls her deeper into her addiction. Displaying classic signs of the powers of addiction, her love life, professional life, and personal life are now falling apart before her eyes. And to no surprise, she slowly pushes everyone around her away and anyone willing to help her is given some type of excuse and hide her dirty secret. It's hard not to appreciate how well this part of the movie is expressed.But while the allegory of addiction is represented quite well, the movie itself is rather slow and unengaging (which is surprising given its premise). It's kind of like an addiction, we are anxiously waiting for her next 'use' (aka the drug) and everything else is just dull and monotonous. In My Skin boils down to two things, it's an interesting look at a very bizarre addiction, but it lacks the characteristics to spin the movie in an intriguing manner.

Maz Murdoch (asda-man) When I bought In my Skin I didn't really know that the whole film was about self-harming and self-mutilation (they both mean the same thing, but it makes me sound cleverer!) I thought it was about a woman who gets something supernatural in her skin, a bit like the killer vines in The Ruins and it was taking over her body and she had to get it out etc. If I had known that In my Skin was about self-harming then I would've been more hesitant about buying it, because I can deal with bodies being dismembered and gallons of blood, but I can't deal with relatable things like cuts and stuff. I cringe at the blood sample scene in The Thing for Christ's sake and I nearly die at that wrist-cutting scene in Martyrs! So what would I be like in this? Well I didn't turn away (I paid for it, so I'm watching it!) but I did cringe. A lot! By the end of it I felt so tense and there was a lot of face scrunching and bloated cheeks. I find it hard to think of a film more cringeier if I'm honest!However, if you can deal with self-mutilation then you won't find In My Skin too repellent (if you don't find any of it repellent then you need serious help). I found In My Skin to be a profoundly interesting film. However, I could also see why people would find it boring and repetitive because I would've liked to have seen perhaps a stronger narrative. But in terms of a character study, In my Skin is superb! I just can't help but think that it could've been better if it balanced intense character study with engaging plot like Black Swan did so tremendously well. Having said that In My Skin is extremely involving as the camera never leaves our main character (Esther). It follows her around in a mostly hand-held style so that we really get inside her head and for the most part it is really interesting.There are some quite astonishing moments and I quite liked the way in which it lingered on her self-mutilation because it gave it a disturbingly realistic edge and also conveyed how significant these events are to her. The restaurant scene is a particular stand-out moment as it mixes realism with surrealism so that we really get deep inside Esther's head. I found it clever how everyone's talking, but Esther's not listening and neither are we (well reading). We're as transfixed to her body as she is. Another stand-out moment of directing is the use of split screen towards the end, as we get that horrible oppressive feeling which Esther must feel too.There's a fantastic sense of a downward spiral and I really like that sort of thing when a character goes on a journey from being normal and ending up as a complete wreck, which is what Darren Aronofsky does so incredibly well. Obviously, In My Skin isn't as fantastic as Aronofsky, but it is a highly memorable and psychologically intense piece of work. The Marina lady who wrote, directed and starred is clearly a talented woman because she does all three tremendously well, although she could do with a slight push in the writing area. In My Skin leaves you feeling filthy which is what a good horror film should do! It's yet another example of superior French horror and shows that they really do know the real meaning of fear.Although In My Skin may not be as great as other French works such as Calvaire, Inside and Martyrs. It is still a highly thought-provoking and brave film which dares to go where many people don't have the guts to. The intense character development makes the film quite gripping and you end up feeling quite attached to Esther despite her monstrous behaviour, because it's obvious that she's normal at heart, or at least used to be normal. In My Skin is a tragedy in the end and it's full of emotion and directional flourish. It's also one of the cringiest films I've ever seen. I'd recommend it for the brave.

trashgang I would not say that what I just have seen is a real horror. I would call it drama with a little sickening horror twist. I can believe that it isn't for everybody. It was made one year before Haute Tension, the start of the French sickies. The storyline is simple. A simple and normal girl has no problem at all until at a party she falls in a bunch of metal things. She won't make any notice of it and parties on before going to a hospital. There she got the news that she came too late to heal it properly. She has to go under surgery but she doesn't want it. But she becomes obsessed with her wounds. The feeling in her leg goes away and she starts cutting herself until things really go wrong with her. Horror geeks will have a problem with the movie due the reason that they talk a lot, typical for French movies. And drama geeks will cut away once she will go wild on her wounds. So it's up to y'all to watch it. But if you want to see the evolvement of French sickies then you better watch it. At the end of the day, if you liked Cutting Moments than this is your piece of cake.

The_Void In My Skin certainly has some problems; but one of these problems isn't originality, and while things such as a lack of a true plot formula and explanation for the central character's actions may put some viewers off, the film deserves huge credit for stepping out of the mainstream and delivering something a little different to what most film fans will be used to. France has emerged over the past few years as one of the major forces in modern horror cinema, and while this film can't really be judged on the same terms as some of its fellow gory French horrors; it surely does help to bolster the nation's position at the top of the pile. The film represents a big personal project for Marina de Van; who wrote, directs and stars in the film! The plot begins when the central characters injures her leg fairly badly at a party. She is confused by the fact that despite the injury, she didn't really feel any pain and it's not long before she begins experimenting with her body and pain tolerance; eventually becoming unable to refrain from slicing herself open.The film is very different to the average mainstream horror and will not be well received in all circles. However, this certainly is a fascinating journey into a woman's 'discovery of herself' (for lack of a better term). The film does lack a defining point and becomes a voyeuristic look into what can only be described as the central character's disease. The film must then rely on its central character and set pieces, and the writer/director/lead actress definitely does deliver in this area. The film is not short on blood, but it's all used well and never feels gratuitous. The real power of the film comes from depicting the character's experiments on herself; I can generally stomach any amount of disgusting gore, but seeing the character here slice herself open had me squirming and that is testament both to the way we are made to care for the character and the very realistic way that the film is portrayed. The film is carried by the lead actress who is always the star despite some good supporting performances. Marina de Van can certainly be very proud of her work on this one! The appeal of this film can only go so far, but personally I loved it and will not hesitate to recommend that everyone at least gives it a look!