Antonio Banderas performs in his mother tongue in Almodovar’s utterly compelling thriller. The ultimate mad scientist, Robert Ledgard (Banderas), is a pioneering plastic surgeon creating a brand new type of synthetic skin. His guinea pig, the mysterious Vera Cruz (Elena Anaya), is a perfect example of his work. Still, as we slowly unwind her past, we begin to understand the scope of Ledgards talents.
Much like Vera Cruz herself, each shot of the movie is perfect. Almodovar has created a world where science is beautifully minimalist, flawless, and perfectly framed. Banderas’ character is meticulous and precise; his lab is a creative studio as he creates a patchwork of skin like the scientific Jame Gumb.
I watched this film on Blu-ray: lingering shots of blemish-free and beautiful skin fill the frame, and there is no better way to see it than in seriously high definition. Cruz is like a walking anime character – shining liquid brown eyes and a flawless complexion. We always knew Elena Anaya was easy on the eyes already, but this is an incredible transformation.
Banderas is entirely convincing as a mad scientist, and it’s refreshing to see him in a proper role. His character is an uneasy blend of obsession for his work and passion for his test subject. Always unsettling and surrounded by an excellent ensemble cast, he truly shines. With ease, Almodovar spins his seemingly unconnected characters together, and his eye for the absurd is not lost here. A sequence with a man dressed as a tiger hunting the halls of Ledgards mansion is somehow both ridiculous and terrifying.
The Skin I Live In is never an easy watch; it descends rapidly into a surprising psychological horror. The third act is one of the most horrifying and memorable sequences in recent cinema. Torture porn and slashers have nothing on the raw intensity that this film generates - a must-see.
