The Skin I Live In: Film review

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Almodovar returns with a film which is slick, a little twisted and tremendously stylish.

In the very near future (well, late 2012 technically is) Banderas stars as Robert Ledgard, a surgeon, whose life is somewhat haunted by tragedy, with both his wife and daughter dying before their time.

He lives in a house, locked away from people and with a surgery within the walls of his home - but he's not alone. In a room next to his living quarters is a young woman, who we first meet wearing nothing but an all over body stocking.

One day, a man shows up at the house and sets in motion a chain of events which changes everyone's lives forever.

It's incredibly difficult to say too much about this without giving away the plot which unravels through flashbacks and totally, in all honesty, messes with your mind.

Banderas is crisply cool and menacing as the surgeon, who's clearly off his rocker - but the perfectly chiselled performance which channels nothing but sophisticated insanity is so eminently watchable as he plays God left, right and centre. Equally Anaya is stunning as the woman in the house - gorgeously beautiful and alluring, yet hinting at a troubled past, the leads are compelling in this psychotic psychological suspense thriller.

As ever, Almodovar crafts together a tale that weaves in a completely out there story. But this time, he throws into the mix, an element of horror and perhaps lashings of scifi as the melodrama plays out. It's easy in a film like this to go over the top and with the ultimate reveal of what's actually going on being such a crucial part of this, his masterful direction steers the story into shockingly confrontational territory with ease.

The Skin I Live In won't be for everyone - but for those willing to be challenged, the reward is immeasurable even if the emotional attachment overall is minimal.

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