Fans of Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth) will certainly cheer for this pairing of the maverick visionary and Scarlett Johansson that explores the arrival of an alien preying upon the underclass in Scotland. By all accounts the film, a festival circuit player last year, creates an unsettling vibe, leaving audiences to question the nature of what “skin” covers and contains, especially when it comes to humanity and emotion. Johansson’s recent slate of films (Hitchcock, Don Jon, Her, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and even the upcoming Chef) spotlights a restless spirit that cannot and should not be defined by beauty alone. She’s making an obvious case for there being something mercurial and inspiring beneath her skin. Opens April 18 at Esquire Theatre. (R) Not screened in time for review
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2014.
