In My Skin (Marina de Van)

[dwatts]

Alright, so has anyone actually seen this film?

I'm intrigued. Reviews seem to vary between "Arty crap", to "SHOCK! HORROR!". I guess I picture a more subdued, artistic Guinea Pig film. Seems like everyone questions the ending, so there's clearly no "resolution" as such.

Still, I stumbled upon it because it reads somewhat like the (apparently) abandoned project Cronenberg was going to be working on.

So, it's coming April 20th according to Amazon - anyone got any info?

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001CNQSA/103-2338515-2683022?v=glance)

IMDB Link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337961/)

[Luna]

It's in my Netflix queue... I've been wanting to see it for a few months now. I'll come back to this thread after I've seen it, to comment. By the way, there was a bit of info about it in one of the more recent issues of Rue Morgue. I think it was the one that covered French horror.

[marioscido]

Great film! One of the best films I saw last year. It is very smart and very fetishistic in its portrayal of bodily self-mutilation. The film's emotions move from fear to rapture in very interesting ways. Great!

[Cujo108]

Yes, an excellent film indeed! Very gruesome and pretty unnerving, I can definitely see it upsetting certain viewers. The dinner table scene is classic! It is a pretty tragic film overall, and also quite brilliant. Highly recommended, and I'm definitely picking up the DVD.

[gusse]

I was very eager to see this movie at Stockholm Filmfestival last year, but was left a bit dissapointed when the movie was over. Can't remember exactly what I found dissapointing, I just remember that the movie didnt manage to move me as much as it should have - and I am very interested and involved in the stuff the movie trys to talk about after years of dealing with the problems my self (I sort of got addicted to cutting a few years ago, and I have many friends who went through the same shit). The movie felt a bit distant and un personal if my memory serves me correct. Sort of pretentious and artificial. It was OK but it could have been better.

[SaviniFan]

I just picked up this movie. This movie had me squirming in my seat like almost no other has before. Amazingly bizarre, but compelling from beginning to end. I liked it. 7/10.

[indiephantom]

just ordered it.

[Ash28M]

I thought it was a good film but really hard to watch. (Not like I’m complaining) It got to the point where I almost needed a breather between disturbing scenes, they just kept coming.

Just one question for those who have scene the film. Is it just me or ….

That last scene where she was jabbing the knife around her eye. The very next scene wasn't the wrong eye all bruised and cut up while the one she was jabbing appear to be fine.

[SaviniFan]

Ash28M

I noticed that too. Perhaps a second viewing will clear things up.

I noticed that the cut she made on her head above her eyes was also opposite from what it appeared to be in that scene. Perhaps the view was from a mirror image. Didn't notice upon the first view if it was, but it didn't appear to be.

[Numania]

I really want to see this now.

[shift]

Oh hell yea. It's on my Buy list :D

Thanks for the reviews all.!!

[Tye]

Just saw this the other night and it was one of the few films that really made me sick to my stomache. I almost fast-forwarded one scene but stuck with it.
My only "complaint" was that the ending came too quickly.
Still it's one that I will purchase on DVD.
:cool:

[betterdan]

I finally read about this movie and now I really want to see it. MAybe I'll see if Best Buy has it next time I'm there.
Just checked and Best Buy does not carry this in store. You have to order it dammit.

[Luna]

Bastards... well worth the order though, in my opinion.

[gloomy grrl]

The movie felt a bit distant and un personal if my memory serves me correct. Sort of pretentious and artificial. It was OK but it could have been better.

Couldn't agree with you more... I watched it last night, and found myself surprisingly unaffected by it. Not so much by the self mutilation, which I did find a bit uncomfortable to watch, but by her character, her struggle, everything. In the end... I really didn't care too much about what happened to her - and I think that's what spoiled it for me.

[x666x]

This movie was utter garbage. Without even personally knowing the director, I bet she is a pretentious, artsy person who got funding because she was able to communicate with other artsy French film snobs who had connections to film studios and government film grants.

I also bet that her character in the film wasn't too much of a stretch for her to act.

[Nemesis]

well i'm looking forward to this one when it arrives.

[Atmims]

I didn't really care for the film. It wasn't anything shocking to me, what is left? A dull plot? Was there a point to the film I missed?

[x666x]

And this means?

It means that it would not be a great loss to humanity if this was, and will continue to be, her autobiography leading to her own self-inflicted demise.

[dwatts]

I reckon it's a bit much to say that a persons death would be "No great loss" just because you disliked a single film, don't you? It's only a movie for goodness sakes.

[mutleyhyde]

This movie was utter garbage. Without even personally knowing the director, I bet she is a pretentious, artsy person who got funding because she was able to communicate with other artsy French film snobs who had connections to film studios and government film grants.

I also bet that her character in the film wasn't too much of a stretch for her to act.

You're calling them film snobs?? ;)

[aoiookami]

I loved the movie, it was very original and some of those parts although not extremely graphic are very very distrubing! My only complaint was the ending! The ending almost ruined the movie for me. It is like this movie is the first part of a three part trilogy, but the next 2 parts will never be made. There is so, SO much more to her story....
oh well

[x666x]

I think that someone with such a chauvinistic, hateful attitude towards women might be better served by avoiding movies with female leads and just sticking with the porn.

Alright now, you are taking this too far. I didn't mean that she should die because she's a female who made a dull film. I meant it in a way where the person she portrayed in the film was kind of a bitch to the people around her. People of that sort, male or female, are of no value to humanity. If that would be how she is in real life on top of making boring films, then hey, let the bloodletting begin... :fire:

I found it interesting how you had to make it a sexism issue, onebyone. My discontent toward the character is an attack on people who have to treat others like garbage. On top of that, in real life, whether it is film or music, of the people that I know who are involved in either, they get into this whole elitism thing and think they are special because they do something more "artistic" than that of the norm. Sadly, too many of these kind of people get a little too far in their respective industries and get financing for their garbage. I am totally for independant films (hey, I wouldn't be on this site if I wasn't) but more money towards these kind of snobs means less cash for the real deal when it comes to such crucial genres like horror. Think about the Evil Dead series. I don't know the whole background to their financing, but apparently it was a private situation. Kind of a hard thing to pull off. While they luckily received it, many others usually have to go through conventional avenues to fund their films. Unfortunately, in Canada, horror films lose out in this department to the typical artsy stuff that hardly makes the tax payers' money back and give careers to directors whose films will be enjoyed by less people than the likes of Ginger Snaps which had to be financed, at least in part, by the makers of the films themselves. As it turned out, it was a cool flick and kicked ass worldwide at a time when horror films were not popular. In conclusion, the horror genre can suffer the same fate as it did in the 90's if "art" always has to be synonymous (spelling?) with "bland". Where would your stud puppy Bruce be if the Evil Dead crew were not able to get the cash they needed for the first flick in the series?

In the end, I would like to point out that making such drastic comments about a mere film is just to add spice to the thread while stating my opinion. And thank you. IT WORKED :banana:

Hope there is no hard feelings.

[x666x]

I reckon it's a bit much to say that a persons death would be "No great loss" just because you disliked a single film, don't you? It's only a movie for goodness sakes.

I hope my above post answers your question. I did not like the film, so I am stating an opinion in such a way to give a little kick to a thread about a film that needed a similar boost of energy. Yes, it is only a film. I hope that those of you who have purchased it with your hard earned cash liked it. But those who haven't seen it yet should not go into it expecting a fun horror film about mutilation. Even in its seriousness, the character she portrayed doesn't evoke much sympathy from me. In my experiences, these kind of people end up in management and makes what could be a satisfactory working environment a living hell. We are talking about employess crying in the bathroom here. And I am talking about various people, male and female. Welcome to television.

PS. Want self mutilation? Buy Naked Blood!!!!!!!!!

[gloomy grrl]

In my experiences, these kind of people end up in management and makes what could be a satisfactory working environment a living hell. We are talking about employess crying in the bathroom here. And I am talking about various people, male and female. Welcome to television.

:lol: :lol: :lol: I feel your pain on that one...

[dwatts]

--I hope my above post answers your question. I did not like the film, so I am stating an opinion in such a way to give a little kick to a thread about a film that needed a similar boost of energy.--

I don't understand your reasoning here. How many other threads you going to be trolling in? Sorry, I do hear what you're saying, but I thought deliberately trolling was a bad thing? Oh well.

[Luna]

I can't say I went into it expecting something fun and gory, but maybe that's just me. I knew it'd be more of an introspective film without reading very much about it. Either way, I didn't think it was boring or dull. I enjoyed it quite a bit, as much as one can enjoy self-mutilation, anyway.

[gloomy grrl]

I took it as chauvanistic because she made a movie about a troubled woman it was inherently assumed she was just.like.the character. I don't necessarily think that assumption would have been made so quickly if a man had made the movie, hence, I call that a sexist attitude.

Well... she did write it, direct it, and star in it...
I'm not defending the original comment, but casting yourself in the lead role of a film that seems so highly personal does lead to some speculation about how much of yourself is written into that character.

[x666x]

--I hope my above post answers your question. I did not like the film, so I am stating an opinion in such a way to give a little kick to a thread about a film that needed a similar boost of energy.--

I don't understand your reasoning here. How many other threads you going to be trolling in? Sorry, I do hear what you're saying, but I thought deliberately trolling was a bad thing? Oh well.

I just looked up what trolling means and I can assure you am I am not one. I have been watching horror films since my single digit years. I have been a member of this site for probably two or three years. I belong to no other sites. I love horror movies enough to be a big advocate for hoping it doesn't become a passing trend as the eighties slasher "died" by the time the 90's hit. Yeah, I was harsh on the movie in question and got a little dramatic as I often admit I do. But whenever you read a thread about Michael Moore or Bush, it appears that the troll in everyone comes out. Once again, no harm is intended. How many of you said that you would like to kill a boss or an ex because they treat you like garbage? It is more of an expression and emotional ventilation to be not taken seriously. I hated the main character in the said film because she appeared to have no regard to anyone around her and I still stand by the fact that these kind of people are all a drain on the rest of us. And I honestly think that most fans of the horror genre in specific will be to happy to not waste any time and/or money on this film. I am sincere in saying that I am happy that some of you walked away from this film amused. I will still have to stick to that fact that most people (probably even the horrordvds community unto itself) will not get anything from this. Please remember, when stuff like this gets funded, there are going to be Bruce Cambell types actors and Haute Tension kind of films that will get overlooked.

[x666x]

I took it as chauvanistic because she made a movie about a troubled woman it was inherently assumed she was just.like.the character. I don't necessarily think that assumption would have been made so quickly if a man had made the movie, hence, I call that a sexist attitude.

And there is no way I can justify you saying you would like her DEAD for making this movie. Even if she was just like the character, there are a lot of people in this world who don't treat others well, we can't kill them all. Besides, you are not the ultimate judge of who is of value to society. Also, look at this statement "I meant it in a way where the person she portrayed in the film was kind of a bitch to the people around her. People of that sort, male or female, are of no value to humanity." You say male or female, but then you use the word bitch, which is usually reserved for a certain type of female. Death to folks who act like bitches and make movies YOU don't like. Sounds sexist to me.

And if this was intentional trolling to start a conversation in a thread about a movie you hate, then I am even more confused.

Good argument I achnowledge. Because of a friend of mine, I actually kinda had to see Troy over the weekend. I absolutely hated this film and cursed the director. A man. I have called other men words like jerk and sometimes aligned such statements with music or films they put out or whatever. I have said a lot of nasty things about George W. Bush. The irony is that if I wrote something like that about a male who is doing a bad job IMO, I highly doubt you would defend them against me. Am I sexist if I insult a fellow man using a word like jerk, where, most would never use that word to explain a female they didn't like. I didn't come down on the director because she was a female who made a bad film (IMO). I came down on her because I disapproved of the attempt to get my sympathy for someone who doesn't seem to care about the people around her, and ultimately herself. If someone wants to destroy themself, that is their business. But it is when they injure others around them that I get bothered. So if the director thinks I should feel sorry for this character, I cannot go along with it. Further, it makes me wonder about her.

[x666x]

I can think of several instances a male has done the same thing and has NOT had it immediately concluded he was just like characters in his movie. She could be, I don't know, it just seems terribly unfair to make that assumption. Women can write about other things than their own personal trauma.



I don't get it. One art house film doesn't rule another one out. There are a lot of different stories out there waiting to be told.

You gotta be kidding me. Plenty of male directors get linked to their movies (ie-Passion of the Christ). People actually harassed Mel Gibson on the street. But, if he were a female, it would become a violence towards women issue. The man who wrote the Satanic Versus had a bounty on his head. Why? Because people do use their power, money, and in this case medium to show their personal point of views. Remember, you called me sexist for stating an opinion. Women describe other women they don't like as bitches all the time. Don't even attempt to tell me that you believe they are sexist. We all watch films that glorify violence and are worthy of being deemed politically incorrect by others. So I think none of us (this includes you) should pretend that we are politically correct all of a sudden.

And yes, when a film gets made, numerous films do get cancelled out. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure you are a nice person, and I am sure you think the opposite of me, but the above statements you made are so unrealistic. Sorry.

[dwatts]

-- just looked up what trolling means and I can assure you am I am not one. I have been watching horror films since my single digit years.--

I certainly never meant to suggest you were a perpetual troll. Just that you were being a troll in writing those comments. I've seen you around, and appreciate you're a fan just like myself.

-- But whenever you read a thread about Michael Moore or Bush, it appears that the troll in everyone comes out.--

Yeah well, HorrorDVDs really is not a good venue for political discussion. There's no middle ground here - people don't seem to want to discuss anything, they're entirely polarized before they begin. There are issues that I agree with Bush about (taxes), but mostly I don't agree with him. We never talk about taxes. The hate of Moore is just ridiculous - but yes, that's my view. We live in an age where some actually believe news broadcasters from Fox - and who watch it and STILL claim we have a left wing biased media. ;)

--Please remember, when stuff like this gets funded, there are going to be Bruce Cambell types actors and Haute Tension kind of films that will get overlooked.--

Well, I think if you're going to start with this argument then there are much bigger fish to lay into - like almost anyone Hollywood title these days. I don't know who funded this movie, but in the world today - I'm just glad it was able to be made (and that's regardless whether I liked it or not, I just dig people being able to creatively express themselves, or just entertain on the fringe).

[mutleyhyde]

Yeah well, HorrorDVDs really is not a good venue for political discussion. There's no middle ground here - people don't seem to want to discuss anything, they're entirely polarized before they begin. There are issues that I agree with Bush about (taxes), but mostly I don't agree with him. We never talk about taxes. The hate of Moore is just ridiculous - but yes, that's my view. We live in an age where some actually believe news broadcasters from Fox - and who watch it and STILL claim we have a left wing biased media. ;)

Watts, got a bone to pick? I think that's a pretty unfair analysis; we have discussion all the time, simply because people disagree with one another doesn't mean this "is not a good venue for political discussion". In any event, how about we stay on topic here? If you'd like to open a thread on how political discussion here sucks, please be my guest, but let's keep this thread about In My Skin. If you'd like to respond to this post, please do so via email or private messaging; I do not want the thread taken further off track.

x666x, thanks for trying to clarify your position so thoroughly and keeping it civil. Although I don't believe your original post was so much chauvanistic as it was elitist against french film snobbery in general, I can see how the language you used could certainly be seen as specifically antagonistic towawrds woman in particular.

[dwatts]

--Watts, got a bone to pick?--

Hardly, I gave an opinion that i stand by, it ain't a bone.

ON TOPIC: I want to thank those that have contributed here. In the post that started this thread I wrote " Reviews seem to vary between "Arty crap", to "SHOCK! HORROR!"." Let's face it, this seems to be the way Horror DVD members have reacted. Which means I right back on the fence with this one.

To be honest, I'm not really looking for a gore film here, but rather a film that has something to say. I'm not looking to be disgusted (though who knows, I might be). It's a low budget film from someone who is to me an unknown - so that's always worth thinking about.

So thanks again to those who have seen it - I guess availablity will be an issue for me. Can you get this in like - Best Buy?

[betterdan]

I already looked Best Buy doesn't carry this in the store you have to order it online.

[SaviniFan]

My local Borders had this in stock.

[dwatts]

Hm, so it's really an Internet purchase then? I'm about to go on the road for a week or so, so it's not worth ordering until I get back dammit. Oh well - thanks people!

[mutleyhyde]

By saying that x666x had been civil, I didn't mean to imply, in any way whatsoever, that anyone else here hadn't remained civil. I apologize if anyone got that impression.

[Andrew]

Hm, so it's really an Internet purchase then? I'm about to go on the road for a week or so, so it's not worth ordering until I get back dammit. Oh well - thanks people!Or you could order it now and it'll be there when you get back. Just a thought.

I avoided this thread but just read it in full and now I'm slightly interested in this one as well. It isn't too much at DDD, so one boring day I may snag it.

[latenite]

I finally saw this last night and loved it up until the last few minutes and then the ending which just plain sucked, like someone earlier said it seemed like this was part 1 of a series. I went back a few chapters and watched the end with the subtitled commentary which helped give some closure, but not much. Disappointing.

[dwatts]

Disapointing just because of the end? I can name quite a few films I love, but that have lame endings. Is that it?

[BloodMan]

Just got this in today. Gonna give her a spin tonight and let you all know what I thought of it. :)