I watched this mess of a film and I don't think I would ever recommend it to anyone.
The thing about this movie is that although everything is almost good, the plot is so so so messy that spoils it all. I mean, you're a hero if you make it to the end. And if you make it to the end, like myself, you will realize how stupid you are for not watching literally ANYTHING else.
I'm giving it a generous 4 out of 10 only because the acting was good.
Don't waste your precious time with this one.
22 Reviews
Grotesque in a cringey way
Phantasma_the_Black18 December 2021
The first half is fine. At first you don't know what's going on, but then little by little, you start to get the idea. Maybe you'll guess the twist along the way, but good cinematography, sound effects and acting will probably keep you invested in the story enough to carry on. At least for a while.
And then in the second half, it falls on its face. And keeps falling deeper and deeper. I won't spoil it here, but you'll know it when it happens... and keeps happening.
It becomes grotesque to the point it loses its edge and gets laughable instead of creepy. You won't die out of fear, but cringe might just do the job.
And then in the second half, it falls on its face. And keeps falling deeper and deeper. I won't spoil it here, but you'll know it when it happens... and keeps happening.
It becomes grotesque to the point it loses its edge and gets laughable instead of creepy. You won't die out of fear, but cringe might just do the job.
A (psycological) journey into the past
fabio_bottani30 September 2020
Ratings mean very little to me, at the end of the day, every film is purely a subjective experience.
A film halfway between psychological thriller and horror. Good choice of English (with French subtitles), which gives it a more international appeal. Good actors, good photography, sound and location. The protagonist of this story, is a young and psychologically fragile young woman (Regine) who must return to confront the ghosts of the past. There is no lack of tension and a decent the final twist. The script leaves something to be desired, but it is offset by well-made flashbacks, capable of revealing some of the plot secrets at the right moment.
A film halfway between psychological thriller and horror. Good choice of English (with French subtitles), which gives it a more international appeal. Good actors, good photography, sound and location. The protagonist of this story, is a young and psychologically fragile young woman (Regine) who must return to confront the ghosts of the past. There is no lack of tension and a decent the final twist. The script leaves something to be desired, but it is offset by well-made flashbacks, capable of revealing some of the plot secrets at the right moment.
This was just a random mess of confusion...
paul_haakonsen4 August 2020
Actually, just a single word is necessary to summarize this entire movie, and that word is: no.
This movie was as boring as it was a confused mess of a narrative. I suppose writer and director Christian Neuman was attempting to show the crazy mind of Regine (played by Amber Anderson), and in that term he actually did quite alright, because it was confusing and troubled. But if you look at the movie in terms of it being an entertaining and enjoyable movie, then that approach to the storyline just failed utterly and ruined anything even remotely close to being enjoyable.
"Skin Walker" does have a nice cast, with the likes of Udo Kier on the cast list as well. Just a shame that the storyline was such a heap of rubbish, because it reflected badly on the actors and actresses.
I managed to endure 53 minutes of the ordeal that is "Skin Walker", then I just simply gave up. I wasn't the least bit entertained. Watching scene after scene of what seemed to be randomly put together filmed sequences just didn't cut it for me.
At least the movie has some nice enough production level to it, but it was hardly enough to to make up for the randomness and confusion that is "Skin Walker".
My rating of this 2019 movie lands on a mere two out of ten stars. And I have absolutely no intention of returning to watch the rest of the movie.
This movie was as boring as it was a confused mess of a narrative. I suppose writer and director Christian Neuman was attempting to show the crazy mind of Regine (played by Amber Anderson), and in that term he actually did quite alright, because it was confusing and troubled. But if you look at the movie in terms of it being an entertaining and enjoyable movie, then that approach to the storyline just failed utterly and ruined anything even remotely close to being enjoyable.
"Skin Walker" does have a nice cast, with the likes of Udo Kier on the cast list as well. Just a shame that the storyline was such a heap of rubbish, because it reflected badly on the actors and actresses.
I managed to endure 53 minutes of the ordeal that is "Skin Walker", then I just simply gave up. I wasn't the least bit entertained. Watching scene after scene of what seemed to be randomly put together filmed sequences just didn't cut it for me.
At least the movie has some nice enough production level to it, but it was hardly enough to to make up for the randomness and confusion that is "Skin Walker".
My rating of this 2019 movie lands on a mere two out of ten stars. And I have absolutely no intention of returning to watch the rest of the movie.
Not sure about anything I just watched...
ravenhair70211 August 2020
Dear god, the movie is over. I feel like I just got paroled. To suffer through a mind screw like this indicates that I must have done something to deserve a punishment for whatever I did. The story goes as follows, a man shows up, tells this woman her brother, that she believes is dead since birth, has killed someone. She goes back and that's the beginning of the TWISTED tale. Frankly, my brain hurts. It's one of those kinds of movies that you don't know what's real and what isn't. This is something that I'd rather NEVER experience again. I'm astounded by the 7.7 rating it got, then I seen that it had only 5 reviews. Two of them are from normal human beings that hated it, and three others, which I can only assume that gave it high marks because they are the director, the assistant director and the producer. These have to be fake reviews and trust me folks, it happens. I wouldn't go anywhere near this garbage. Peace.
What's wrong with the director?
nikolaosnorgias16 August 2020
Not sure if there are any good writers left
cory-jay18 August 2020
Not that bad, not that good. Just.. Ok
KikyNez14 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I was reading the reviews before putting my own here.
This is not a 2 or for stars (of 10) not a 8 or 9.
It is slow and it intends to tell the story from the "point of view" of an unreliable narrator, that being Regine herself. As of this kind of style in narrative has had been done before and in a much better ways with more effective results, we cannot say is terrible just for this.
It is actually a little derivative, and even predictable (I, myself, resolved the "mystery" within the first half of the movie).
Performances are pretty good, for the 2 main characters, because Udo Kier is excellent in what he does, and Amber gave a great performance as a fractured soul with a fractured mind.
The end and resolution was kind of knowable since a mile away. But, it was well executed.
This is intended as an "artsy" thriller drama. Not that bad, but not as profound as it was trying to be.
For me could be 5/10 but I give one more point for Udo and Amber (and even the child actress portraying young Regine).
As a curiosity: Hellheim Institute called my attention as Hellheim is the Hell Realm in Norse Heathenry.
Not exactly recommend it, but for making a critic we all must watch before. And to the very end.
6/10 for me. Watch at your own risk.
This is not a 2 or for stars (of 10) not a 8 or 9.
It is slow and it intends to tell the story from the "point of view" of an unreliable narrator, that being Regine herself. As of this kind of style in narrative has had been done before and in a much better ways with more effective results, we cannot say is terrible just for this.
It is actually a little derivative, and even predictable (I, myself, resolved the "mystery" within the first half of the movie).
Performances are pretty good, for the 2 main characters, because Udo Kier is excellent in what he does, and Amber gave a great performance as a fractured soul with a fractured mind.
The end and resolution was kind of knowable since a mile away. But, it was well executed.
This is intended as an "artsy" thriller drama. Not that bad, but not as profound as it was trying to be.
For me could be 5/10 but I give one more point for Udo and Amber (and even the child actress portraying young Regine).
As a curiosity: Hellheim Institute called my attention as Hellheim is the Hell Realm in Norse Heathenry.
Not exactly recommend it, but for making a critic we all must watch before. And to the very end.
6/10 for me. Watch at your own risk.
A rough gem with a deep story
seularts6 August 2020
I do not agree with the previous 2 star review as the user didn't even watch the movie until the end to give a proper description of what the movie is.
It is indeed a very deep layered movie that makes you uncomfortable to watch and does confuse the viewer about what's going on. At first glance it gives the impression of a horror movie when in fact it's a deep psychological trauma that makes you see the story from the eyes of the crazy persona. It is in fact really well crafted this way as the story happens in the background and you have to stitch the clues together until the end. It's not an Inception type of movie as it does answer most of the questions but it is clever done through the use progressively changing colors, sounds, effects and acting performances as the story develops.
The movie is not for everyone and it sure isn't a horror flick. This is more of a Hitchcock type of horror that inflicts fear through disturbed emotions and taboo thoughts (true human creeping horror elements). The actors and production level are spot on.
I highly recommend you to watch this movie if you love psychological movies, especially the ones that put you very up-close and personal to the action. 9/10 as it does leave some unimportant loose ends here and there about secondary characters.
It is indeed a very deep layered movie that makes you uncomfortable to watch and does confuse the viewer about what's going on. At first glance it gives the impression of a horror movie when in fact it's a deep psychological trauma that makes you see the story from the eyes of the crazy persona. It is in fact really well crafted this way as the story happens in the background and you have to stitch the clues together until the end. It's not an Inception type of movie as it does answer most of the questions but it is clever done through the use progressively changing colors, sounds, effects and acting performances as the story develops.
The movie is not for everyone and it sure isn't a horror flick. This is more of a Hitchcock type of horror that inflicts fear through disturbed emotions and taboo thoughts (true human creeping horror elements). The actors and production level are spot on.
I highly recommend you to watch this movie if you love psychological movies, especially the ones that put you very up-close and personal to the action. 9/10 as it does leave some unimportant loose ends here and there about secondary characters.
Surreal psychological terror
hossamalbraak7 August 2020
Skin Walker is, at its core, a deeply disturbing film with a finale that is equal parts harrowing and gut-wrenching. The film puts the protagonist Regine (played by Amber Anderson) through a continuous state of mental and physical torment, a form of torture so severe that she is pushed over the edge by the end.
Regine is submitted to continuous flashbacks throughout the film calling back to the extremely gruesome birth of her baby brother and her sexual harassment by her mother's physician. Just like the protagonist, the audience experiences these flashbacks in sudden hallucinations which is extremely unsettling psychologically. Regine's mental condition further deteriorates when she has a violent fight with her boyfriend and she continues to have flashbacks regarding this emotionally distressing moment as well. As the audience is subjected to the gruelling 90 minutes of terror, the mounting psychological tensions might be too much for some to bear.
The surreal aspects of the film are many. Regine's father Claus (played by the legendary Udo Kier) spends the entire narrative hiding things from her daughter and his questionable actions throughout the story make Regine's mental condition worse.
The setting of the film is disturbing in itself. Most of the film takes place in a secluded village surrounded by a thick forest where Regine finds herself awaking repeatedly towards the end of the film with no idea how she got there. These moments of sleepwalking are plenty and as they increase in frequency.
Skin Walker is a deeply disconcerting and distressing film. The entire story can be summed up as the disintegration of Regine as she loses her family, her mind and eventually her own self as well.
The film succeeds in what it sets out to do; terrorizing the audience until they sympathize with the trials and tribulations of the protagonist. With a great sound design, stunning cinematography the film harkens back to earlier similar films such as Gothika (2003) and A Cure for Wellness (2016).
Regine is submitted to continuous flashbacks throughout the film calling back to the extremely gruesome birth of her baby brother and her sexual harassment by her mother's physician. Just like the protagonist, the audience experiences these flashbacks in sudden hallucinations which is extremely unsettling psychologically. Regine's mental condition further deteriorates when she has a violent fight with her boyfriend and she continues to have flashbacks regarding this emotionally distressing moment as well. As the audience is subjected to the gruelling 90 minutes of terror, the mounting psychological tensions might be too much for some to bear.
The surreal aspects of the film are many. Regine's father Claus (played by the legendary Udo Kier) spends the entire narrative hiding things from her daughter and his questionable actions throughout the story make Regine's mental condition worse.
The setting of the film is disturbing in itself. Most of the film takes place in a secluded village surrounded by a thick forest where Regine finds herself awaking repeatedly towards the end of the film with no idea how she got there. These moments of sleepwalking are plenty and as they increase in frequency.
Skin Walker is a deeply disconcerting and distressing film. The entire story can be summed up as the disintegration of Regine as she loses her family, her mind and eventually her own self as well.
The film succeeds in what it sets out to do; terrorizing the audience until they sympathize with the trials and tribulations of the protagonist. With a great sound design, stunning cinematography the film harkens back to earlier similar films such as Gothika (2003) and A Cure for Wellness (2016).
nice acting ... terrible movie
brisaias29 August 2020
Great 1st date movie!! The kind of movie that tongueing a hornets nest is more entertaining
gpsychos2-239-27846430 August 2020
Want to guarantee youll at least get to make out with your date? Then suggest movie night and then put this on. Its such a boring nonsensical series of meaningless and just downright confusing scenes that anyone would welcome the distraction of making out literally with anything or anyone then watch this drivel. THE only reason I gave this 4 stars is for Amber Andersons see through top scene. Otherwise like one reviewer I finally gave up trying to watch and make any sort of sense or feeling for this movie at the 56 minute mark. I tried to hang in there but its realy so horrible that even if it had the best ending ever I still couldnt make it to the end. Please take the vast majorities advice and watch or do anything else
Skin deep
Stanlee10715 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is one trippy film that questions the viewers on whether or not you can believe in everything you see. We see that through the eyes of our main protagonist...a seemingly troubled woman that is enticed to return to her childhood home. She goes on a rollercoaster ride to confront a childhood tragedy & everyone around is walking on egg shells around her. Her dad holds a powerful role in the community... There is some shadow that no matter how hard she focus on cannot see clearly or unravel as to its true nature. There are flashback scenes that seem too far fetched to be believable but there must be an ounce of truth in it.
I enjoyed how you are never sure what is going on and the twist is disturbing unnervingly. It is worth a watch. I did figure out it before the big reveal.
I enjoyed how you are never sure what is going on and the twist is disturbing unnervingly. It is worth a watch. I did figure out it before the big reveal.
Convoluted mess
movie_ape9 November 2020
Skin Walker is entertaining and merits a watch but falls short of its potential
kevin_robbins18 November 2023
I recently viewed the Luxembourg 🇱🇺 film Skin Walker (2019) on Tubi. The plot revolves around a young woman with a troubled past that includes her mother's descent into madness after her brother's birth, and a brother that's believed to be dead. Seeking help from a psychiatrist who only adds self doubt, she returns home after her grandmother's brutal murder and uncovers discrepancies in her memories.
Directed by Christian Neuman (He. She. It.), the cast includes Udo Kier (Suspiria), Amber Anderson (Your Highness), Jefferson Hall (Tenet), Sophie Mousel (The Last Ashes), and Luc Schiltz (The Brand New Testament).
While boasting a compelling concept and worthwhile storyline, the film invests excessive time in plot development. Udo delivers a fantastic performance, embracing his trademark eccentricity. The brother and family subplots are engaging and features enjoyable reveals. The horror utilize solid makeup/masks effectively, concluding with noteworthy horror elements, though the buildup feels prolonged and takes too long to get to the fun.
In conclusion, Skin Walker is entertaining and merits a watch but falls slightly short of its potential. I would rate this a 5/10 and recommend giving it a viewing.
Directed by Christian Neuman (He. She. It.), the cast includes Udo Kier (Suspiria), Amber Anderson (Your Highness), Jefferson Hall (Tenet), Sophie Mousel (The Last Ashes), and Luc Schiltz (The Brand New Testament).
While boasting a compelling concept and worthwhile storyline, the film invests excessive time in plot development. Udo delivers a fantastic performance, embracing his trademark eccentricity. The brother and family subplots are engaging and features enjoyable reveals. The horror utilize solid makeup/masks effectively, concluding with noteworthy horror elements, though the buildup feels prolonged and takes too long to get to the fun.
In conclusion, Skin Walker is entertaining and merits a watch but falls slightly short of its potential. I would rate this a 5/10 and recommend giving it a viewing.
Pleasant surprise...
teodoramonika6 August 2021
Skin-crawling.
morrison-dylan-fan9 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Whilst being aware that he has a vast number of credits,the only films starring the legendary Udo Kier I've seen is the bonkers Dario Argento flick Mother of Tears (2007) and fellow auteur Walerian Borowczyk's excellent The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne (1981-both films also reviewed.) Checking the line up on the Cine-Excess festival,I found that they were streaming Kier's "Return to Horror",leading to me going for a skinny.
View on the film:
Entering with the same spirit he had for Mother of Tears (2007), Udo Kier gives a joyful performance of cutting thick slices of ham as Claus, who when not cackling with glee Kier has give menacing smirks to all who catch his sight. Forced to return to the family estate, Amber Anderson gives a bubbly turn as Regine, whose downcast withdrawn state Anderson burns at the edges with returned horrors from her childhood entering Regine's adult life.
Wearing the potential in the screenplay for a intelligent examination in his feature film debut on the long-term effort of psychological trauma in childhood from the family home, writer/director Christian Neuman skins chances for slow-burn chills or any depth by throwing a trashy splatter Horror mood.
Neuman & cinematographer Amandine Klee shake the camera round like it is having a seizure, spinning out of the rich Gothic Horror reds and purples with constant agitating twist and turning camera moves which comes off as utterly detached from the characters and distracting from the elegant Gothic design on the skin.
View on the film:
Entering with the same spirit he had for Mother of Tears (2007), Udo Kier gives a joyful performance of cutting thick slices of ham as Claus, who when not cackling with glee Kier has give menacing smirks to all who catch his sight. Forced to return to the family estate, Amber Anderson gives a bubbly turn as Regine, whose downcast withdrawn state Anderson burns at the edges with returned horrors from her childhood entering Regine's adult life.
Wearing the potential in the screenplay for a intelligent examination in his feature film debut on the long-term effort of psychological trauma in childhood from the family home, writer/director Christian Neuman skins chances for slow-burn chills or any depth by throwing a trashy splatter Horror mood.
Neuman & cinematographer Amandine Klee shake the camera round like it is having a seizure, spinning out of the rich Gothic Horror reds and purples with constant agitating twist and turning camera moves which comes off as utterly detached from the characters and distracting from the elegant Gothic design on the skin.
A Taunt Thriller
ladymidath28 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know why this movie has received so much hate. Okay, it does have it's issues. It could have been a little clearer, but then again, the protagonist in an unreliable narrator. There were a few plot threads that were left dangling, but these are small complaints. Over all, Skin Walker was a very taunt movie that was more Hitchcock.thriller than horror. It's more about a young woman descending into madness and exploring a very dark past than outright horror. Udo Keir is of course the reason I am giving it a high score. He brings class to everything he is in. Amber Anderson is very good as Regine and watching her psychotic break is painful at times. All up, I enjoyed Skin Walker and despite it's few flaws, I would recommend it.
The better horror films of 2020
hssem10 August 2020
The film stars Amber Anderson ("Black Mirror","Emma"), Jefferson Hall ("Halloween","Game of Thrones") and the legendary Udo Kier ("Blade", "Downsizing"). The film tells the story of a young woman, Regine, who has escaped her traumatic childhood by moving to a city. However, the sudden brazen murder of her grandmother forces Regine to move back to her childhood home to confront the demons of her past. As evil rises to deliver its final blow, Regine realizes she has no one but herself to confront and defeat these malevolent forces once and for all.
Skin Walker takes a familiar story of a girl beset by evil forces and puts a fresh supernatural spin on it. The film is extremely disturbing from start to finish as we are shown the gradual mental degeneration of our protagonist whose mind and senses are under assault from all sides with no one else to count upon. Amber Anderson gives a nuanced performance; veteran thespian Udo Kier particularly shines as the mysterious and possibly evil father of our protagonist Regine. The film is also visually stunning with beautiful sets of lush green forests and dimly lit dungeons making up the majority of the film's shooting locations a work of art. Regine's frequent hallucinations are timed to perfection; creating a surreal experience that disturbs and haunts the audience. One little shortcoming of the film is the final twist which has been done countless times before in similar genre films. Skin Walker is an entertaining horror thriller which manages to successfully entertain the audience through trippy hallucinatory dream sequences and precipitous jumpscares. The film will satisfy horror fans and general audiences alike and is one of the better horror films of 2020.
Skin Walker takes a familiar story of a girl beset by evil forces and puts a fresh supernatural spin on it. The film is extremely disturbing from start to finish as we are shown the gradual mental degeneration of our protagonist whose mind and senses are under assault from all sides with no one else to count upon. Amber Anderson gives a nuanced performance; veteran thespian Udo Kier particularly shines as the mysterious and possibly evil father of our protagonist Regine. The film is also visually stunning with beautiful sets of lush green forests and dimly lit dungeons making up the majority of the film's shooting locations a work of art. Regine's frequent hallucinations are timed to perfection; creating a surreal experience that disturbs and haunts the audience. One little shortcoming of the film is the final twist which has been done countless times before in similar genre films. Skin Walker is an entertaining horror thriller which manages to successfully entertain the audience through trippy hallucinatory dream sequences and precipitous jumpscares. The film will satisfy horror fans and general audiences alike and is one of the better horror films of 2020.
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