Jonathan Glazer's vision revisited: The lasting impact of Under the Skin

Years may have passed, but the haunting resonance of Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin lingers in the corridors of cinematic history. It was a film that challenged both genre boundaries and audience perceptions, featuring Scarlett Johansson in a role that is as unforgettable today as it was upon its release.

In an era when strong female leads are celebrated, we reflect on Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of a seductive alien, a role that has since been carved into the annals of sci-fi history. Johansson's character, driving around Scotland, became iconic not just for the hidden camera angle tactics but for the profound statements on human nature. The much-spoken about hidden camera angle provides a talking point, but Johansson’s (literally) naked performance highlights not only the flaws of her alien actions, but the flaws of the world that we live in today.

The film, adapted from Michael Faber’s novel, was a divergence from the typical alien narrative, placing a sole female extraterrestrial in the midst of human society to offer a mirror to our own world. It was a bold choice, and Johansson's lead role emphasized a raw and vulnerable perspective rarely seen in science fiction.

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Under the Skin was part of a broader movement that saw actresses like Uma Thurman and Michelle Pfeiffer take on roles that blended beauty with the beastly. Pfeiffer's Lamia in Stardust and Thurman's Poison Ivy in Batman and Robin were performances done with a twist of relish, showcasing the layers and complexity of villainesses. It is great to see Pfeiffer tackle another villainous role, as she does it with such relish.

These transformative performances broke the mold, allowing female characters to own their narratives, whether as the anti-heroines of their stories or as the multi-dimensional villains. They paved the way for characters like Angelina Jolie's Maleficent, who brought depth to a character once seen as purely evil.

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Today, as audiences demand more nuanced portrayals of women on screen, the groundwork laid by these performances feels more relevant than ever. Jolie really does get under the skin of this character, as we discover what made her the villain, we all know.

As we celebrate the anniversaries of such pivotal films, it's clear that the impact of Glazer's Under the Skin and its contemporaries continues to be felt. They were not just movies but conversations that have yet to end, a testament to the power of film as a reflective surface for humanity.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)