Scarlett Johansson has built a career full of bold choices, but one 2013 sci-fi thriller stands out as her most provocative role. Under the Skin just landed a brand new streaming home for fans.
The film barely made a dent at the box office when it first arrived, yet it slowly earned a devoted cult following over time. Keep reading to learn why this strange thriller still fascinates viewers.
What’s under the skin is about
Under the Skin follows a mysterious woman known only as the Female, who drives around Scotland searching for lonely men. She lures them into her van with promises before leading them to a terrifying fate.
As the story unfolds, the Female slowly begins to question her own purpose and identity. She becomes curious about human emotion, something she was never meant to feel, and that curiosity changes her entire mission.
Scarlett Johansson plays a mysterious alien
Johansson takes on the role of an extraterrestrial disguised as an ordinary woman, though nothing about her performance feels ordinary at all. She speaks little throughout the film, letting expressions carry most of the story.
Her performance relies heavily on silence and observation rather than dialogue or big dramatic scenes. Many critics consider it one of her finest performances precisely because of how much she conveys without saying a word.
The movie was filmed with hidden cameras
Director Jonathan Glazer used an unusual technique to capture much of the film, placing hidden cameras inside Johansson’s van as she drove through Glasgow streets. Many men she approached had no idea they were filmed.
Those unsuspecting men were regular members of the public rather than trained actors reciting scripted lines. Glazer later obtained their permission to use the footage, giving the finished film a truly eerie sense of realism.
A disappointing Box Office run
Despite its ambitious vision, Under the Skin struggled mightily when it hit theaters back in 2014. Made for around thirteen million dollars, the film only managed to earn about seven million dollars around the world.
That box office performance made it one of the more notable disappointments of the year for a film featuring such a major rising star. Still, the modest numbers did nothing to slow its cultural reputation.
Critics loved it more than audiences
Under the Skin earned praise from critics almost immediately, eventually landing an eighty-three percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Many reviewers called it one of the best and boldest films released that year.
Regular audiences felt very differently about the experience, giving the film a much lower score of fifty-five percent on the same review aggregator. That divide between critics and viewers only added to its reputation.
The story comes from a 2000 novel
The film is based on a novel written by author Michel Faber, which was originally published back in the year 2000. Glazer spent nearly a full decade developing the project before it finally reached theaters.
Screenwriter Walter Campbell worked closely alongside Glazer to adapt the source material for the big screen. Despite years of development, the pair managed to distill the strange and layered novel into a tight cinematic experience.
Under the Skin found new life on Netflix
Earlier this year, Under the Skin found a new audience after landing on Netflix in the United States for the very first time. The streaming platform introduced the cult classic to countless brand-new viewers.
That Netflix run helped reignite conversations about the film among casual viewers and longtime fans alike. Many newcomers finally understood why this strange sci-fi thriller had earned such a devoted and passionate cult following.
The film heads to Tubi for free
Now the film is wrapping up its Netflix run and heading toward an entirely free destination for viewers everywhere. Starting on July first, Under the Skin becomes available on Tubi, the popular ad-supported platform.
That move means anyone curious about the bizarre thriller can watch it without paying a subscription fee. All it costs viewers is a few short ad breaks scattered throughout this unsettling and thought-provoking film.
What this means for streaming fans
This latest move continues a growing trend of older cult favorites finding new homes on free ad-supported platforms. Streaming services increasingly shuffle older library titles around to keep their catalogs feeling fresh for subscribers.
For fans of Johansson or unconventional science fiction, this shift makes an underappreciated gem far more accessible than ever before. There is truly no better time to finally discover or revisit this strange cinematic experience.
Scarlett Johansson’s busy upcoming slate
Johansson has plenty on her plate beyond this streaming milestone, including a highly anticipated role in the upcoming Exorcist reboot from director Mike Flanagan. She is expected to play the mother of a young boy.
She will also appear in The Batman Part II, playing the role of Gilda Dent alongside returning stars like Robert Pattinson. Between franchise work and cult classics, Johansson remains one of the busiest actresses working.
Featured Image: By Новиков Евгений Александрович – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107171663
