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Parents' Guide to

Skin

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Brutal but important drama about white supremacists.

Movie R 2019 120 minutes
Skin Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

age 18+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Absolutely unflinching in its portrayal of white supremacists, this fact-based drama starts out ugly and disquieting but slowly evolves into a movie of compassion and significance. Skin follows writer-director Guy Nattiv's Oscar-winning short film of the same name; although the two movies don't share the same story, they do share similar imagery, as well as star Macdonald. Skin drops viewers directly into the uncomfortable center of things, with an intense level of hate and rage. Perhaps one of the most unsettling moments comes at a rally, when Fred Krager announces that he's running for office.

But somehow even more unsettling is Farmiga's smiling, baited performance as the "mother" of the boys, luring them with calculated kindnesses and pet names. Macdonald is also spectacular, as tough-as-nails here as she was in Patti Cake$, but also earthy and vivid. At first, the movie positions her as only a possible conquest for Bryon, but her sheer force of will turns her into a real character. But it's Bell who does the heavy lifting, covered in ink and channeling all that surging violence and anger until it must have hurt. His redemption in the movie's second half brings great relief. Mike Colter plays the movie's true hero, Daryle Lamont Jenkins, who has devoted his life to helping people escape neo-Nazi groups. (The end credits include moving footage of the real Jenkins and the real Widner.) In the end, Skin is a tough movie, but a necessary one.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: July 26, 2019
  • On DVD or streaming: September 24, 2019
  • Cast: Danielle Macdonald , Jamie Bell , Vera Farmiga
  • Director: Guy Nattiv
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: A24
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 120 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: disturbing violent content, pervasive language, some sexuality, and brief drug use
  • Last updated: September 12, 2023

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