Parents' Guide to

The Skin I Live In

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Bizarre Almodovar drama is far too intense for kids.

Movie R 2011 117 minutes
The Skin I Live In Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ReviewsofTruth
ReviewsofTruth Adult
August 9, 2016
age 14+
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Granted, I am a little bit too young to be watching this, but I think that age doesn't matter as long as the person in question is mature enough to enjoy and fully appreciate the film. That being said, this movie is definitely not for everyone. There are extremely explicit scenes with graphic sexual acts. Also, there are some violent parts as well, but with all of the violence in movies today, this one isn't as gory as a significant amount of films. This movie hooks you in at the beginning and doesn't let you go until the final shot. I don't want to give too much away because it's best to go into it without any knowledge of what it's about. That being said, this is a must-watch for anyone who can handle it, so if it sounds interesting to you, you should watch it as soon as you can. I can promise you'll enjoy it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
christian2011
christian2011 Adult
December 11, 2012
age 18+

A fantasic and unique psychological thriller with intense shock value.

The Skin I Live In is a unique yet very violent and sexual film about a plastic surgeon (Antonio Banderas) creates a very durable, synthetic skin on a volatile mysterious woman who somehow holds the key to his success and obsession. The film mostly comes from his point of view, which his progess to creating the perfect skin gets the science community more and more skeptical, plus his past tragic moments is also linked to this plot. The movie is definitely not for kids, because it contains very graphic surgical procedures including nudity, especially a forced sex-change operation on a rapist, explicit sexuality including full-frontal nudity, a brutal and sadistic rape scene, and other very disturbingly violent moments. Language is infrequent but strong (uses of f**k, sh*t and c**t). There is also very graphic drug use (pill-popping, heroin use, pipe smoking, and teenage kids seen drinking / getting high and drunk. Sexual content is a major concern, because the sex scenes include teenagers having oral sex, thrusting involved; the brutal rape sequence where the rapist is also shot by the woman's father; and of course, the infamous sex change operation where you see a plastic surgeon perform graphic procedures on a struggling man - extremely disturbing and cringing. This movie also shows that someone may drastically change someone's appearance in the most extremes possible, but they can never change their personality of who they are.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) has developed a new super-strong skin that's impervious to burns and diseases, though the scientific community frowns on his methods. At home, he keeps a beautiful woman, Vera (Elena Anaya), locked up in a special room; she appears to be the result of his experiments. She manages to seduce him, and in a long flashback, viewers learn the terrible story of Robert's wife, burned in a car crash, as well as his sadistic half-brother, his beloved daughter, and his daughter's pill-popping rapist. How do all these bizarre elements add up, and how will Robert pay for what he's done?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

Almodovar is one of the world's most sensual filmmakers, revealing a fearless attitude toward sex, unafraid to show beauty for beauty's sake (such as a shot of Robert working on a Bonsai tree). With The Skin I Live In, Almodovar adopts a playfully wicked attitude, similar to the one director James Whale used on Bride of Frankenstein. It doesn't matter how weird things get in this movie, Almodovar is clearly relishing peeling back layer after layer of this peculiar onion.

This is Banderas' sixth film directed by Oscar-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar (their first collaboration since 1990), who has become one of the most famous and successful non-English directors alive today. Like Fellini before him, he's now able to announce a film using only his last name. Also, like Fellini, he has grown ever more perverse and daring, taking on more bizarre subjects. Yet Almodovar remains a rigorous and expert filmmaker, with a craftsman's control over color, space, and tone.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's sexual relationships. Is there anything loving or consensual about any of them? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • How do the film's violent events affect you? Are they horrifying, or do they seem more like dark comedy? Is the violence necessary to the story?

Movie Details

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