source: Comforting Skin

Am another person who was really intrigued by the cool and eerie-looking cover for 'Comforting Skin'. What a great title! The concept was also interesting and seemed to promise an unsettling and daring film, would not have minded in this case about whether it was original or not. Have seen some films recently that when advertised don't look very good visually, but 'Comforting Skin' didn't strike me as amateurish looking at it. 'Comforting Skin' was a disappointment however for me, and this is my respectful opinion and not one that is going to say anything malicious or personal about the film or those commenting. Not a terrible disappointment, but a disappointment nonetheless. With a lot done wrong but with its moments and decent things. If describing 'Comforting Skin' in one word it would be lacklustre, while admiring and appreciating what it set out to do. The best thing about 'Comforting Skin' is the acting, which surprisingly was much better than average. Actually thought it quite good, and thought that Victoria Bidewell gave a deeply felt and appropriately unsettling performance. Did find myself rooting for her, and don't usually say that with similar characters. It also didn't look cheap, much effort was put into the photography and atmospheric, and thankfully not too dark, lighting. Didn't thankfully find myself irritated or bored by the music score, this is a component that is very important for me to talk about in film and television having grown up around music, being in a musical family and with it being a major part of my life as a singer slowly building up her career despite obstacles. It added to the unsettlement and had an eeriness that one wishes was present in the other components, while not being too intrusive. On the other hand, the story and pace are real letdowns. Was hoping for more creepiness and suspense than 'Comforting Skin' actually provided, both of which only came in spurts if even that. Really admired the concept and that the film tried to touch upon the themes and ideas it had, but much more could have been done with them because a lot of it felt underdeveloped. In terms of the pacing, too much of 'Comforting Skin' felt dull and padded, with too many uneventful stretches. Credit is due that my intelligence was not insulted, but my interest wavered too early. Script tended to be rather awkward and needed tightening, some lines did have the cringe-factor, while some of the effects were tacky and jarred with the rest of the production values. The direction is not incompetent but was workmanlike at best on the dramatic and momentum front. In conclusion, had its good things but in sore need of more lustre. 4/10

Now, I was lured in by the movie's rather interesting cover. I hadn't heard about "Comforting Skin" prior to stumbling upon it by random luck in mid-2019, eight years after the movie was released. I knew absolutely nothing about it, but the movie's cover suggested a horror movie, so I was onboard. Well, it wasn't exactly a horror movie, it was more of a drama laced with a hint of mystery and thriller. But horror? No sir. So how was the movie? Boring. Very boring and uneventful, and I managed to endure most of the movie, but had to give up on it with only 20 minutes to go. The movie just simply was so tedious and far from interesting that it was an ordeal to sit through it. What made it somewhat bearable to watch was the performance of Victoria Bidewell, despite the fact that she had the script working heavily against her, and also because the movie was just loaded with a boring and faceless character gallery. But at least she stood out in this movie. And the movie's cover, as I mentioned earlier, well... It is a hoax, because it oversells the movie by miles. The tattoo depicted on the cover is nothing like it is in the movie, and it is simply just false advertising to spice up the interest in the movie. I was suckered in. So you have been warned now, so you don't walk into the same trap. I can't really find a reason for recommending that you take the time to sit down and watch "Comforting Skin", because the movie simply doesn't have any value or proper selling arguments. Do yourself a favor and steer well clear of this 2011 movie.

Although listed as a horror/thriller, this is more in the vein of dramas such as "Images" by Robert Altman and "Repulsion' by Polanski. Great performances by the three leads, excellent direction, writing and cinematography make this more of an art film than the usual stuff found on Netflix. Also noteworthy is an excellent score that knows when to slip into and out of tonality, to represent the inner world of the main character. I found myself also thinking of "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" with both the performance of the lead, and the use of eerie, overlapping voices to represent the madness she was slipping into. A good representation of the inner world of bi-polar/schizophrenia without resorting to Hollywood clichés.

I'm not one of those people who likes any and every movie they watch. This movie is unlike any other I have seen, and the characters, while depressed and full of psychological issues, are relatable and likable. The story is unusual and touches on many real subjects people deal with daily. Great cinematography.

I love this movie they should reboot the movie but more sexual and longer and better and they should make comforting skin 2 and comforting skin 3 I think a lot of people would love that two more sequels would be amazing. They rebooted a whole bunch of other movies I think a reboot for comforting skin would be a good idea in my opinion I think comforting skin tells the story just about like what people are going through in general whether it's a mental illness or they've lost someone or they've lost their way in life but yeah comforting skin is a wonderful movie and I think everybody should see the movie.

A complete waste of time. Who funds this crap? There is no gore, violence, just a bunch of bad tats cgi crawling all over the tattooed girl the whole movie and some sex. That's it. I was hoping it would at least build up to a decent climax and that didn't even happen. This movie was so bad and boring I admit I had to fast forward part of it. I saw this movie on netflix- most of the horror movies on netflix are about 80% bad but this is by far the worst I've seen.The only comfort was when it was over.

From early 2014 my film of the year has remained Under The Skin by Jonathan Glazer, a very polarizing film, and one that caught many by surprise, I didn't really expect anything else to come along this year (particularly so late) but just last night I caught Comforting Skin, a film that burrows into your brain like a psyche eating maggot. To begin with, I'm not really sure what has been going on with this movie, it's dated 2011 here but apart from a few festivals it looks as if it hasn't been given a wide release until now. I had seen the trailer quite some time ago however and it certainly looked of some interest. I love films that sit just on the edge of the horror/ thriller genre, and Comforting Skin seemed to offer that. The film is a tale of Koffie, a girl who's had a distinct lack of emotional involvement (which she craves intensely) but who's also had some serious psychological problems in the past. Struggling to keep a brave face on her situation, she one day decides to get a tattoo, which quickly becomes the catalyst for her mental demise. I just want to say (and I hope some don't take this as a spoiler) that this is not a film about a talking tattoo (I'm sure most will work that out pretty quickly though) rather it's a symbol of the spinning disintegration of a woman's sanity. A woman who had been cutting herself before this to feel something, but with the tattoo she begins to feel much more. Victoria Bidewells performance here is nothing short of Oscar worthy, I could barely take my eyes off her during the entire run time of the film, such a brave (there are many * scenes) and harrowing display she gives as a person falling apart at the seams. From her early, and cheery persona, right through to the point where she's snapping her teeth like an animal in some late night cafe, she's simply brilliant as a girl who's lost the plot. That's not to say she's the only one however, as we soon learn that every character in the film has problems all of their own. From her housemate Nathan (who we never really find out what's wrong with him, but likely it's a list of hidden phobias) to her friend Synthia, a far too old party girl thinking she still has it in the club's. These people live in a sour, depressive state, but none moreso than Koffie. To say any more would spoil the film for you, but the choice of Victoria Bidewell to play Koffie was inspired. This wasn't a role for some blonde bimbo, as that would have taken away from the earthy feel of the film, rather a real looking girl with real looking troubles was ideally required. Ironically though, Bidewell actually looks quite beautiful in all of her many displayed personas. Which might not even have been intended (or was that just me?) So 2014 has now brought two brave female roles in two quite leftfield movies. Scarlett Johansson disturbed many of her fans with her alien adventures in Scotland several months ago, and I bought that as soon as it came out on bluray, it's effect was so strong. I will now be on the hunt for Comforting Skin also, and look forward to seeing it again.

The story is bleh. The acting not terrible. If you are into women with personality disorders who constantly feel sorry for themselves while making excuses about how the world treated them unfairly. Then you are in for a treat. But I warn you. It would be an act of masochism. The soundtrack is probably by far the worst thing. Its literally painful. Discordant shrill piercing noise describes the track, calling it a soundtrack would suggest that it had some form of melody. Its worse than chalkboards and screeching horny cats. Well. You been warned.

I really like this film and I'll tell you why. When seeing Canadian films we tend to see the dark and quiet and its almost like a European film but you can't quite put your finger on it. Oh yes, its Canadian. But Comforting Skin is different in a way that we haven't seen a film like this in a while. It is a strange yet familiar coming of age film, meaning out of young middle 20's. You know, the time of moving away from the chaos of poor judgement and freedom and into adulthood. The point where you are suddenly awake. Its not your typical Canadian film or film at all and that is why its so refreshing. The acting is great. Tygh Runyan and Jane Sowerby do a good job at carrying the story and you never know whose perspective the story its being told from. However, Victoria Bidwell gives an exceptional and under-rated performance as Koffie, the distraught young lady who becomes obsessed with her imaginary or non-imaginary friend that is a the weaving tattoo that has come to life on her body. Franson writes and directs in such a way that you'll root for Koffie and you'll hate her and them and then there are redeeming traits from them that will bring you back to really empathizing for all of them. This film will keep you guessing and will linger in your mind for days after. Those ones are the best.