#394: Alien Nation, Pt. 1 — Under the Skin

The new NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU follows a lonely, socially isolated woman through an alien invasion, a narrative it shares with UNDER THE SKIN, though in Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 instant classic, said woman also happens to be the invading alien. Both protagonists are enigmatic in their own way, and the films around them follow suit, with heightened tones and minimal dialogue providing two distinct takes on human nature through alien eyes. This week we plunge into the eerie depths of UNDER THE SKIN with the help of comedian and film fan Joe Kwaczala (@joekjoek), to talk through the dynamic of of Scarlett Johansson’s central performance against the array of non-actors embodying her victims, the subtle shifts in power that take place between them, and the enduring horror of that beach sequence. And in lieu of Feedback this week, we consider some of the other films that join UNDER THE SKIN in contention for the title of greatest science-fiction film of the 21st century.

Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about UNDER THE SKIN, NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

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