The science fiction flick is not one of Scarlett Johansson’s biggest or best known films
She’s one of the most famous actors in the world, known for her roles in the likes of Lost in Translation or as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But one of Scarlett Johansson’s most applauded films is one you might not have heard of, and it was officially named the best British film this side of the millennium.
Now aged 40, Johansson has been acting and performing since she was a child, having done multiple off-Broadway roles in her younger years, before moving to the silver screen in the likes of cult classic Ghost World and The Horse Whisperer.
It’s not one of her best known films (StudioCanal)
Firmly establishing herself as one of Hollywoods biggest names in the noughties, she went on to become the highest paid actress for two years running in 2018 and 2019 – years that coincided with the release of huge box office hits Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
But the film we’re talking about in dates back to 2013 and stars Johansson as a shape-shifting alien in a human’s body, with an objective of luring unsuspecting men in to her van across Scotland.
After securing her prey, she lures the men in to a dilapidated house where she had a void area, submerging then in to a liquid abyss (in what are some of the most surreal scenes in film this writer has ever watched).
Based on the book of the same name, the film was well received by critics and boasts an 83 percent rating over on Rotten Tomatoes.
Scarlett Johansson portrays an alien abducting men in the film (StudioCanal)
But others have gone further than that, with a poll conducted by MASSIVE Cinema labelling it as the best film of the 21st century.
A total of 60 reviewers took part in the poll from 2022, beating the likes of This is England, Children of Men, and Ex Machina to the top prize.
The film in question is called Under the Skin, directed by Jonathan Glazer of Sexy Beast fame.
“It’s hard to top something with the chilling originality of our number one title, which also gave Scarlett Johansson undoubtedly one of her most singular and haunting roles to date, even nine years and a whole lot more Marvel later,” MASSIVE Cinema said in a statement at the time of the poll’s release.
Responding to the film, Nicholas Bell of IONCINEMA.com said it was a ‘cinematic masterpiece that’s surreal, scintillating, and unforgettably strange’.
“With arresting images and hypnotic soundtrack, the film is one of the most singularly mesmerising movie watching experience I’ve had in a long time,” said Dustin Chang of Floating World.
And Stephen A. Russell of The New Daily labelled it a ‘genre oddity of the utmost excellence’.
Under the Skin has been called a ‘cinematic masterpiece’ (StudioCanal)
Despite the poll and critic’s reviews though, the general audience wasn’t as wholly convinced, with 25,000-plus reviews on Rotten Tomatoes seeing it land a 55 percent audience rating.
Given its rather middle of the road figure, you really do have people calling it a masterpiece or something they just didn’t get or enjoy.
One viewer giving it 4.5 stars out of 5 said: “Scarlett Johansson is haunting in this disturbing yet visually stunning slow burning sci-fi.”
On the other hand, another with a one star review simply said: “Absolute crap, didn’t understand the movie it went off after 30 minutes.”
You can watch Under the Skin over on ITVX with a premium subscription. It is also available for renting or buying on Amazon Prime Video.
Featured Image Credit: StudioCanal
