Rating of
2.5/4
In Their Skin
Jake - wrote on 11/09/12
In the annals of the home invasion horror genre, In Their Skin is probably the least harrowing of them all. In fact it's the first one I've seen in a long time that isn't downright nihilistic and instead hopeful. Teasing the audience with creepy tension only to reveal itself more as a drama about focusing more on a family coping and overcoming their personal problems in the face of psychotic intruders. For first time director Jeremy Power Regimal this is quite the gamble, as many genre fans will be let down by the approach of the proceedings. With cinematographer Norman Li lensing the goings-on, the film is always sumptuous to look at and stylishly stark. The performances are, admittedly, a mixed bag. Where Selma Blair and Rachel Miner are both great in their roles and both very underrated actresses in their own right. It's Quinn Lord as the main antagonist who hams up the menace of his character making his role more silly than memorable. But is In Their Skin successful? In a sense, with no cathartic payoff it's ultimately a letdown. Is it worth watching at least once? Definitely so, just don't expect the same lingering impact of superior titles like Funny Games, The Strangers, Ills, Inside, or Kidnapped. But at least it is somewhat among that group rather than landing amongst the hugely inept likes of Trespass.
