The Skin I Live In may bring to mind Eyes Without A Face and the cool control of classic Hitchcock and Cronenberg, but this film is unmistakably Almodovar and one of his best. It is sumptuously filmed, seductively smooth and leads the viewer calmly through its audacious, shocking and smart narrative, so that even the most outrageous plot twists become acceptable. Almodovar's key themes - family, identity, gender, the bearer of the look - are interwoven seamlessly in this fascinating and bizarre tale, even if the issues raised are ultimately placed to service another of the director's tragic melodramatic outcomes. Performances are terrific across the board, with Banderas proving that he is still capable of so much more than Hollywood children's fodder. The Skin I Live In suits Almodovar perfectly, and he delivers a beautifully-constructed film that delivers real horror in an understated and exquisite manner.
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