Skin (2018 feature film)

{{Redirect|Skin (2018 film)|the Academy Award-winning short film also directed by Guy Nattiv|Skin (2018 short film)}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Skin

| image = Skin (2018 feature film) poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Guy Nattiv

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| writer = Guy Nattiv

| screenplay =

| story =

| based_on =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator =

| music = Dan Romer

| cinematography = Arnaud Potier

| editing = {{Plainlist|

Lee Percy
Michael Taylor

}}

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Voltage Pictures
Maven Pictures
PaperChase Films
Lost Lane Entertainment
Item 7
Sight Unseen Pictures
Studio Mao (In association with)

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

}}

| released = {{film date|2018|9|8|TIFF|2019|7|26|United States}}

| runtime = 110 minutes{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/tiff/skin|title=Skin|website=Toronto International Film Festival|accessdate=August 14, 2018}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $135,562{{Cite news|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt6043142/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Skin (2018) - Financial Information|work=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 22, 2020}}

}}

Skin is a 2018 American biographical drama film written and directed by Israeli-born filmmaker Guy Nattiv. The film stars Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald, Daniel Henshall, Bill Camp, Louisa Krause, Zoe Colletti, Kylie Rogers, Colbi Gannett, Mike Colter, and Vera Farmiga. The film is inspired by the true story of an American neo-Nazi skinhead named Bryon Widner.

Skin had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018 and was released on June 27, 2019 through DirecTV Cinema before a wide release on July 26, 2019 by A24.

Plot

In the beginning, Bryon Widner's life unfolds as a skinhead deeply integrated into a white supremacist community. He grows up in a dysfunctional family and eventually ends up living on the streets. Fred, the leader of the Nazi community, and his wife take him in, give him clothes, and find him a job. Believing he has finally found a real family, Bryon fully embraces the movement.

Over time, cracks begin to appear in his so-called perfect skinhead life. He starts showing aversion to certain acts of violence and falls in love with Julie Price, a vulnerable single mother of three. As their relationship grows, Bryon and Julie begin building a different life together that includes her children and distances them from the white supremacist community.

Unhappy with his change of heart, his Nazi "family" tries to pull him back in. But when he becomes involved in the burning of a mosque in his hometown, an act that costs innocent lives, overcome with guilt, Bryon makes the difficult decision to leave the white supremacist movement. He seeks help from political activist Daryle Lamont Jenkins, who supports his transition out of extremism.

Bryon marries Julie and takes on low-wage, manual jobs, struggling to find better opportunities due to his Nazi past.

But the movement refuses to let him go. When they come after him again, he asks them to leave him alone, instead, they set up a test mission that results in Bryon being shot and one of the Nazis being killed.

After recovering in the hospital, Bryon meets with Jenkins, who arranges for his entry into the FBI’s witness protection program. However, the Nazis are relentless. One night, they ambush Bryon’s home, shooting at the house while Julie—who is pregnant—and her children are inside. When the attack ends, Bryon discovers his dog, Boss, hanging from a tree—a chilling message from his former associates.

Later, he learns that one of Julie's daughters has deliberately given away their location to the white supremacist group. She has been manipulated by "Mum" of the Nazi community, who had made her believe they were friends. Overcome with anger, Bryon loses control and becomes aggressive, prompting Julie to send him away.

Using the information Bryon provided, the FBI raids the white supremacist compound and arrests its members.

Determined to erase his past, Bryon agrees to undergo two years of surgeries to remove the tattoos covering his face and hands. In the end, he finds his way back to his wife and child, hoping to build a new life free from hatred.

Jenkins continues leading the One People's Project, and Bryon becomes actively involved in the initiative, using his experience to help others leave extremist groups.

Cast

{{castlist|

Jamie Bell as Bryon "Pitbull" Widner
Tyler Williamson as young Bryon Widner
Vera Farmiga as Shareen Krager
Danielle Macdonald as Julie Price
Mike Colter as Daryle Lamont Jenkins
Bill Camp as Fred "Hammer" Krager
Mary Stuart Masterson as Jackie Marks
Daniel Henshall as Slayer
Ari Barkan as Bulldog
Justin Wilson as Mike
Scott Thomas as Sean
Michael Villar as Jerry
Rob Figueroa as Prophet
Russel Posner as Gavin
Louisa Krause as April
Zoe Colletti as Desiree
Kylie Rogers as Sierra
Colbi Gannett as Iggy
Jaime Ray Newman as Nurse Melissa Frye
Jenna Leigh Green as Rebecca Ramos

}}

Production

On May 11, 2017, international rights to Skin was bought by Seville International at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/im-global-anthem-slate-geoffrey-rush-jai-courtney-storm-boy-joshua-jackson-liquid-media-skin-cannes-1202087386/|title=IM Global's Anthem Gets 'Real' & More; Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney Join 'Storm Boy' – Cannes Briefs|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=May 11, 2017|accessdate=August 30, 2018}} In August 2018, it was reported that composer Dan Romer would be scoring the music for the feature.{{cite web|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/24/dan-romer-scoring-guy-nattivs-skin/|title=Dan Romer Scoring Guy Nattiv's 'Skin'|website=Film Music Reporter|date=August 24, 2018|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}

In May 2017, it was announced that Jamie Bell and Danielle Macdonald would star in the film, with Nattiv writing the screenplay, producing and directing.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/jamie-bell-danielle-macdonald-to-star-in-neo-nazi-drama-skin/5117669.article|title=Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald to star in Neo-Nazi drama 'Skin'|website=Screen International|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|date=May 11, 2017|accessdate=April 9, 2018}} In March 2018, after production on the film had started, Vera Farmiga was announced to have joined the cast of the film, with Nattiv's wife Jaime Ray Newman reported to be producing.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vera-farmiga-joins-jamie-bell-neo-nazi-drama-skin-1090263|title=Vera Farmiga Joins Jamie Bell in Neo-Nazi Drama 'Skin' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|date=March 2, 2018|accessdate=April 9, 2018}} That same month, Mike Colter was cast as Daryle Lamont Jenkins, founder of the One People's Project.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/luke-cage-mike-colter-the-impossible-fox-2000-1202338507/|title='Luke Cage' Star Mike Colter Joins Chrissy Metz In 'The Impossible'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=March 15, 2018|accessdate=April 9, 2018}} Shortly thereafter, actors Ari Barkan, Scott Thomas, Daniel Henshall, Michael Villar, Justin Wilson, and Russel Posner joined the cast.

Principal photography began in January 2018 in Kingston, New York, and was completed in March 2018.

Release

Skin had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/toronto-unveils-contemporary-world-cinema-more-galas-and-special-presentations-/5131634.article|title=Toronto unveils Contemporary World Cinema, more Galas and Special Presentations|website=Screen International|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|date=August 14, 2018|accessdate=August 14, 2018}} Shortly after, A24 and DirecTV Cinema acquired distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/festivals/toronto-a24-and-directv-acquire-skin-starring-jamie-bell-exclusive-1202936635/|title=Toronto: A24 and DIRECTV Acquire 'Skin' Starring Jamie Bell (Exclusive)|website=Variety|first=Ramin|last=Seetoodeh|date=September 11, 2018|accessdate=September 11, 2018}} It was released through DirecTV Cinema on June 27, 2019, and had a limited release on July 26, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/oscars-best-live-action-short-skin-guy-nattiv-news-1202564333/|title=With First Oscar In Hand, 'Skin' Director Guy Nattiv Plots Feature Version's Summer Release|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=February 24, 2019|accessdate=February 24, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/skin-trailer-jamie-bell-white-supremacist-guy-nattiv-1202598090/|title='Skin' Trailer: Jamie Bell Stars As Conflicted White Supremacist Seeking Redemption|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Erik|last=Pederson|date=April 18, 2019|accessdate=April 18, 2019}}

Reception

=Critical response=

Skin holds {{a or an|{{RT data|score}}}} approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average of {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus reads: "Skin could stand to go a bit deeper below its surface, but a worthy story and a committed performance from Jamie Bell make this timely drama well worth a watch."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/skin_2019|title=Skin (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 58 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/skin-2019|title=Skin|website=Metacritic|accessdate=July 26, 2019}}