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| http://hetookhisskinoffforme.com/ |
2015, NR Directed by Ben Aston
Cast: Sebastian Armesto (Anonymous, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Anna Maguire
Think twice if you have ever said you 'would do anything for love' (unless your Meatloaf). This is a tale of love and scorn all wrapped up in a nice 11 minute package.
I have always been one for 'What-the-fuck-did-I-just-watch?' films. I could see why someone might say that about this short (and I would be inclined to agree with them, in part), but I think it would be a mistake to discount this piece as a mere horror short. It uses horror movie conventions, but twists them into something beautiful and menacing
Disfigurement is a staple of monster movies. The most commonly misunderstood beings that populate our favorite monster flicks suffered some form of disfigurement, either by ill-conceived justice or at the hands of some well-meaning, deranged scientist, etc.. In this context, the disfigurement is made horrific only when you are reminded of what he (Him) did for Her. You don't see it, but even the less seasoned horror show fans know the basics of flaying. The first view you have of him after skinning himself, he is smiling. Meant to convey happiness, it in and of itself is frightening. You expected to see him without skin, that's not what is scary.
Suspense is there, but it is dampened at the beginning because you realize that the act of losing his skin must not have been unpleasant, so he must not be pissed off. So, there is nothing to anticipate. You are lulled into a sort of surreal peace when you realize he is okay with it and couldn't be happier.
But, I think he took off more than just his skin. He depleted himself for her. In doing so, he took away from them. The feeling he was trying to convey was itself depleted through his act of love. But the story takes a definite turn when she realizes he has changed. "Either He had less to say now, or He felt he was already saying it." After she said this, I thought, 'well, she's fucked.'
Toward the beginning of the short, the first morning after his act of love, she wakes up with his hand on her throat. The final scene, he tugs at her skin and she knows she must compensate. The abrupt ending is not so abrupt when you realize that the narrator is not so much telling a story as much as she is reflecting on events that led up to her own skinning. You think the love story this short started out as is intact, and you have your happy ending. Until you remember that look of contempt on his face before he pulls at her skin.
Quaint and beautiful piece of horror.
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