THE SKIN I LIVE IN - PEDRO ALMODOVAR | ON THE HORRIZON


ON THE HORRIZON: 'THE SKIN THAT I LIVE IN'
Almodóvar steps out of his own skin & tests the deep red waters
Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault.
Long before Woody Allen decided to find new inspiration across the pond in London, legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar had become a respected arthouse staple here in the U.S. with a sizeable cult following, and carved out a unique niche for himself with his singular brand of quirky comedies and bigger-than-life dramas. On the other end of the spectrum during the last five years, Spain has increasingly dominated the Latin horror arena with well-constructed exports that have opened new markets for directors from that region (due in no small measure to Guillermo del Toro's help), but also provided a new taste for American horror fans looking for a break from the salty slasher/torture porn sub-genre that permeated the 2000s. Now, as if coming off a grand Galleon after his expeditionary forces have established a beachhead, Almodóvar looks to claim his own territory within the genre of horror with 'THE SKIN THAT I LIVE IN' (La Piel Que Habito). The film is based on Thierry Jonquet's novel "Mygale" (French for "Tarantula") and stars his long-time collaborator and protégé, Antonio Banderas and the lovely Elena Anaya, who horror fans will recognize from 'Van Helsing' as Aleera.

The trailer for Pedro Almodóvar's THE SKIN I LIVE IN.
Known as a solid film auteur whose work centers on the lives of women and those living on the outer edges of society's fringes, Thierry's novel, which is chuck-full of the colorful characters he loves so much, is ripe fodder for his imagination and machinations. Seemingly extrapolating a metaphor from the work's title, Almodóvar is himself stepping out of his own skin by treading into unfamiliar waters to some degree by wading into the realm of horror. There can be no doubt but that Almodóvar's signature will inhabit (no such thing as an unintended pun) every single frame of 'The Skin I Live In' (that is already evident from the trailer provided above), but will his swordplay be as agile and sharp in this genre as it has been masterful in his past dramatic thrillers and comedies?' Early word on the film was highly charged after it premiered at Cannes this past May. It also plays as the Gala presentation at the 49th New York Film Festval tonight.



Horror fans, can at times, be a feeble bunch (I know this from personal experience). We have been known to float the boat of a mindless b-movie into a lucrative franchise one moment (think 'Scream'), and put the nail in the coffin of a good horror/thriller by letting it die a slow death at the boxoffice the next ('Let Me In'). The only question in regard to Almodóvar's forey into the genre is: "Which shore will horror fans and critics alike place their flag?" (or in whose back!) We're not entirely sure - but we are certainly eager to find out. This one has us intrigued and mystified all at once. And that is good drama, my creepy friends. The movie hits theaters in limited release on October 14th.
Visit the film's official page: www.sonyclassics.com/theskinilivein Become friends with The Skin That I Live In at Edwin Pagán, LH
10/12/11