DIY VIRAL
The author Robert Scucci
| Published
The most effective horror films capture our fear of the unknown, and I can't think of a film that conjures such unsettling feelings as 2022 does. Skinmark. With almost no dialogue — and even fewer shots that are actually centered and well lit. Skinmark creates an atmosphere that is hard to shake even days after the final credits roll. Inspired by the analog horror movement slowly dominating the YouTube landscape (Mandela Catalogue and There is no through road are great examples that will ruin your life) Skinmark Boasting a similar aesthetic to some of the more unconventional web series floating around, it has an uncanny ability to hold its own as a feature film.
Now that I think about it, 'unusual' is the perfect way to describe it Skinmark.
Skinamarinka's plot is irrelevant
I may be being hyperbolic when I say that Skinamarink's the plot doesn't matter as much, but I can safely say its narrative isn't nearly as important as the cinematography.
Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball tells his story through sensations, images, and sparsely placed bumps in the night, rather than taking a more conventional approach involving dialogue or narration folded into any exposition. Skinamarink's the sense of dread is shown rather than told through random, mysterious ceiling shots, shots of the interior of the house from the center, minimal dialogue from two terrified children hiding in a house that slowly morphs into different shapes, and a disembodied voice trying to manipulate them into fulfill his promise by impersonating his parents.
A bare bones story
Skinmark centers on a 4-year-old boy named Kevin (Lucas Paul) and his 6-year-old sister Kaylee (DaliRose Tetreault). An overheard phone call from their father (Ross Paul) made it clear that Kevin suffered a head injury after falling down the stairs during a sleepwalking episode. The father reassures everyone he talks to on the phone that Kevin is fine and doesn't need to go to the hospital.
From now on, Skinmark exists in a confined space between this world and some unknown place you may not want to visit anytime soon.
Kevin and Kaylee wake up in the middle of the night to strange noises in the house. Deciding it's best to stick together, they head downstairs to the family room to watch cartoons together. The brother and sister try to keep calm despite knowing they are not alone – someone or something is watching them. A door disappears and reappears, and Caylee is lured upstairs, where both her mother (James Hill) and father speak in cryptic, monotone voices that prompt her to either look under the bed or close her eyes.
Again I sought shelter downstairs, inside the house Skinmark continues to play tricks on Kevin and Kaylee.
Perspective is everything
Filmed on a budget of just $15,000, Skinmark there are no fancy special effects. With most scenes lit only by a glowing television screen (according to Balls) and a disproportionate number of off-center shots rounding out the film's visuals, I liken the viewing experience to sleep paralysis when you dream of a malevolent voice or figure in your room, but you you are powerless against it. With the metallic taste of sleep lingering in your mouth, you try to shake off the nightmare, but the harder you try to resist it, the more aggressively your fear pushes back.
Streaming Skinamarink
Venue 1995. Skinmark makes you feel left out at home alone with your siblings for the first time while your parents go out to dinner with friends. All of a sudden, the refrigerator motor starts working on its own, and for all you know, it wasn't a refrigerator, but an ax murderer trying to get into your house through the crawl space. That glowing red dot in the corner of the entertainment center you see every day is now a blinking demon eye that won't break its otherworldly gaze with you.
While Bal's directorial debut is definitely open to interpretation, and I have my own thoughts on the ending of the film, which I won't say here to avoid spoilers, one thing I can tell you for sure is that this movie will stick in your memory for days. .
Just for the mood Skinmark deserves considerable praise for being one of the scariest movies I've seen in a very long time. If you are ready to experience a dream-like horror Skinmark offered, you can stream the title on Hulu as of this writing.
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DIY VIRAL
