Skin (2018 feature film)

Skin
Skin
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Guy Nattiv
Written by	Guy Nattiv
Produced by	Guy Nattiv; Jaime Ray Newman; Oren Moverman; Dillon D. Jordan; Celine Rattray; Trudie Styler;
Starring	Jamie Bell; Danielle Macdonald; Daniel Henshall; Bill Camp; Ari Barkan; Louisa Krause; Zoe Colletti; Kylie Rogers; Colbi Gannett; Mike Colter; Vera Farmiga;
Cinematography	Arnaud Potier
Edited by	Lee Percy; Michael Taylor;
Music by	Dan Romer
Production; companies	Voltage Pictures; Maven Pictures; PaperChase Films; Lost Lane Entertainment; Item 7; Sight Unseen Pictures; Studio Mao (In association with);
Distributed by	A24; DirecTV Cinema;
Release dates	September 8, 2018 (TIFF); July 26, 2019 (United States);
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$135,562

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

After a recent incident, which involves the burning of a mosque in his hometown, disillusioned Neo-Nazi skinhead Bryon Widner (Jamie Bell) decides to leave the white supremacist movement. He marries local resident Julie Price (Danielle Macdonald) and begins to work odd jobs alongside menial laborers.

White supremacist members retaliate by shooting out his home with him and a pregnant Julie inside, but both are unharmed. When Bryon steps out to confront them, he sees his dog hanging from a tree. To prevent the supremacists from doing further harm to his family, Bryon meets with political activist Daryle Lamont Jenkins (Mike Colter) and FBI agent Marks (Mary Stuart Masterson). Using information Bryon has provided them, the FBI raids the white supremacist compound. Krager (Bill Camp), one of the supremacists, is arrested.

In the aftermath of the supremacist raid, Jenkins continues heading the One People's Project and remains good friends with Bryon. Bryon himself undergoes two years of surgeries to have all his face and hand tattoos removed. He works on getting a degree in criminal psychology and speaks around the country about tolerance and inclusion from his own experience.

Cast

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.^[3] In August 2018, it was reported that composer Dan Romer would be scoring the music for the feature.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6] That same month, Mike Colter was cast as Daryle Lamont Jenkins, founder of the One People's Project.^[7] 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.^[8] Shortly after, A24 and DirecTV Cinema acquired distribution rights to the film.^[9] It was released through DirecTV Cinema on June 27, 2019, and had a limited release on July 26, 2019.^[10]^[11]

Reception

Critical response

Skin holds a 76% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 80 reviews, with an average of 6.6/10. 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."^[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 58 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".^[13]

References

^ "Skin". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
^ "Skin (2018) - Financial Information". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (May 11, 2017). "IM Global's Anthem Gets 'Real' & More; Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney Join 'Storm Boy' – Cannes Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
^ "Dan Romer Scoring Guy Nattiv's 'Skin'". Film Music Reporter. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
^ Kay, Jeremy (May 11, 2017). "Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald to star in Neo-Nazi drama 'Skin'". Screen International. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
^ Galuppo, Mia (March 2, 2018). "Vera Farmiga Joins Jamie Bell in Neo-Nazi Drama 'Skin' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 15, 2018). "'Luke Cage' Star Mike Colter Joins Chrissy Metz In 'The Impossible'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
^ Kay, Jeremy (August 14, 2018). "Toronto unveils Contemporary World Cinema, more Galas and Special Presentations". Screen International. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
^ Seetoodeh, Ramin (September 11, 2018). "Toronto: A24 and DIRECTV Acquire 'Skin' Starring Jamie Bell (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
^ Grobar, Matt (February 24, 2019). "With First Oscar In Hand, 'Skin' Director Guy Nattiv Plots Feature Version's Summer Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
^ Pederson, Erik (April 18, 2019). "'Skin' Trailer: Jamie Bell Stars As Conflicted White Supremacist Seeking Redemption". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
^ "Skin (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
^ "Skin". Metacritic. Retrieved July 26, 2019.

External links

Skin at IMDb

[1] "Skin". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 14, 2018.

[2] "Skin (2018) - Financial Information". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 22, 2020.

[3] Tartaglione, Nancy (May 11, 2017). "IM Global's Anthem Gets 'Real' & More; Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney Join 'Storm Boy' – Cannes Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[4] "Dan Romer Scoring Guy Nattiv's 'Skin'". Film Music Reporter. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

[5] Kay, Jeremy (May 11, 2017). "Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald to star in Neo-Nazi drama 'Skin'". Screen International. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

[6] Galuppo, Mia (March 2, 2018). "Vera Farmiga Joins Jamie Bell in Neo-Nazi Drama 'Skin' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

[7] N'Duka, Amanda (March 15, 2018). "'Luke Cage' Star Mike Colter Joins Chrissy Metz In 'The Impossible'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

[8] Kay, Jeremy (August 14, 2018). "Toronto unveils Contemporary World Cinema, more Galas and Special Presentations". Screen International. Retrieved August 14, 2018.

[9] Seetoodeh, Ramin (September 11, 2018). "Toronto: A24 and DIRECTV Acquire 'Skin' Starring Jamie Bell (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2018.

[10] Grobar, Matt (February 24, 2019). "With First Oscar In Hand, 'Skin' Director Guy Nattiv Plots Feature Version's Summer Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 24, 2019.

[11] Pederson, Erik (April 18, 2019). "'Skin' Trailer: Jamie Bell Stars As Conflicted White Supremacist Seeking Redemption". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2019.

[12] "Skin (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

[13] "Skin". Metacritic. Retrieved July 26, 2019.

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v t e Films directed by Guy Nattiv
Feature films	Strangers (2007) Mabul (2010) Skin (2018) Golda (2023) Tatami (2023)
Short films	Skin (2018)