User reviews

Extremely moving, solid acting all around, definitely deserves more attention. Why I never heard of this movie and I'm certain that many other people haven't either is a shame, a movie like this should be front and center for the powerful message it's trying to deliver, a tremendously sad story but a story that needs to be told. There's only one race on the planet Earth, and that's the human race.

Some people have rated this a 1 star and others a 10, forget those reviews because those people don't have a clue, this movie isn't a 1 and it's definitely not a 10, it's a solid movie, it's not the best thing ever made and it's not the worst thing ever made, it's just a solid slightly above average film with some great acting spearheaded by an outstanding performance by Jamie Bell.

The story is kind of familiar and formulaic to every other similar kind of movie that deals with this subject matter, you've probably seen this story played out before, our main protagonist starts off with strong prejudices and beliefs which throughout the course of the film he starts to question, it's nothing new, but I didn't find it made his journey any less interesting to watch. It's got some great acting, it's filmed well, like I said above it's a solid film.

I did feel that some of the events in the film were a bit rushed, it felt like it could use a few more scenes to flesh out characters relationships a bit more, especially when it came to his relationship with the gang and 'Mom & Pop'.

Worth a watch.

I have no idea why this is being compared to American history x . This is a true story about a real person coming to realize his choices have made him hate the Skin he lived in. Powerful performance by Jamie Bell he is amazing

I found this movie on BluRay at my public library. My wife chose not to view it.

The core story is based on a real person who got caught up in the Racist Skinheads, starting as a 14-yr-old, thus the title "Skin." At some point, after he got in with a mother and her children, he decided to leave it, reform his life, and have all his facial tattoos removed, a process that took a year and a half and 24 separate painful treatments. He was instrumental in getting convictions for a number of outlaws in the movement.

Jamie Bell is really good as Bryon Widner, most of the other characters are fictional, perhaps inspired by real people in his life. The movie paints a very dark and dangerous picture of white supremacists, often difficult to watch but important to understand.

This is worth a watch. It's certainly not Oscar worthy nor a one star crap. I know the story and they did take a few liberties with it, but none that really change the heart of it. The acting was good as was the cinematography which aptly conveyed the bleak realities of a hate group in the middle of a rust belt winter, whether belonging to one or trying to extricate yourself from one. It's a good movie. To me the worst thing was that nerve wracking, heavy metal cello they threw in at odd times. Definitely way low marks for the soundtrack.

Based upon the altogether harrowing true story of Bryon Widner (Jamie bell) a volatile, self-hating white supremacist skinhead, and his truly gruelling emancipation from the bestial pseudo-Viking Vinlanders Social Club, a notoriously violent Neo-Nazi gang mercilessly headed by the cruelly manipulative matriarch Shareen (Vera Farmiga) and the no less poisonous patriarch Fred 'Hammer' Krager (Bill Camp). There is a spare, almost clinically ruthless quality to Nattiv's bravura film-making, and while constructing an uncomfortably bleak milieu, the witheringly honest, three-dimensional performances are incredibly vivid, grimly naturalistic, searing with life, and earnest writer/director Guy Nattiv rigorously maintains the dangerously febrile sense of imminent chaos with a breathtaking assurance! 'Skin' is an intensely passionate film with an almost unbearably fraught, emotionally draining climax that had every flexible fibre, every muscular aperture in my body demonstratively clenched until the welcome emotional decompression of the end titles! Not since 'Animal Kingdom' (2010), 'Once Were Warriors' (1994) and 'Romper Stomper' (1992) have I been so morbidly entranced by such a greatly disturbing human miasma of hopelessly skewed philosophy. 'Skin' bluntly exposes mankind's seemingly limitless capacity for ignorance, and the continued clear and present threat of a totalitarian, propaganda-soaked media, and how 'polite' society's glacial indifference to poverty can actively inculcate murderous hate among the dispossessed. 'Skin' proved to be an profoundly deep discourse of one man's especially hard-fought redemption.

When Bryon falls for mother of-three Julie (Patti Cake$ star Danielle Macdonald), however, he find the impetus for change, especially when she has no wish for her kids to be around the hatred spewed out by his socalled 'brothers'. While he has encouragement from an activist (Mike Colter) who looks to help him reform, Bryon's efforts inevitably cause tensions with Fred, Shareen and the others. Writer-director Guy Nattiv weaves in several sequences in which Bryon endures the agonising removal of his tattoos, symbolically shedding his former persona. It's hardly a spoiler to reveal that he does turn his back on his right-wing roots, but Skin is more about the painful journey he undertakes to get there. Bell and Macdonald make for an authentic grass-roots couple, although Nattiv never quite convinces us that their love is enough to motivate the change in Bryon. As a result, the script loses some momentum in the final third. But in the wake of Charlottesville, Skin is still a timely, provocative piece, flush with hope.

User freqeteq's review is on point, especially the fake 10's and idiotic 1's.

This is a solid B-grade biopic by newb writer, director and producer Guy Nattiv (only his 4th full length feature film, priors all short films).

His camera work and directing his scenes and cast was excellent, and all actors were outstanding, especially Jamie Bell.

The cinematography was great and the score on point. A few plot issues, and the pacing could've been better/faster, or some scenes edited down, as the 2 hour runtime felt much longer. But for a newb writer/director mainly experienced in short films, these technical issues can be easily forgiven.

An enjoyable biopic, and well deserving of an honest 8/10 from me.

Bell has come a long way. He's excellent. Based on true events always gets my attention and this one certainly did

Not easy to watch, but worth the watch

Made me want to smoke cigarettes and drink beer. Made me happy I chose to let a few tattoo ideas simmer before going through with them. Made me tear up a couple of times--the courthouse wedding scene was beautiful, guys.

I'm glad I watched it.

It's a bleak story, that's for sure. And it's a poignant reminder that most fringe groups will stick to their ideological beliefs like a security blanket, but that also the occasional member can have a change of heart.

I'm a huge Jamie Bell fan so I might be slightly biased but I enjoyed the movie. To great tale of a man who is constantly trying to figure himself out. It's got a decent cast. It's got decent production value and the story is pretty solid. It is a powerful film. It will disturb you at times, but it's worth a watch.

It is too bad Hollywood, once again, has to change a story to fit their perceived agenda.

The real protagonist in this film married a lady with NO children who was also part of a White supremacy group.

It was AFTER they had a baby they started to move away from their previously negative lifestyle. It was the miracle of life that changed them - matured them.

This film tells the story of a young man who exits a racist organisation.

It's a remarkable true story, one that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Acting is great, particularly Byron and his wife.

Light movie with a really good execution. the fact there's a couple of movie that came with this vibe still make this movie worth to try. Solid with his own substance. good story not to over, short but tight. great act to be honest. if you can see from not just one point of view it has it's own warm side. i like the all the set too, they look to gave total to this point. with this length i think this movie supposed can over other strong story to tell. but overall it's good

I am not sure what to the think about the structure of the film and the sequence of events, the way it engages you emotionally- but beyond all that I believe the most important point of focus here is the beautiful possibility and potential our love for another being, regardless of whatever our differences may be. Regardless of history and what we've been taught.

It's simple, yet, I believe it's so important that we witness it more on screen, like in this film.

For the positivity and love I feel from all the creators of this film, I give it a good rating.

Let's focus on the message and emotions, not just the technicalities and professionalism.

Its just a movie about some people with some strange ideology about life, its not 10/10 also not 1/10.

I thought it was a great film to watch considering it's based on true events, I don't know why people would say it's "cringe" far from it. Great acting and actors too.

THE ONLY ONES I FELT SORRY FOR WERE THE KIDS AND THE DOG. PEOPLE LIKE THAT NEED TO FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE THE NAIL INSTEAD OF THE HAMMER.

This film turned out to be a total surprise for me. I was taken back by the incredible acting performances by most of the cast members. All of the characters are very interesting too. I really think this film should be nominated for next year's Academy Awards. It isn't a typical dumb down simple story.

Jamie bell is superb as usual. The makeup artist from looking at photos of the real bryon did an outstanding job. Little bit slow In Places and overly long. Also strong hints of American History X hence the 7 and not higher. Really interesting story and seems pretty accurate. Worth a watch.

Amazing film! It was an edge of your seat type ride! What a moving true story!

If there was an award for worst musical score this movie would be a real contender.

How the hell are people giving this 10 stars and saying, edge of your seat and gripping, great acting? Not very edge of your seat at all, very loosely based on the true story, and some of the acting is appalling. If you've seen American History X, same story, different location. Got pretty bored of it by half way through, stuck it out and, well, not impressed to be honest.