We choose Cold Skin as part of 31 horror movies for October. It was in the Netflix horror section but strictly speaking I classed it more as a fantasy movie now that I’ve seen it. It stars Ray Stevenson, who I have loved since his days as Pullo in Rome.
Cold Skin is based just before the commencement of the first world war. A young man is dropped off on a remote island with only a lighthouse, the strange lighthouse keeper and a cottage. He is there for 12 months to monitor the weather. It appears Gruner, the lighthouse keeper has lost all social niceties as he parades around naked and is generally anti social. We never learn the younger mans name but we can guess he probably went to private school, suffered some kind of disappointed and has delusions of the romanticism of solitude. The reality of being left for 12 months on a remote island soon becomes apparent when on the first night he is attacked by unseen creatures. Soon he meets the sea creatures that swarm the island night after night and explain why the lighthouse keeper has barricaded the lighthouse. He also meets Gruner’s “pet” sea creature, Aneris. Gruner treats her much like a dog/slave. The sea creatures remind me of Gollum, maybe the creatures of the descent. There were so many unanswered questions that could have been developed further…however there was only so much time and it might just be me that needs answers putting on a plate so to speak. I think it answers one question quite clearly….we all have the ability to become monsters.
The visuals are stark and beautiful. The story is simple and the lesson is clearly making parallels with how “civilized” humans always assume the worse of tribal communities, choosing violence over peace, slavery over friendship. I don’t think this movie is for everyone but we enjoyed it. 7/10.
Once Upon The Wytching Hour 