Under My Skin (2020 film)

Under My Skin is an Australian-American drama film directed by David O'Donnell, starring Liv Hewson, Alex Russell, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Lex Ryan, Kylo Freeman and Alexis Denisof.

Under My Skin
Directed byDavid O'Donnell
Written byDavid O'Donnell
Produced byPaul F. Bernard
Carrie Finn
Rob Gibson
Chase B. Kenney
David O'Donnell
Raynen O'Keefe
Alex Russell
Starring
CinematographyJac Fitzgerald
Edited byKevin Ward
Music byEvelyn Morris
Production
company
Five Lip Films
Distributed byStan (Australia)
1091 Pictures (US & Canada)
Release dates
29 October 2020 (Raindance Film Festival)
21 August 2021 (VOD Australia)
6 June 2023 (US & Canada)
Running time
96 minutes
CountriesAustralia
United States
LanguageEnglish

Cast
  • Alex Russell as Ryan
  • Liv Hewson as Denny 1
  • Kylo[1] Freeman as Denny 2 (credited under their former name)
  • Lex Ryan as Denny 3
  • Bobbi Salvör Menuez as Denny 4
  • Alexis Denisof as Mike
  • Michael Ray Escamilla as Collin
  • Diana Hopper as Daisy
  • James Saivanidis as Garth
  • Joseph Lee Anderson as Tallis
  • Davida Williams as Dana
  • Dominic Russell as Chase
  • Jeffrey Doornbos as Townsend
  • Mason O'Sullivan as Randall
  • Ashwin Gore as Brian

Plot Summary

Denny, a free spirited artist falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. Young love ensues, but when Denny begins to explore gender, Ryan’s ingrained values are challenged. As Denny finds they can no longer ignore their true self, pressures mount and the couple seek to negotiate the shifting sands. Denny is played by four different actors, exploring four chapters in their story.

Noteworthy Narrative Device

The film employs a noteworthy narrative device. Four actors (Hewson, Freeman, Ryan, Menuez) play the lead character, Denny.

Filmmakers comment

In Variety, filmmakers Raynen O'Keefe (producer) and David O'Donnell (director, writer) comment the below:

Raynen says having the four actors play the lead role “feels very intuitive".

“The change points of actors are entirely redirections of internal compass for Denny,” Raynen explains.

“Simultaneously, the ensemble cast brings a multitude of perspectives to the experience of being non-binary”.

From O'Donnell: “Given our film centers on a gender non-conforming lead, it was a natural choice to also utilize a non-conforming narrative structure that would challenge an audience to question conventions".[2]

In Cinema Australia O'Keefe wrote the below:

"So, why cast four?

In short, no non-binary person is the same. We make different choices, we have different lovers, sometimes we use different pronouns, we don’t all have this hair, or that opinion or abc hormonal make-up or whatever. The list goes on. It was a push back.

The refracted Denny became the signature that revolves a story of young lovership amongst a myriad of gender fractions, and a breadth of inhabitations. Each of those cast -Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvor Menuez, Chloe Freeman, and Lex Ryan – bring part of themselves. Not all of themselves, but the shards we may relate to as commonalities. And then a whole lot more.

The adjustments of musicians through hormonal transitions and changes, I have seen many times in my close circles – the musician attempting to keep lineage with themselves through time. It’s hard, and we see that. It’s an obvious metaphor, though the voice places a distinct moment in the lives of many trans people and how they express themselves, or do not wish to. It can signify distress, unsafety and be the difference between how we see ourselves, and how others read us, and so it remains pertinent. What happens when we lose that continuity with ourselves, if indeed there ever were such a thing?"

In a 2023 article in Collider O'Donnell references films that utilize a similar device:

“There have been one or two films here and there that have done it. There was a film, I'm Not There, the Bob Dylan film from years ago. There was a Todd Solondz film called Palindromes, which was an indie from 2004.”[3]

Production

The film was shot in 15 days in Los Angeles, CA.[4]

Release

The film had its festival premiere at the Raindance Film Festival on 29 October 2020.[5][6]It screened at various festivals including NewFest, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Mardi Gras Film Festival and was acquired by Australian streaming platform Stan[7] and 1091 Pictures[8] in the US. The film premiered in the US and Canada on 6 June 2023.

Awards/Nominations

Under My Skin was nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Award (AACTA),[9] and O'Donnell received an Australian Director's Guild nomination.[10]

Liv Hewson received a nomination for Best Performance at Raindance Film Festival.[11]

Reception

Alan Ng of Film Threat gave the film a score of 8/10, praising the performances of Hewson, Freeman, Ryan and Menuez as well as the film's portrayal of Denny and Ryan's relationship, and called it "utterly captivating".[12]

The Curb called the film a "difficult watch for a number of reasons", but a "valuable and ultimately hopeful one."[13]

Chris Bright of FilmInk wrote that while the film "adheres to many Hollywood romantic cliches", and "a lot of the sub-characters fall to the wayside quickly", the film's story is "unique" and O'Donnell is "certainly breaking new ground".[14]

Guy Lambert of The Upcoming gave the film 4 stars calling it "a dazzlingly executed example of the cinema of the future. Times are changing, and this groundbreaking production will likely act as a foundation for movies to come".[15]

Rich Cline from Shadows On The Wall praised it as "an important film, powerfully eye-opening and hugely moving".[16]

Chad Armstrong of The Queer Review noted "[T]he conceit of using multiple performers is an interesting one and works well; not only demonstrating Denny’s unease in their own skin, but also Ryan’s confusion in dealing with a person who is changing day-by-day" and calls it a "story of people in flux".[17]

Dennis Harvey of 48 Hills expressed criticism of the ensemble casting of the central character [Denny] and stated "Under My Skin is an intriguing conceit, but it stays stubbornly abstract when it means to be psychologically revealing".[18]

References
  1. "https://twitter.com/kylofreeman/status/1593229521976954882?cxt=HHwWhMDQ8eLzpJwsAAAA". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-06-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  2. Jackson, Angelique (2020-10-09). "'Under My Skin,' Non-Binary Drama Starring Liv Hewson, to Debut at Raindance Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  3. "David O'Donnell on Near-Death Experiences Directing 'Under My Skin'". Collider. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  4. "David O'Donnell on Near-Death Experiences Directing 'Under My Skin'". Collider. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  5. Jakcson, Angelique (9 October 2020). "'Under My Skin,' Non-Binary Drama Starring Liv Hewson, to Debut at Raindance Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  6. Wiseman, Andreas (20 July 2022). "'Under My Skin' First Trailer: Non-Binary Drama Starring Liv Hewson Debuts At The Raindance Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  7. Jackson, Angelique (2021-08-10). "Stan Acquires Australian Rights to Indie Drama 'Under My Skin,' Sets August Premiere". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  8. Kroll, Justin (2023-03-22). "1091 Pictures Acquires Romantic Drama 'Under My Skin', Sets Release Date". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  9. Frater, Patrick (2021-11-01). "'High Ground' and 'Nitram' Lead Australia's AACTA Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  10. Slatter, Sean (2021-11-05). "Double nominations for Wayne Blair, Shannon Murphy at ADG Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  11. Jackson, Angelique (2020-10-09). "'Under My Skin,' Non-Binary Drama Starring Liv Hewson, to Debut at Raindance Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  12. Ng, Alan (2 April 2021). "Under My Skin". Film Threat. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  13. Nisha-Anne (14 August 2021). "Under My Skin Review – A Difficult Watch, but Ultimately a Valuable and Hopeful One". The Curb. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  14. Bright, Chris. "Under My Skin". FilmInk. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  15. Lambert, Guy (2020-11-06). "Under My Skin | Movie review". The Upcoming. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  16. "Shadows on the Wall | Arthouse Films". www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  17. "Mardi Gras Film Festival 2021 Review: Under My Skin ★★★1/2". The Queer Review. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  18. Harvey, Dennis (5 June 2023). "Screen Grabs: Pride—and queer film—is busting out all over". 48hills, Independent San Francisco News + Culture.
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