I watched it on Friday night, let me tell you this... I was so hyped and excited knowing that I was able to secure a theater to myself, for a 10PM showing, to fully immerse myself and get into it as much as I could…. 10 minutes in, I fully regretted that decision. I have never had such a visceral reaction to a movie like that. I was plugging my ears and hiding in my hoodie, fully sweating and wanting it to be over. I literally googled midway though, “how do you know Skinamarink is over” and "How long is Skinamarink?" lmao. I’m gonna go watch it again to really understand what was on screen now that I know what happens, since I missed most of the visuals, but man…. I was so petrified that I couldn't even look directly at the screen. I have a huge fear of the dark and always think something or someone is watching me sleep. I think that’s why this movie hit me so hard. Once the movie ended, the theater was insanely quiet and I ran out as fast as possible. What didn't make it any better is that the concession stand was fully closed and all the lights were off. Once I finally got outside and seen the street lights, I started to tear up because I never felt so happy to be in the general public and back to reality. I don't know how the second screening will go but, I'll never forget my first screening ever.
Skinamarink somewhat reminded me of the book House of Leaves. Specifically, the parts about the house changing. This movie genuinely scared me. I think the main reason that it actually made me scared is because when I was a little kid, I would wake up at night, and I was too afraid to leave my room because the house looked like the house in Skinamarink at night. When you're a child and you see the dark it envokes a very primal fear, and that's what this movie made me remember.
It feels like House of Leaves if it was about kids rather than drug addicts or photographers, it was very similar. Except kind of inverted; the house doesnt grow, it shrinks and isolates via things dissappearing slowly.
I read House of Leaves over the summer and I completely agree with you. There's something terrifying about taking something so familiar like a house and making it unfamiliar in the most minute of ways. House of Leaves is exactly like that.
i personally think the real experience is to watch this at home with true isolation: no surrounding noises, no lights, and no distractions. watching this alone at home is sooo much scarier and immersive
I did and I had to turn on the light and I watched it with my face covered must of the time, but man that had to be the scariest film I've seen in a while, its rare I get scared like that, beautiful film, 👏 bravo
The last time I felt like I was watching a nightmare was It Follows, which was purposely filmed to emulate a nightmare because it was based on a recurring nightmare the director had. It reminded me of how things worked in a lot of my dreams. While not perfect, I still love that movie and cherish Maika Monroe's great performance.
It relies so much on imagination that if your imagination doesn't take you where the director intended then you may get bored and the length makes this stick out a lot. This film definitely works better the shorter it is at least for me. I firmly believe that this film heavily relies on the psyche or perspective of the viewer. I personally got bored because it only took 10-15 minutes to figure that this is a movie that doesn't show anything , so while others were searching the darkness for things , I was looking at my phone (I watched at home )waiting until I heard an important sound so I can rewind and see what happened. I think this would be fantastic as a video game though.
I literally just finished watching this movie. loved it. and its actually not based on creepy pasta's. Kyle ran a website for many years (maybe still?) where he published short films while honing his craft, and the short films were recreations of nightmares people had written to him about. Skinamarink is a rendition of the most common tropes he saw across all nightmares he had read. Your a kid, your parents are gone, your vulnerable, and something is out to get you. agreed though it was probably too long. 10 to 15 minutes removed would make it a much easier to watch.
It’s actually very similar to Analog horror which is a sub genre made up of found footage/radio broadcasts/cryptic messages. Highly recommend checking out The Mandela Catalogue and Local 58!
@@icantthinkofaname2417 its actually a youtube channel. he did a short film called 'Heck' thats on youtube, and its very similar to skinamarink, highly recommended
Such a good take. I feel 100% the same way. I watched it home alone and in the dark. I allowed myself to get sucked in and it creeped up under my skin and left me so unnerved. There are so many instances of staring into the dark and wondering "do I see something" "did that just move". To me this movie was a child's incoherent nightmare brought to life. But I also 1000% get the people that don't like it. You need to have a ton of patience. A love for weird art films. And the ability to just let the atmosphere of a film to suck you in. Otherwise the movie will seem like a long, slow and dark pan around a house. I would absolutely have made it shorter though. It was 20 - 30 mins too long. Especially for the type of movie it was. Maybe cut out some of the cartoon scenes. They got sooo draining. Other than that. I loved it. Can't wait to see what the creator does next! Also awesome review, you got a new subscriber outta me.
I got goosebumps looking at the shots that you shown. when I was3 or 4 years old I woke up from a nightmare, and like lot of kids do, I went to my mom's bedroom for comfort. strangely I didnt seem to find her. I lived in a huge house at the time, and I was too afraid to call her name out loud. so I did what any dumb kid would do. I searched every single room in this humungous house trying to find her. the basement was bigger than the house i'm currently living in. worse yet, I was too short to reach most of the light switches, so I was looking for my mom in the pitch black almost, scared and seemingly alone. worth mentioning I was an only child. Dad wasn't home because he was a cross-country trucker at the time. after a long time I went back to mom's bedroom and did actually see her in bed that time. this movie looks like it would bring back that primal child-like fear that I had at the time, and may be the only horror movie I am legitimately afraid to see as an adult... sorry for the long comment, but my story is 100% true and when I told mom about it, she said she was proud for being so brave and making sure she was okay despite the fact that I was so little
this movie will probably do you in for a week or two. i had similar although not as fucked up experiences as a kid and this movie was absolutely one of the scariest horror movies ive ever seen. i second what people said about watching it in the dark alone and with earbuds on, also preferrably on a large TV with great quality and color, although idk if you can link earbuds to a TV
Reading your comment made me remember how fragile you can feel as a child. Made me a little scared reading that even haha. I’m in my bed watching this video 4 AM at night on my phone.
Saw it last night at my local theatre. It’s cool to finally see another horror film shot in my hometown. All the actors and crew were there for the opening night and had Q and A afterwards
Skinamarink captures what having an actual nightmare *feels* like. All the images are out of focus. You never get a good look at the monster. Only brief glimpses at their actions. The whisper dialog perfectly matches.
@basedhomelander It seems like one of those "you either like it or hate it". The director made Bank though, good for him. Maybe he can make a better movie in the future
i saw this movie last night with a friend, and we loved it. it's so unique from other horror movies ive seen. the movie was like a breath if fresh air for horror. i agree that it was a bit too long, but the long-lasting shots effectively elevate the atmosphere, as well as making the few scares it had jarring and well thought out. i sincerely hope that future and aspiring film directors use skinamarink and other analog horror shows/movies as inspiration to make something truly horrifying
I saw the trailer on Reddit 18 months ago, and it terrified me more than any other horror movie trailer has before. So I reached out to the director, and he and I were in contact for a few months after that. I’m SO happy this movie is here!
I love the final image in Skinamarink. It's like the darkness looking back at you. By the end it starts to stray into cosmic horror and starts to take on the vibe of a Thomas Ligotti story.
The final scene of the movie genuinely made me physically feel chills upon my skin. But it all depends if you have a good attention span, have good imagination, and are able to let yourself get lost in a movie
I wasn’t sure if Kevin was in a coma from being pushed down the stairs by his dad or if there was a demon in the house. Then the image of the face at the end made me think the house was definitely haunted.
I was pleasantly surprised by that facet of the story. I loved the fact that there was a singular and genuinely evil villain lurking in the shadows and not something blatantly vague.
The movie didn't do anything for me, but I fully respect it for everything Stuckmann talks about in the beginning. It's truly great that a movie like this can get a theatrical release in this current cinematic era.
I remember getting incredibly hyped up for The Blair Witch Project then leaving the theater thinking it was the dumbest thing I had ever watched. After watching the film 10+ times and it's sequels I've learned to appreciate what it had to offer. There's a reason we're still talking about the film 24 years later. (Fuck that makes me sound old.)
I’m there with you. I saw it and thought, this is dumb and I’m a dumb 18 year old that can’t wait for X-Men to come out… Now I watch it and it fucks me up so bad!
We saw it in a packed theater, got there late and had to sit in front row. Not a good experience, my wife got motion sickness from it and I also thought it was dumb.
This was the first movie in a while that made me cover up my eyes like a child while watching it. I haven’t experienced that primal fear in so long, and it was so refreshing to have that experience once again.
I have NEVER covered my eyes during a movie and tonight was the first time I did! I love the fact that I can't even put into words for other people why I felt that way
When the child is being beckoned to the bedroom by her moms voice and that whole scene which follows fucking freaked me the hell out. I was plugging my ears the whole time cause I was scared of a jumpscare under the bed lol
The final scene of the movie genuinely made me physically feel chills upon my skin. But it all depends if you have a good attention span, have good imagination, and are able to let yourself get lost in a movie
@@atodamadre3197 I believe that’s the point. They don’t want you to see much so there is no resolve, it’s just you and what your imagination can make out. And imagination can be scarier than any movie depiction of something
Just finished watching it and my god the suspense in this movie was painfully good. That last shot in this movie was incredibly hard to keep my eyes open for. Also screw that Fisher Price toy phone. I will say, a lot of the horror in this film revolves around the nostalgic fear of the dark you had as a child. So if that fear of the dark isn't something that really terrifies you that much then maybe this movie won't get you as bad as it got me
@@HeyIntegrity It was the presence itself, the children's dad, or the presence using a voice similar-ish to their dad? I thought it was the presence, while watching the film in theatres.
I think you're right. I've been seeing so many comments about people remembering traumatizing exeriences while watching this movie. I think I couldn't connect to it on that level which is why I felt bored. I'm someone who appreciates unconventional horror though so it was a bit of a letdown to not be as entertained by it.
@@pa5666 To be fair it is a boring movie no matter how you cut it it is literally just pictures of a house for about an hour of its runtime. That being said I loved it and was terrified for most of it but that doesn't change the fact it was also boring
Seen just about every horror/scary movie out there and this is the only one that got under my skin in over 15 years. I had to force myself not to look away from the screen and it made it just a little harder to fall asleep with the lights off. If nothing else it reminded me what it felt like to be a scared kid again which nothing else has managed to do. 4.5/5 for me!
I watched the trailer right after this, and holy hell did it set me on edge. The horror of ambiguity is one of my favorite things. I've always felt strangely attached to my childhood nightmares. I think I might have to give this one a looksee.
I just finished Skinamarink, and I'll try not to go too deep but it's hard not to. It's like this movie saw me. That synopsis of kids waking up to missing parents and a house with no way to even see outside is exactly like the nightmares I had as a kid, down to being trapped in nonlinear spaces in my home or other places with no doors or windows. I made a remark early on about how familiar and creepy the old cartoon in the film is, as I had a VHS as a kid their age (in the early 90's too, mind) with some creepy cartoons from the same era, and one in particular on that VHS really scared me. The film would later go on to play a very long clip of audio from that exact extremely obscure cartoon. There's also a point in the movie with an object I distinctly remember from my childhood that was turned into the only jump scare to actually work on me as an adult. This film was a terrifying personal attack on a poor 90's kid with a very specific childhood and very specific nightmares. I loved it.
I caught this one about a month or so ago, online, when I thought there was no hope of a theatrical or streaming release, and it honestly frightened me more than anything I've seen in years. I was watching with my head turned, out of the corner of my eyes, for so much of the film. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when Kyle announced it was going to theaters and coming to Shudder. It's a work of art and I hope it's the game changer for everyone else that it was for me, after wanting to see something like this brought to the big screen for SO long.
I saw this in a theater on Thursday and was shitting my pants. This movie scared me on such a deep almost animalistic level. The theater was packed. Throughout the ENTIRE movie this group of maybe 15 friends who must’ve been going to the local college, were texting, airdropping pictures, and talking. They proceeded to call the movie trash by the time the credits rolled. So so so annoyed but the movie was able to captivate me and keep me interested the whole time so I still enjoyed myself.
Saw it at home with family. Problem was that they like to joke a lot during horror films and I quickly realized this was not the kind of movie to do that with. I tried my best to lazed focus on the film and was terrified (they didn’t like it cuz they didn’t have much patience for a film like this). I enjoyed it so much that I plan to see it in theaters to further immerse myself. I could choose a showtime with some moviegoers or an empty theater. On one hand, I’m afraid I’ll get stuck with loud moviegoers. On the other hand, I think I’d crap my pants if I saw this alone in an empty theater.
Saw this in theaters, with only a quarter of the auditorium filled up There was a couple next to me and you could tell that the guy didn't even care about being the brave one to look good. He was sinking in his seat and covering his ears next to me and I'd felt everything he felt. I'm almost 25 and this is the first movie in a very long time that made me want to run away, but felt too scared to try, so all I could do was sit there and helplessly wait for the horror to play out. Despite being in a room with other people around me, I felt alone in that house and I wasn't only with those kids. I WAS one of those kids, and I'm pretty sure that was the director's intention. I'm not one to give even the best horror films a full blown 10/10, but Skinamarink is making it very hard for me not to do so.
My favorite part was getting to stair at fucking nothing. Then walls and ceilings and hallways. It was fuckin trash! Only thing scary is ppl made it to the end! 37mins in and I wanted to kill myself then watch another min.
When I was a kid I used to tell my parents that all my dreams were like watching 8mm films. When I saw Kyle's short HECK I felt an unbelievable connection to it and then saw the trailer for SKINAMARINK and it's exactly what my nightmares felt like. I'm seeing the film in a theater tomorrow because I have to know what that nightmare feels like on a big screen. And the fact that Horror has reached its Chantal Ackerman phase is outstanding. And as a horror filmmaker myself, it's truly inspiring to see. Great review!
Great review Chris. I recommend watching the short film by the same director called "HECK". It's 29 mins and has more content and more of an explanation of what is happening. There's a time jump in "Skinamarink" that goes unexplained yet is explained in the short film. The feature film didn't work for me being that I had watched the short which delivers the same creepy atmosphere and felt like a solid idea, rather than an uncut and incomplete 100 min version. I am glad you were able to enjoy it though, as I still appreciate this director's aesthetic.
I really loved this review, huge congrats for the team who managed to make this movie. It’s great to hear your excitement and respect towards it. Very inspirational. Someone working really hard and against all odds being successful ( getting into cinema with this low budget ) thanks for making this video!
I’ve been so anticipated for this film that I bought a ticket for the earliest showtime at my local AMC! This film is one hell of an experience that SHOULD be seen in theaters! This film brought back repressed memories of my own nightmares as a child, so naturally I found this film completely horrific (ESPECIALLY THE FINAL SHOT! HOLY SHIT!) Because this film’s plot is so ambiguous, I’ve been looking up other peoples theories. Are you planning on uploading a spoiler review? Would love to hear more of your thoughts on this as well as your own theories! Great review as always!
Glad you liked the final shot. By the end, about a quarter of the audience had walked out. During the final sequence, I heard someone whisper "I bet this is the end... watch... here comes a sudden title card." ... And then the final title card. 😂
I work at an art house theatre in the director’s hometown. We’re the only theatre in Canada who has been running it so far and it’s been great talking to the people who were involved - we had a Q&A night and the theatre was full of friends and family. It’s so cool that people are enjoying this odd film and wild how it has already done so much better than anyone had thought it would.
The Revue Cinema in Toronto (also a smaller/independant/art house theatre that in addition shows second-run of newer releases, event nights for favourite classics from every decade, and a lot of themed nights and weeks) also showed it four times a week ago and is having a bonus screening tonight. It's been selling out.
Skinamarink is by far the most unsettling horror movie that I’ve seen. And with a $15k budget, it just spits in the face of all of the big name studios that distribute repetitive and predictable horror movies. The atmosphere that this film creates is so eerie and feels like our childhood nightmares put together. I loved it so much. I truly wish we can get more analog horror movies like this.
I loved how the movie starts by giving you nothing, little to no story. But once things start to disappear, once the kids start whispering out of fear, once the TV starts skipping, and things literally start sticking to the wall, I think this movie really shines! I LOVED how slow and steadily this movie became an eldritch/Lovecraftian horror story, and there were several shots burned into my brain.
There’s a very tangible feel to the darkness in the movie. There are a lot of shots where you see in the foreground and the darkness immediately on the other side that looks just as much as an object in frame as anything else does as opposed to just being an empty space. It feels heavy. There are a lot of unique things done. Heavy film grain mixed with this darkness does two things. It forces the audience to watch instead if hiding your eyes from something you’re not sure is uncomfortable during this lengthy shots certain (many) scenes have. It also creates an effect where you’re not sure if certain objects in frame are moving or not. It literally plays tricks on your eyes and makes you wonder if what you saw is your imagination or actually there. I’m not going to say the film is a must see, but I saw 3 different groups of people leave during a certain scene in the film that was pretty unnerving. It’s interesting, creepy, atmospheric, depraved at parts, nihilistic, it’s malevolent. It’s also a test in endurance. It’s one of the slowest movies I’ve ever seen with a decent run time and might leave you unfulfilled, but you’ll definitely leave with a one of a kind impression.
Exactly how I felt!! I honestly don’t think I’ve had a more terrifying theater experience due to how eerily quiet the film got. Really loved this one and I’m watching it again soon
@@victoriareyna Literally same!! I love horror movies, but this one made me not want to look at the screen! Especially after a couple of nightmarish images I’ll never forget
@@lunchbox3124 oh no I wasn’t talking about the hallways lol it was when the daughter goes into the parents room and sees her mom on the bed and then when the daughter leaves the room I’m pretty sure an arm reaches out to grab her. That got me so bad 😂, and the other scene I was talking about is when the brother looks for her sister and when she says I don’t feel so good the following image of her face sent chills up my spine. Also the ending shot is worth a mention for being creepy for me as well lol. I’m sorry you didn’t like the movie. What type of scary movies are you into?
This was actually filmed where I live and I’m friends with one of the producers, which feels incredibly weird to say as I didn’t think I would ever be saying someone who is essentially,based on the traction this film is getting,is famous Also it’s surprisingly not based on creepypastas, I was at the premiere of Skinamarink and the Director said during a Q/A that it was more so inspired by people telling stories of night terrors
I watched the movie online in the first few weeks hearing about it before it was released in theatres. I would recommend watching this movie by yourself and in a sparcely lit room. Watching this movie in a theatre would more than likely have a much different vibe than to watch by yourself. Because after you finish it in a theatre, you feel fine and walk out fine. It may or may not stick with you if you're around other people. But if you watch by yourself... you get the sense you're not really safe in your own home. That's what Skinamarink did for me. I was so creeped out I slept with the lights on. I don't get scared (at least not super easily) by mainstream horror films cause they all follow a lot of the same old tropes and shannigans like jumpscares and the like. This movie is so different in almost every way. I might be biased cause I prefer horror movies that are slow burns, super ambiguous and have little to no jumpscares.
I saw this last night and it did nothing for me. I really wanted to walk out multiple times but powered through it due to how boring it came off to me. I think the biggest thing with this movie is if you're someone who had childhood nightmares and fears of being in a house in the dark alone it may terrify you. I don't recall having that, and i could not get immersed enough in it.
This movie represents the fear i felt as a kid, Waking up in the dark and yelling out for my mom to turn on the light. The imagery, itself, is what scares me. Pretty sure I’ve seen half of these shots in real life.
I literally have a screening for this tonight so I can review it. I'm glad to know you liked this. It definitely puts my worries to rest about it being bad.
Having not seen this film yet BUT hearing your description on Lo-fi film making, this sounds right up my alley. The things you think you can see but truly can’t make it so scary. It’s why I adore early Silent Hill games and David Lynch film. Stuff you can’t quite see or can’t quite understand yet feel and look real enough creep me out.
I saw this movie on Friday in Edmonton (where it was made) and man the energy in that theatre was one of the best experiences I have ever had in a movie since Bladerunner. The movie was sold out and the sense of local pride that radiated from most of the audience was super cool. There was also a meet and greet with a good chunk of the cast and just hearing the directors thoughts was very fascinating. If you ever get this experience where art truly moves a community, genuinely consider yourself lucky. Because that is what film is all about. Idk man. I just love when people get creative and inspires people. Also the film is a fun watch, go see it! Support weird Edmonton art haha.
Yeah I've seen this & it honestly got to me. It absolutely will be divisive but like you mentioned its nature as such a unique & personally affecting experimental exercise in terror was inspiring. It's a movie that succeeds I'd say in the ways projects like Grimcutty or Smiley (2012) fail. Plan to watch it again on Shudder.
I enjoyed the movie, but I genuinely can't understand what people found creepy about it. My friends and I were cracking up at the theaters at the hilarious scenery & doors just popping into and out of existence.
Its cool to see you review something that's so experimental and outside the mainstream. Its one of my favorite genres and this happens to be one of my favorite channels. Its cool to see those worlds collide!
Yeah I've never seen anything like this before, beautiful film, its really scary, that scene when the dad told the boy to look under the bed I damn near shit
Just saw it, if you connect with its vibe and the hell it creates it is a nightmare. It is unconventional, unique, distressing, with amazing audio and its long-running time even plays a role in creating this dream-like nightmarish quality.
Learned about “Skinamarink” this morning, went to the theater to see it this afternoon. I was incredibly impressed, especially considering the tiny budget. Here’s hoping for more movies on this same level.
Great to hear Chris liked and reviewed this. I just love to see movies like this get recognition as they can be immensely inspirational for young filmmakers
My only gripe is that it felt like a short film made long with some unnecessary shots. I love what this movie does though in giving horror fans something new, something not spoon fed and I am very excited to see what the filmmaker does next. It wasn’t, by a long shot, in the “scariest movie I’ve ever seen” list but the relatability to anyone who has ever had recurring nightmares makes up for it.
I saw it while I was sleep deprived so I was falling in and out of sleep while watching it. It truly felt like I was living in a nightmare and I LOVED IT! My girlfriend and I talked about how it definitely is not for everyone, but it was so fascinating from a technical aspect. We both agree that it is not a film you can really recommend to people since the people that will like it will probably have heard about it already, and seen it.
I’ve never had a movie send me into both an existential crisis and a genuine panic attack before so props to the psycho team for managing to do that to me
It reminded me of the nightmares I had as a child. Such a refreshing and terrifying experience that I just cannot praise it enough! The candy guzzling soda gulping tweakers will not be able to enjoy it. For the rest though, what a great way to start off 2023.
I’ve just started this movie, watching it by myself with the lights off. It brings me back to another time, it really does. When I was little, I was easily frightened, but I was also fascinated by being frightened. I’d watch old 70s/80s horror movies by myself once my Nan went to bed. I remember being scared nearly every time the movies were over and I went to bed. I remember there were a couple of bedrooms and a closet, stuffed with antique stuff. I’d have to walk to the end of the hallway, and my Nan’s snores were scary, like zombie moans. Anyway, as I was getting older, I grew to like being scared a bit, and as unsettling as it was, eventually I told myself I wasn’t just going to run by those dark bedrooms and closet anymore. I walked in front of that dark scary closet room, and stepped inside, and closed the door behind me part way. Stood there in the dark and I started whispering. I would talk to the dark because I was terrified it might reply. Got my blood pumpin tho.
Thank you, so much for the great review and explanation of our Film! Appreciate the love & support! I play the Dad (Ross Paul) and my Son plays the little Boy (also on the poster). ~Cheers!🍻
I personally loved this movie. It is definitely not for everyone but this is the exact style of atmospheric/sensory horror that terrifies me. It struggles with pacing in certain areas and I definitely think it should have had a shorter run time. The tension never ends. It is one giant nightmare through and through. I watched this before the theater release at 2am in a super dark room and to say it gave me nothing but mass anxiety the entire time. Seeing it a second time in theaters helped me notice a few things I didn't before but it was nothing compared to the first time. This movie makes your imagination your worst enemy.
I love stuff like this. Thanks Chris for bringing it to my attention.😊 Turner Classic Movies used to do "TCM Underground" and they would show avant-garde low budget experimental movies like this. Saw some good but messed up masterpieces on there.
So glad to read that the movie made $800K over the weekend! I saw it alone (no one else was into it) and in a pretty crowded theater. Spoiler: Most grumbled about how they hated it. I, however, did not. It was creepy and confusing and the grainy noise was almost perfect to lull me into an ASMR sleep...and then the jump scares or noises would shake me up again. I agree that it has issue (i.e., too long) but overall I'm glad that I saw it and that my local AMC took a chance on it. Days later I'm still digesting what I saw and rethinking its meaning.
This is a very interesting movie, it’s unique. Something definitely happened in that house. The movie seems like it takes the viewers inside of kevin nightmare. At first I was thinking the dad may have done something to the mom. But I’m thinking the mom may be the villain in this one.
Thank you Chris. I had heard the name in passing on my favorite podcast just the other day, and had no idea about it. Only that some people are saying it’s the scariest movie they’ve ever seen. Finding out about this movie is impeccable timing because I got home from work a little while ago, and was gonna go see M3GAN, but the timing wouldn’t really work out, so instead, I ended up going straight home. And everything about this movie you have said is as up my alley as maybe any other horror movie ever. And it’s in a theater near me for two showings tonight and no showings anywhere else after…. I debated in the middle of the review if I should splurge on a ride out and back, as well as the ticket and snacks, but knock on wood, this feels like a once in a lifetime experience and from the description and visuals you provided, I don’t know if there’s ever been another horror movie more made for me in taste and concept. I plan to come back to this comment when I get home to tell you what I think. Can’t wait. Also, I never got to see BWP or Paranormal Activity, so this is gonna be a treat as a scaredy horror fan :)
Yep. It scared me. Scared me bad. Oof. Just got back home. And I will say - if I was high when I watched this, it easily would’ve fucked me up for life. That first true jump scare was the scariest jump scare I’d ever seen - and they just got scarier.
1999 is still the best movie year ever. blair witch, matrix, fight club, toy story 2, the sixth sense, the green mile, magnolia, american beauty and the mummy
You’ve convinced me to go see it! I feel like found footage always gets a bad rep because it’s not “gory” enough but I think it’s far more challenging to make something scary without showering people in blood.
I first heard of this movie from Super Eyepatch Wolf, and I was so surprised when your video popped out, cause I thought it was going to be one of those underlooked films that no one would know about
I saw it last night and I was TERRIFIED. This movie scared me so bad I started tearing up a little. I felt so immersed in it. This is definitely a film you want to see in a theater. Before this, the scariest movie I'd ever seen was REC. this one takes the title and runs with it. Absolutely fantastically done and so horrifying.
Chris, you mention this being one of the only representations of creepypasta as an internet craze that actually works for you, well I gotta recommend - if you havent seen it already - We're All Going to the World's Fair. another surrealist, coming of age, horror-adjacent feature debut from 2022 that utilizes creepy pasta in fantastic and unique ways. lots of folks are talking about how well it pairs with skinamarink too actually!
@@puhlasaurus While World's Fair definitely takes a lot of cues from r/nosleep, I think its true appeal comes from the drama of its main character trying to figure out how she fits into the world or of she even does.
I absolutely loved this movie. One of its greatest achievements is that it doesn't end when the movie ends. My partner discussed for an hour after what we thought was going on with all the subtle clues it provides.
Ive heard the “kevin is in a coma and these are his visions as he is slipping away” theory and “the house is haunted by a demon” theory. The whole time I was flipping back and forth between the 2 until the image staring at you at the end. And I could have swore the dad said “there’s something in the house” at one point so I think the house was haunted.
I live in Edmonton, got to see it with the cast and crew! It was a great experience. You could hear a pin drop in the theatre. They even did a Q&A! While I understand it was divisive film, the atmosphere of the being in a sold out theatre of everyone there to support their local indie filmmaker was so special to me! Incredibly unconventional and incredibly arthouse.
I’m pretty interested now, I actually really enjoy creepy pastas even the really bad ones. I feel like there’s a lot of good ideas that could make excellent movies if done correctly. Like Penpal or Borrasca
i went to the theater right after you put out your review, and this is literally one of the most terrifying things i’ve ever seen in my entire life oh my god???? the entire theater was chuckling at me jumping and tensing up and it only added to that visceral childhood fear of loneliness
I saw it today, had to drive an hour and a half away to see it but I had to see it in the theater. You were right about that. Seeing it in the theater made it so much more creepy, mesmerizing, and immersive. I feel like I've been hypnotized and the director is gonna call me up one day and say "Kaylee" and I'm gonna do something I'd never do.😆 When the movie ended the girl behind me said "I gotta go burn some sage now, get some holy water or something."🤣
I am a child abuse survivor and this film triggered some horrible emotions that I felt during that time in my life. This film is the essence of my deepest, darkest fears. True Horror. Thank you very much for your review.
I'm so sorry to hear you had to live that, but I'm glad you mentioned it because that's exactly what I think this movie is about. I know we're all trying to find the meaning in it, but that's the theory I keep coming back to. If not legit child abuse, definitely spousal.
I got to see this yesterday at a theater and it really hit me in my horror spot. For some reason, even if it was slow and exceedingly quiet, it kept me pinching myself waiting for the scares to happen. Since the "jumps" were so rare, I was always tense and it really held me overall though the film's story is bare bones. I liked it but I can certainly understand how it would bore others.
I just got out of this movie, and I loved it. I only love it more the more I think about it. It's absolutely not a movie for most people, it's hard to even really call it a movie. The way I will describe it is as an experience. This film is an experience, and it's something you have to immerse yourself in and imagine yourself as the characters. This film isn't scary if you're not immersed or if you're only half paying attention and getting bored. But once you put yourself in this film, it becomes truly terrifying as you realize the reality of it all, and the geniune hoplessness the situation has. It also was somehow very nolstolgic, which may have helped me slip into the movie better. I felt like I was watching a broken, distorted memory of a nightmare from my childhood. There were many things in this film I connected to, and many moments that felt like they were from my past. I've woken up many nights as a child and stared into the darkness, seeing faces, shapes, forms in the grainy blackness. This movie captured a very specific feeling of just genuine terror that I haven't felt in a long time from a movie. I wanted it to end not because I was bored but because I was sick of feeling so tense and scared. To put it briefly--fantastic movie, I loved it.
The build in tension from just static shots, the lo-fi look and sound adding to that tension. I don't think I remember a time where a movie has made my skin crawl like what I've experienced with this movie in decades. This director is on my watch list and I hope his next project is successful. If nothing else than to have more experimental horror, and more chances to make me squirm and feel genuine terror in the seats. I love this movie, flaws and all. PS: I felt the hair on my arms and neck stand up at that last few seconds of film before the end.
I just read a really great editorial on Bloodydisgusting about "House of Leaves" and how much it has inspired the horror genere over the past 20 years. It really was the start of internet horror and creepypastas. Regardless of weather these creater have read the novel or not it really is a touchstone for horror
I think this was a cheap cash in on liminal spaces and analog horror and it's an empty plate. Worthy genre, but Skinamarink is a 5 minute script stretched over 90 minutes.
Literally I am sitting in the theatre right now and just finished the movie. I hardly ever comment on CZcams but if you are looking to see reviews on watching the movie. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY. It’s ridiculous
I saw this film last night in a packed theatre and the creepiness and dread that the film gave was absolutely palpable. And without giving away any personal spoilers, I had a very clear idea for what the film was saying through the visuals. But bottom line, I enjoyed it immensely!! And as always Chris, you gave a fantastically succinct review 😎🤓👍👍
Chris if you have a love for this kind of movie, I would love for you to see "incantation". It's a found footage, Taiwanese horror film that taps into Toaism and folk lore. I'd think you'd appreciate it and Taiwanese films need some love ❤
This looks like exactly what I’d love to see in the cinema 🤓 when I was making shorts at uni in the early 00’s I’d been so into exploring experimental shots and this is bloody inspiring! I hope it gets a uk release theatrically 🙏🏼
It’s genuinely a terrifying film. It buries itself in the most uncomfortable places in your brain. It’s so unsettling I sat there watching it with all my fingers curled into a ball. I still have those thoughts about what’s sitting in the darkness of my house late at night when all the lights are out. It’s already one of my favorite movies of the year.
I really pride myself on the fact that horrors do NOTHING to me scare-wise. I love them immensely, probably my fave genre. But that said, all scares, spooks, quirks from every horror I have seen the past 3 decades of my life have just rolled off me like they were nothing. *Skinamarink though?* I put on some high quality noise cancelling headphones, turned off my light, put on the movie, and I gotta tell you, it really got to me! Jesus, it's actually genuinely unsettling. I finished the movie, and was like "yeah, that light's going on, like immediately. What is this feeling?" 😂
@Dying Waffle lol I know. People are being so ridiculous here. I saw this last night and it's legit a high-school film project people are trying to say is high art 🙄
This movie genuinely scared the living shit out of me. I watched it first alone and then with a friend and even on the second watch with someone next to me I was not comfortable. This definitely isn't for everyone but for me this is exactly what I want to see in a movie. I hope this will push more people to make creative and genuinely terrifying movies.
The movie was creepy. But hearing Chris say “irregardless” was bone chilling
Was going to say the same thing. Next he'll say he could care less.
Next he'll say "supposably"
I was also thinking this 🤣
That being said he is well spoken
"Didn't do nothing"
I watched it on Friday night, let me tell you this... I was so hyped and excited knowing that I was able to secure a theater to myself, for a 10PM showing, to fully immerse myself and get into it as much as I could…. 10 minutes in, I fully regretted that decision. I have never had such a visceral reaction to a movie like that. I was plugging my ears and hiding in my hoodie, fully sweating and wanting it to be over. I literally googled midway though, “how do you know Skinamarink is over” and "How long is Skinamarink?" lmao. I’m gonna go watch it again to really understand what was on screen now that I know what happens, since I missed most of the visuals, but man…. I was so petrified that I couldn't even look directly at the screen. I have a huge fear of the dark and always think something or someone is watching me sleep. I think that’s why this movie hit me so hard. Once the movie ended, the theater was insanely quiet and I ran out as fast as possible. What didn't make it any better is that the concession stand was fully closed and all the lights were off. Once I finally got outside and seen the street lights, I started to tear up because I never felt so happy to be in the general public and back to reality. I don't know how the second screening will go but, I'll never forget my first screening ever.
you probably shouldn't watch it again or you might die...
why would you secure a theatre to yourself at 10pm if you're afraid of the dark?
The back half of the movie was brutal and unnerving....!
Try this. Take some psychedelic mushrooms while watching this movie. Please share your experience with us
@@wayofthekodiak3118 That is one of the most truly awful ideas I’ve ever heard in my life, that would genuinely be scaring
Skinamarink somewhat reminded me of the book House of Leaves. Specifically, the parts about the house changing. This movie genuinely scared me. I think the main reason that it actually made me scared is because when I was a little kid, I would wake up at night, and I was too afraid to leave my room because the house looked like the house in Skinamarink at night. When you're a child and you see the dark it envokes a very primal fear, and that's what this movie made me remember.
I’m about a third of the way through the book. But as soon as I heard the premise of Skinamarink I was reminded of House of Leaves
It feels like House of Leaves if it was about kids rather than drug addicts or photographers, it was very similar. Except kind of inverted; the house doesnt grow, it shrinks and isolates via things dissappearing slowly.
House of Leaves gotta be the most terrifying book ever written ngl
I read house of leaves a few years ago and im still waiting for a movie brilliant book to try and explain it to someone just doesn't do it justice
I read House of Leaves over the summer and I completely agree with you. There's something terrifying about taking something so familiar like a house and making it unfamiliar in the most minute of ways. House of Leaves is exactly like that.
i personally think the real experience is to watch this at home with true isolation: no surrounding noises, no lights, and no distractions. watching this alone at home is sooo much scarier and immersive
I did and I had to turn on the light and I watched it with my face covered must of the time, but man that had to be the scariest film I've seen in a while, its rare I get scared like that, beautiful film, 👏 bravo
Just watched today with subtitles and a mackie thump 12 for my sound, had it cranked like a theater… was terrifying…. Also sad.
Me five minutes before watching this video
This is the first movie I’ve ever seen that actually FEELS like a nightmare. It feels like I’m in a dream and I absolutely love it.
I agree. The closest i can think of is Island Empire from Lynch
I agree so close to falling asleep it does feel like dreaming
My dreams are way more eventful than this boring ass movie
True, I was so incredibly abhorrently bored that I was in an actual nightmare for 100 fucking minutes
The last time I felt like I was watching a nightmare was It Follows, which was purposely filmed to emulate a nightmare because it was based on a recurring nightmare the director had. It reminded me of how things worked in a lot of my dreams. While not perfect, I still love that movie and cherish Maika Monroe's great performance.
The *only* thing holding this film back is it truly is just too long. Everything else is 👌👌👌
A firend described it as, "A 30 minute concept in a two hour film."
Agree. I think a 70-80 minute version would be perfect.
That and the jump scares. The short it’s based on “heck” just flows better in every way
It relies so much on imagination that if your imagination doesn't take you where the director intended then you may get bored and the length makes this stick out a lot. This film definitely works better the shorter it is at least for me. I firmly believe that this film heavily relies on the psyche or perspective of the viewer. I personally got bored because it only took 10-15 minutes to figure that this is a movie that doesn't show anything , so while others were searching the darkness for things , I was looking at my phone (I watched at home )waiting until I heard an important sound so I can rewind and see what happened. I think this would be fantastic as a video game though.
It’s 1hr40mins long. How long would you like it to be?
I literally just finished watching this movie. loved it. and its actually not based on creepy pasta's. Kyle ran a website for many years (maybe still?) where he published short films while honing his craft, and the short films were recreations of nightmares people had written to him about. Skinamarink is a rendition of the most common tropes he saw across all nightmares he had read. Your a kid, your parents are gone, your vulnerable, and something is out to get you. agreed though it was probably too long. 10 to 15 minutes removed would make it a much easier to watch.
That's interesting do you have a link to the website if its still up?
It’s actually very similar to Analog horror which is a sub genre made up of found footage/radio broadcasts/cryptic messages. Highly recommend checking out The Mandela Catalogue and Local 58!
@@icantthinkofaname2417 its actually a youtube channel. he did a short film called 'Heck' thats on youtube, and its very similar to skinamarink, highly recommended
@@aaronshouting588 yea its similar, but his inspiration for it was always nightmares. he's done interviews about it
Such a good take. I feel 100% the same way. I watched it home alone and in the dark. I allowed myself to get sucked in and it creeped up under my skin and left me so unnerved. There are so many instances of staring into the dark and wondering "do I see something" "did that just move". To me this movie was a child's incoherent nightmare brought to life. But I also 1000% get the people that don't like it. You need to have a ton of patience. A love for weird art films. And the ability to just let the atmosphere of a film to suck you in. Otherwise the movie will seem like a long, slow and dark pan around a house. I would absolutely have made it shorter though. It was 20 - 30 mins too long. Especially for the type of movie it was. Maybe cut out some of the cartoon scenes. They got sooo draining. Other than that. I loved it. Can't wait to see what the creator does next! Also awesome review, you got a new subscriber outta me.
I got goosebumps looking at the shots that you shown.
when I was3 or 4 years old I woke up from a nightmare, and like lot of kids do, I went to my mom's bedroom for comfort. strangely I didnt seem to find her. I lived in a huge house at the time, and I was too afraid to call her name out loud. so I did what any dumb kid would do. I searched every single room in this humungous house trying to find her. the basement was bigger than the house i'm currently living in.
worse yet, I was too short to reach most of the light switches, so I was looking for my mom in the pitch black almost, scared and seemingly alone. worth mentioning I was an only child. Dad wasn't home because he was a cross-country trucker at the time.
after a long time I went back to mom's bedroom and did actually see her in bed that time.
this movie looks like it would bring back that primal child-like fear that I had at the time, and may be the only horror movie I am legitimately afraid to see as an adult...
sorry for the long comment, but my story is 100% true and when I told mom about it, she said she was proud for being so brave and making sure she was okay despite the fact that I was so little
this movie will probably do you in for a week or two. i had similar although not as fucked up experiences as a kid and this movie was absolutely one of the scariest horror movies ive ever seen. i second what people said about watching it in the dark alone and with earbuds on, also preferrably on a large TV with great quality and color, although idk if you can link earbuds to a TV
@cloudy I use my PS4 to watch movies. You can plug in ear buds or headphones into the controller
The shots he shows are the only things that happen in the film. Otherwise, it's a dark hallway or a ceiling.
Reading your comment made me remember how fragile you can feel as a child. Made me a little scared reading that even haha. I’m in my bed watching this video 4 AM at night on my phone.
So your mom went to get something and came back to bed to sleep, but your house is so big you couldn't hear where she were/was at?
Saw it last night at my local theatre. It’s cool to finally see another horror film shot in my hometown. All the actors and crew were there for the opening night and had Q and A afterwards
lucky!
Metro?
Ugh, I’m so jealous
Skinamarink captures what having an actual nightmare *feels* like.
All the images are out of focus. You never get a good look at the monster. Only brief glimpses at their actions. The whisper dialog perfectly matches.
It's incredibly reassuring that a movie like this can get made and released in a theatre in 2023. Gives me hope👍
Yeah... about 10 people walked out when I watched it at the theater. And not because they're terrified. LOL
@@leftyla I was close to walking out. It was hot dog water idk what people see in this movie lmao
Same bro. I'm about to go to work on an anthology of horror movies to try and get the same results. Best of luck 👍🏾
@basedhomelander It seems like one of those "you either like it or hate it". The director made Bank though, good for him. Maybe he can make a better movie in the future
It does. Can’t make anything much worse than this.
i saw this movie last night with a friend, and we loved it. it's so unique from other horror movies ive seen. the movie was like a breath if fresh air for horror. i agree that it was a bit too long, but the long-lasting shots effectively elevate the atmosphere, as well as making the few scares it had jarring and well thought out. i sincerely hope that future and aspiring film directors use skinamarink and other analog horror shows/movies as inspiration to make something truly horrifying
I saw the trailer on Reddit 18 months ago, and it terrified me more than any other horror movie trailer has before. So I reached out to the director, and he and I were in contact for a few months after that. I’m SO happy this movie is here!
You look like you use reddit
@@ryanbrunner2182 That's an unnecessarily rude thing of you to say.
@@ryanbrunner2182 XDXD
That’s a compliment, only cool people use Reddit.
Do you like hot dogs
I love the final image in Skinamarink. It's like the darkness looking back at you. By the end it starts to stray into cosmic horror and starts to take on the vibe of a Thomas Ligotti story.
The final scene of the movie genuinely made me physically feel chills upon my skin. But it all depends if you have a good attention span, have good imagination, and are able to let yourself get lost in a movie
I wasn’t sure if Kevin was in a coma from being pushed down the stairs by his dad or if there was a demon in the house. Then the image of the face at the end made me think the house was definitely haunted.
Ligotti? Well shit I gotta see it now
I was pleasantly surprised by that facet of the story. I loved the fact that there was a singular and genuinely evil villain lurking in the shadows and not something blatantly vague.
@@tr1pl3thr333 it reminded of the Witch where you are like "hmmm are they just going crazy" and then the Devil straight up shows up with his book haha
The movie didn't do anything for me, but I fully respect it for everything Stuckmann talks about in the beginning. It's truly great that a movie like this can get a theatrical release in this current cinematic era.
I remember getting incredibly hyped up for The Blair Witch Project then leaving the theater thinking it was the dumbest thing I had ever watched.
After watching the film 10+ times and it's sequels I've learned to appreciate what it had to offer.
There's a reason we're still talking about the film 24 years later. (Fuck that makes me sound old.)
I’m there with you. I saw it and thought, this is dumb and I’m a dumb 18 year old that can’t wait for X-Men to come out…
Now I watch it and it fucks me up so bad!
I think you were correct initially. The only reason I remember it is because of how amateurish and unscary it was and how I felt ripped off.
We saw it in a packed theater, got there late and had to sit in front row. Not a good experience, my wife got motion sickness from it and I also thought it was dumb.
I loooove The Blair Witch Project
Blair witch still scares crap out me after all these years . And the original paranormal activity
This was the first movie in a while that made me cover up my eyes like a child while watching it. I haven’t experienced that primal fear in so long, and it was so refreshing to have that experience once again.
I have NEVER covered my eyes during a movie and tonight was the first time I did! I love the fact that I can't even put into words for other people why I felt that way
When the child is being beckoned to the bedroom by her moms voice and that whole scene which follows fucking freaked me the hell out. I was plugging my ears the whole time cause I was scared of a jumpscare under the bed lol
So are you scared of looking at walls?
@@gurubivolaru5114In the right context? Absolutely.
@@heatherrockwell9012 Am I not seeing the same thing people are seeing? Like it was literally just a movie of walls and ceilings
The final scene of the movie genuinely made me physically feel chills upon my skin. But it all depends if you have a good attention span, have good imagination, and are able to let yourself get lost in a movie
What's the final scene
I’ll be honest, that final scene I couldn’t look at for very long.. it really gave me the shivers
Attention span for what? You can't see anything in the entire movie.
The final scene for me was just blurry. Maybe my eyesight is just bad. I do have an eye appointment next month tho😂
@@atodamadre3197 I believe that’s the point. They don’t want you to see much so there is no resolve, it’s just you and what your imagination can make out. And imagination can be scarier than any movie depiction of something
Just finished watching it and my god the suspense in this movie was painfully good. That last shot in this movie was incredibly hard to keep my eyes open for. Also screw that Fisher Price toy phone. I will say, a lot of the horror in this film revolves around the nostalgic fear of the dark you had as a child. So if that fear of the dark isn't something that really terrifies you that much then maybe this movie won't get you as bad as it got me
That damn phone... Got me too
Who was the guy that said come upstairs?
@@HeyIntegrity It was the presence itself, the children's dad, or the presence using a voice similar-ish to their dad?
I thought it was the presence, while watching the film in theatres.
I think you're right. I've been seeing so many comments about people remembering traumatizing exeriences while watching this movie. I think I couldn't connect to it on that level which is why I felt bored. I'm someone who appreciates unconventional horror though so it was a bit of a letdown to not be as entertained by it.
@@pa5666 To be fair it is a boring movie no matter how you cut it it is literally just pictures of a house for about an hour of its runtime. That being said I loved it and was terrified for most of it but that doesn't change the fact it was also boring
Seen just about every horror/scary movie out there and this is the only one that got under my skin in over 15 years. I had to force myself not to look away from the screen and it made it just a little harder to fall asleep with the lights off. If nothing else it reminded me what it felt like to be a scared kid again which nothing else has managed to do. 4.5/5 for me!
I watched the trailer right after this, and holy hell did it set me on edge. The horror of ambiguity is one of my favorite things. I've always felt strangely attached to my childhood nightmares. I think I might have to give this one a looksee.
Did you do it? Are you purposely avoiding looking into the dark at home now?
I just finished Skinamarink, and I'll try not to go too deep but it's hard not to. It's like this movie saw me. That synopsis of kids waking up to missing parents and a house with no way to even see outside is exactly like the nightmares I had as a kid, down to being trapped in nonlinear spaces in my home or other places with no doors or windows.
I made a remark early on about how familiar and creepy the old cartoon in the film is, as I had a VHS as a kid their age (in the early 90's too, mind) with some creepy cartoons from the same era, and one in particular on that VHS really scared me. The film would later go on to play a very long clip of audio from that exact extremely obscure cartoon. There's also a point in the movie with an object I distinctly remember from my childhood that was turned into the only jump scare to actually work on me as an adult.
This film was a terrifying personal attack on a poor 90's kid with a very specific childhood and very specific nightmares. I loved it.
I caught this one about a month or so ago, online, when I thought there was no hope of a theatrical or streaming release, and it honestly frightened me more than anything I've seen in years. I was watching with my head turned, out of the corner of my eyes, for so much of the film. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when Kyle announced it was going to theaters and coming to Shudder. It's a work of art and I hope it's the game changer for everyone else that it was for me, after wanting to see something like this brought to the big screen for SO long.
I saw this in a theater on Thursday and was shitting my pants. This movie scared me on such a deep almost animalistic level. The theater was packed. Throughout the ENTIRE movie this group of maybe 15 friends who must’ve been going to the local college, were texting, airdropping pictures, and talking. They proceeded to call the movie trash by the time the credits rolled. So so so annoyed but the movie was able to captivate me and keep me interested the whole time so I still enjoyed myself.
Saw it at home with family. Problem was that they like to joke a lot during horror films and I quickly realized this was not the kind of movie to do that with. I tried my best to lazed focus on the film and was terrified (they didn’t like it cuz they didn’t have much patience for a film like this). I enjoyed it so much that I plan to see it in theaters to further immerse myself. I could choose a showtime with some moviegoers or an empty theater. On one hand, I’m afraid I’ll get stuck with loud moviegoers. On the other hand, I think I’d crap my pants if I saw this alone in an empty theater.
So glad more people are watching this and giving it the recognition it deserves🔥🔥🔥
Saw this in theaters, with only a quarter of the auditorium filled up
There was a couple next to me and you could tell that the guy didn't even care about being the brave one to look good.
He was sinking in his seat and covering his ears next to me and I'd felt everything he felt.
I'm almost 25 and this is the first movie in a very long time that made me want to run away, but felt too scared to try, so all I could do was sit there and helplessly wait for the horror to play out.
Despite being in a room with other people around me, I felt alone in that house and I wasn't only with those kids.
I WAS one of those kids, and I'm pretty sure that was the director's intention.
I'm not one to give even the best horror films a full blown 10/10, but Skinamarink is making it very hard for me not to do so.
My favorite part was getting to stair at fucking nothing. Then walls and ceilings and hallways. It was fuckin trash! Only thing scary is ppl made it to the end! 37mins in and I wanted to kill myself then watch another min.
@@tylerchett5141 It's OK buddy
Life is hard but I hope everything goes better for you
Don't take the easy way out
It's never the solution
When I was a kid I used to tell my parents that all my dreams were like watching 8mm films. When I saw Kyle's short HECK I felt an unbelievable connection to it and then saw the trailer for SKINAMARINK and it's exactly what my nightmares felt like. I'm seeing the film in a theater tomorrow because I have to know what that nightmare feels like on a big screen. And the fact that Horror has reached its Chantal Ackerman phase is outstanding. And as a horror filmmaker myself, it's truly inspiring to see. Great review!
Great review Chris. I recommend watching the short film by the same director called "HECK". It's 29 mins and has more content and more of an explanation of what is happening. There's a time jump in "Skinamarink" that goes unexplained yet is explained in the short film. The feature film didn't work for me being that I had watched the short which delivers the same creepy atmosphere and felt like a solid idea, rather than an uncut and incomplete 100 min version. I am glad you were able to enjoy it though, as I still appreciate this director's aesthetic.
I really loved this review, huge congrats for the team who managed to make this movie. It’s great to hear your excitement and respect towards it. Very inspirational. Someone working really hard and against all odds being successful ( getting into cinema with this low budget ) thanks for making this video!
I’ve been so anticipated for this film that I bought a ticket for the earliest showtime at my local AMC! This film is one hell of an experience that SHOULD be seen in theaters! This film brought back repressed memories of my own nightmares as a child, so naturally I found this film completely horrific (ESPECIALLY THE FINAL SHOT! HOLY SHIT!) Because this film’s plot is so ambiguous, I’ve been looking up other peoples theories. Are you planning on uploading a spoiler review? Would love to hear more of your thoughts on this as well as your own theories! Great review as always!
Glad you liked the final shot. By the end, about a quarter of the audience had walked out. During the final sequence, I heard someone whisper "I bet this is the end... watch... here comes a sudden title card." ... And then the final title card. 😂
I work at an art house theatre in the director’s hometown. We’re the only theatre in Canada who has been running it so far and it’s been great talking to the people who were involved - we had a Q&A night and the theatre was full of friends and family. It’s so cool that people are enjoying this odd film and wild how it has already done so much better than anyone had thought it would.
The Revue Cinema in Toronto (also a smaller/independant/art house theatre that in addition shows second-run of newer releases, event nights for favourite classics from every decade, and a lot of themed nights and weeks) also showed it four times a week ago and is having a bonus screening tonight. It's been selling out.
Skinamarink is by far the most unsettling horror movie that I’ve seen. And with a $15k budget, it just spits in the face of all of the big name studios that distribute repetitive and predictable horror movies. The atmosphere that this film creates is so eerie and feels like our childhood nightmares put together. I loved it so much. I truly wish we can get more analog horror movies like this.
The Taking of Deborah Logan is also a fantastic found footage film that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Yeah it’s pretty good, ur right
Facts. I always wondered why.
I loved how the movie starts by giving you nothing, little to no story. But once things start to disappear, once the kids start whispering out of fear, once the TV starts skipping, and things literally start sticking to the wall, I think this movie really shines! I LOVED how slow and steadily this movie became an eldritch/Lovecraftian horror story, and there were several shots burned into my brain.
There’s a very tangible feel to the darkness in the movie. There are a lot of shots where you see in the foreground and the darkness immediately on the other side that looks just as much as an object in frame as anything else does as opposed to just being an empty space. It feels heavy. There are a lot of unique things done. Heavy film grain mixed with this darkness does two things. It forces the audience to watch instead if hiding your eyes from something you’re not sure is uncomfortable during this lengthy shots certain (many) scenes have. It also creates an effect where you’re not sure if certain objects in frame are moving or not. It literally plays tricks on your eyes and makes you wonder if what you saw is your imagination or actually there.
I’m not going to say the film is a must see, but I saw 3 different groups of people leave during a certain scene in the film that was pretty unnerving. It’s interesting, creepy, atmospheric, depraved at parts, nihilistic, it’s malevolent. It’s also a test in endurance. It’s one of the slowest movies I’ve ever seen with a decent run time and might leave you unfulfilled, but you’ll definitely leave with a one of a kind impression.
I saw this last night, and I think this is the scariest movie I have seen in a long time. It felt like I was re-living my childhood nightmares
Exactly how I felt!! I honestly don’t think I’ve had a more terrifying theater experience due to how eerily quiet the film got. Really loved this one and I’m watching it again soon
I never close my eyes in horror movies but last night i was sweating and didn’t look at the screen for the last like 45min
@@victoriareyna Literally same!! I love horror movies, but this one made me not want to look at the screen! Especially after a couple of nightmarish images I’ll never forget
@@isaacwahlers726 what images? I literally didn’t see a scary shot. Empty hallways are not scary
@@lunchbox3124 oh no I wasn’t talking about the hallways lol it was when the daughter goes into the parents room and sees her mom on the bed and then when the daughter leaves the room I’m pretty sure an arm reaches out to grab her. That got me so bad 😂, and the other scene I was talking about is when the brother looks for her sister and when she says I don’t feel so good the following image of her face sent chills up my spine. Also the ending shot is worth a mention for being creepy for me as well lol. I’m sorry you didn’t like the movie. What type of scary movies are you into?
This was actually filmed where I live and I’m friends with one of the producers, which feels incredibly weird to say as I didn’t think I would ever be saying someone who is essentially,based on the traction this film is getting,is famous
Also it’s surprisingly not based on creepypastas, I was at the premiere of Skinamarink and the Director said during a Q/A that it was more so inspired by people telling stories of night terrors
I watched the movie online in the first few weeks hearing about it before it was released in theatres. I would recommend watching this movie by yourself and in a sparcely lit room. Watching this movie in a theatre would more than likely have a much different vibe than to watch by yourself.
Because after you finish it in a theatre, you feel fine and walk out fine. It may or may not stick with you if you're around other people.
But if you watch by yourself... you get the sense you're not really safe in your own home. That's what Skinamarink did for me. I was so creeped out I slept with the lights on. I don't get scared (at least not super easily) by mainstream horror films cause they all follow a lot of the same old tropes and shannigans like jumpscares and the like.
This movie is so different in almost every way. I might be biased cause I prefer horror movies that are slow burns, super ambiguous and have little to no jumpscares.
I saw this last night and it did nothing for me. I really wanted to walk out multiple times but powered through it due to how boring it came off to me. I think the biggest thing with this movie is if you're someone who had childhood nightmares and fears of being in a house in the dark alone it may terrify you. I don't recall having that, and i could not get immersed enough in it.
Yup. I thought this might've been one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my entire life. Boring is an understatement.
This movie represents the fear i felt as a kid,
Waking up in the dark and yelling out for my mom to turn on the light.
The imagery, itself, is what scares me.
Pretty sure I’ve seen half of these shots in real life.
I literally have a screening for this tonight so I can review it. I'm glad to know you liked this. It definitely puts my worries to rest about it being bad.
Having not seen this film yet BUT hearing your description on Lo-fi film making, this sounds right up my alley. The things you think you can see but truly can’t make it so scary. It’s why I adore early Silent Hill games and David Lynch film. Stuff you can’t quite see or can’t quite understand yet feel and look real enough creep me out.
I saw this movie on Friday in Edmonton (where it was made) and man the energy in that theatre was one of the best experiences I have ever had in a movie since Bladerunner. The movie was sold out and the sense of local pride that radiated from most of the audience was super cool.
There was also a meet and greet with a good chunk of the cast and just hearing the directors thoughts was very fascinating.
If you ever get this experience where art truly moves a community, genuinely consider yourself lucky. Because that is what film is all about.
Idk man. I just love when people get creative and inspires people.
Also the film is a fun watch, go see it! Support weird Edmonton art haha.
Yeah I've seen this & it honestly got to me. It absolutely will be divisive but like you mentioned its nature as such a unique & personally affecting experimental exercise in terror was inspiring. It's a movie that succeeds I'd say in the ways projects like Grimcutty or Smiley (2012) fail. Plan to watch it again on Shudder.
I enjoyed the movie, but I genuinely can't understand what people found creepy about it. My friends and I were cracking up at the theaters at the hilarious scenery & doors just popping into and out of existence.
Everyone saying "This movie felt like a nightmare"
and you all clearly had some really...subtle nightmares...
Its cool to see you review something that's so experimental and outside the mainstream. Its one of my favorite genres and this happens to be one of my favorite channels. Its cool to see those worlds collide!
I absolutely loved this movie. Made me feel something I have not felt like I was a child in my dark room back in the day
Yeah I've never seen anything like this before, beautiful film, its really scary, that scene when the dad told the boy to look under the bed I damn near shit
Just saw it, if you connect with its vibe and the hell it creates it is a nightmare. It is unconventional, unique, distressing, with amazing audio and its long-running time even plays a role in creating this dream-like nightmarish quality.
Learned about “Skinamarink” this morning, went to the theater to see it this afternoon. I was incredibly impressed, especially considering the tiny budget. Here’s hoping for more movies on this same level.
Great to hear Chris liked and reviewed this. I just love to see movies like this get recognition as they can be immensely inspirational for young filmmakers
My only gripe is that it felt like a short film made long with some unnecessary shots. I love what this movie does though in giving horror fans something new, something not spoon fed and I am very excited to see what the filmmaker does next. It wasn’t, by a long shot, in the “scariest movie I’ve ever seen” list but the relatability to anyone who has ever had recurring nightmares makes up for it.
The director’s short film “Heck” is a proof a concept for “Skinamarink”. It’s around 20 min long. Worth a watch.
I always had a soft spot for the "Uncanny Valley" horror films.
Watch Heck which is a 30 minute short from Kyle Edward Ball that Skinamarink is based on.
I saw it while I was sleep deprived so I was falling in and out of sleep while watching it. It truly felt like I was living in a nightmare and I LOVED IT! My girlfriend and I talked about how it definitely is not for everyone, but it was so fascinating from a technical aspect. We both agree that it is not a film you can really recommend to people since the people that will like it will probably have heard about it already, and seen it.
I’ve never had a movie send me into both an existential crisis and a genuine panic attack before so props to the psycho team for managing to do that to me
It reminded me of the nightmares I had as a child. Such a refreshing and terrifying experience that I just cannot praise it enough! The candy guzzling soda gulping tweakers will not be able to enjoy it. For the rest though, what a great way to start off 2023.
I’ve just started this movie, watching it by myself with the lights off. It brings me back to another time, it really does. When I was little, I was easily frightened, but I was also fascinated by being frightened. I’d watch old 70s/80s horror movies by myself once my Nan went to bed. I remember being scared nearly every time the movies were over and I went to bed. I remember there were a couple of bedrooms and a closet, stuffed with antique stuff. I’d have to walk to the end of the hallway, and my Nan’s snores were scary, like zombie moans. Anyway, as I was getting older, I grew to like being scared a bit, and as unsettling as it was, eventually I told myself I wasn’t just going to run by those dark bedrooms and closet anymore. I walked in front of that dark scary closet room, and stepped inside, and closed the door behind me part way. Stood there in the dark and I started whispering. I would talk to the dark because I was terrified it might reply. Got my blood pumpin tho.
Thank you, so much for the great review and explanation of our Film! Appreciate the love & support! I play the Dad (Ross Paul) and my Son plays the little Boy (also on the poster). ~Cheers!🍻
I personally loved this movie. It is definitely not for everyone but this is the exact style of atmospheric/sensory horror that terrifies me. It struggles with pacing in certain areas and I definitely think it should have had a shorter run time. The tension never ends. It is one giant nightmare through and through. I watched this before the theater release at 2am in a super dark room and to say it gave me nothing but mass anxiety the entire time. Seeing it a second time in theaters helped me notice a few things I didn't before but it was nothing compared to the first time. This movie makes your imagination your worst enemy.
Seeing it tonight with a friend. Suuuuper hyped! It looks so creepy, and gives me Mandella Catalogue vibes.
Please come back and let us know what you thought. I’ve seen it and I hated it. So I’m curious
Man I’m so happy you reviewed this, I was literally thinking if you would touch this & im glad.
.. regarding the film. Mannn has it stuck with me.
I love stuff like this. Thanks Chris for bringing it to my attention.😊
Turner Classic Movies used to do "TCM Underground" and they would show avant-garde low budget experimental movies like this. Saw some good but messed up masterpieces on there.
So glad to read that the movie made $800K over the weekend! I saw it alone (no one else was into it) and in a pretty crowded theater. Spoiler: Most grumbled about how they hated it. I, however, did not. It was creepy and confusing and the grainy noise was almost perfect to lull me into an ASMR sleep...and then the jump scares or noises would shake me up again. I agree that it has issue (i.e., too long) but overall I'm glad that I saw it and that my local AMC took a chance on it. Days later I'm still digesting what I saw and rethinking its meaning.
This is a very interesting movie, it’s unique. Something definitely happened in that house. The movie seems like it takes the viewers inside of kevin nightmare. At first I was thinking the dad may have done something to the mom. But I’m thinking the mom may be the villain in this one.
TFW a friends movie that you are credited on goes viral worldwide. Such a cool experience and im so stoked for Kyle!!
Thank you Chris. I had heard the name in passing on my favorite podcast just the other day, and had no idea about it. Only that some people are saying it’s the scariest movie they’ve ever seen. Finding out about this movie is impeccable timing because I got home from work a little while ago, and was gonna go see M3GAN, but the timing wouldn’t really work out, so instead, I ended up going straight home. And everything about this movie you have said is as up my alley as maybe any other horror movie ever.
And it’s in a theater near me for two showings tonight and no showings anywhere else after….
I debated in the middle of the review if I should splurge on a ride out and back, as well as the ticket and snacks, but knock on wood, this feels like a once in a lifetime experience and from the description and visuals you provided, I don’t know if there’s ever been another horror movie more made for me in taste and concept.
I plan to come back to this comment when I get home to tell you what I think. Can’t wait.
Also, I never got to see BWP or Paranormal Activity, so this is gonna be a treat as a scaredy horror fan :)
Yep. It scared me. Scared me bad. Oof. Just got back home. And I will say - if I was high when I watched this, it easily would’ve fucked me up for life. That first true jump scare was the scariest jump scare I’d ever seen - and they just got scarier.
1999 is still the best movie year ever. blair witch, matrix, fight club, toy story 2, the sixth sense, the green mile, magnolia, american beauty and the mummy
Saving private ryan came out in 1998
@@RamienKirupa k
I’m hoping that it stays in theaters long enough for me to see it this week
You’ve convinced me to go see it! I feel like found footage always gets a bad rep because it’s not “gory” enough but I think it’s far more challenging to make something scary without showering people in blood.
Found footage has always been the scariest for me 😭
I first heard of this movie from Super Eyepatch Wolf, and I was so surprised when your video popped out, cause I thought it was going to be one of those underlooked films that no one would know about
I saw it last night and I was TERRIFIED. This movie scared me so bad I started tearing up a little. I felt so immersed in it. This is definitely a film you want to see in a theater. Before this, the scariest movie I'd ever seen was REC. this one takes the title and runs with it. Absolutely fantastically done and so horrifying.
Chris, you mention this being one of the only representations of creepypasta as an internet craze that actually works for you, well I gotta recommend - if you havent seen it already - We're All Going to the World's Fair. another surrealist, coming of age, horror-adjacent feature debut from 2022 that utilizes creepy pasta in fantastic and unique ways. lots of folks are talking about how well it pairs with skinamarink too actually!
Yes! Such a creepy and surreal film!
@@puhlasaurus While World's Fair definitely takes a lot of cues from r/nosleep, I think its true appeal comes from the drama of its main character trying to figure out how she fits into the world or of she even does.
I absolutely loved this movie. One of its greatest achievements is that it doesn't end when the movie ends. My partner discussed for an hour after what we thought was going on with all the subtle clues it provides.
Ive heard the “kevin is in a coma and these are his visions as he is slipping away” theory and “the house is haunted by a demon” theory. The whole time I was flipping back and forth between the 2 until the image staring at you at the end. And I could have swore the dad said “there’s something in the house” at one point so I think the house was haunted.
I live in Edmonton, got to see it with the cast and crew! It was a great experience. You could hear a pin drop in the theatre. They even did a Q&A! While I understand it was divisive film, the atmosphere of the being in a sold out theatre of everyone there to support their local indie filmmaker was so special to me! Incredibly unconventional and incredibly arthouse.
I’m pretty interested now, I actually really enjoy creepy pastas even the really bad ones. I feel like there’s a lot of good ideas that could make excellent movies if done correctly. Like Penpal or Borrasca
I really, reeeeaaaaally didn't like it. I really went in with high hopes, but was let down so much.
i went to the theater right after you put out your review, and this is literally one of the most terrifying things i’ve ever seen in my entire life oh my god???? the entire theater was chuckling at me jumping and tensing up and it only added to that visceral childhood fear of loneliness
I saw it today, had to drive an hour and a half away to see it but I had to see it in the theater. You were right about that. Seeing it in the theater made it so much more creepy, mesmerizing, and immersive. I feel like I've been hypnotized and the director is gonna call me up one day and say "Kaylee" and I'm gonna do something I'd never do.😆
When the movie ended the girl behind me said "I gotta go burn some sage now, get some holy water or something."🤣
I am a child abuse survivor and this film triggered some horrible emotions that I felt during that time in my life. This film is the essence of my deepest, darkest fears. True Horror. Thank you very much for your review.
okay glad i’m not alone in this experience. i’m proud of us for surviving, but jesus fuck was this eerily close to some childhood nightmares
I'm so sorry to hear you had to live that, but I'm glad you mentioned it because that's exactly what I think this movie is about. I know we're all trying to find the meaning in it, but that's the theory I keep coming back to. If not legit child abuse, definitely spousal.
If analog horror was made into a movie this would be it. I loved it.
I got to see this yesterday at a theater and it really hit me in my horror spot. For some reason, even if it was slow and exceedingly quiet, it kept me pinching myself waiting for the scares to happen. Since the "jumps" were so rare, I was always tense and it really held me overall though the film's story is bare bones. I liked it but I can certainly understand how it would bore others.
I just got out of this movie, and I loved it. I only love it more the more I think about it. It's absolutely not a movie for most people, it's hard to even really call it a movie. The way I will describe it is as an experience. This film is an experience, and it's something you have to immerse yourself in and imagine yourself as the characters. This film isn't scary if you're not immersed or if you're only half paying attention and getting bored. But once you put yourself in this film, it becomes truly terrifying as you realize the reality of it all, and the geniune hoplessness the situation has. It also was somehow very nolstolgic, which may have helped me slip into the movie better. I felt like I was watching a broken, distorted memory of a nightmare from my childhood. There were many things in this film I connected to, and many moments that felt like they were from my past. I've woken up many nights as a child and stared into the darkness, seeing faces, shapes, forms in the grainy blackness. This movie captured a very specific feeling of just genuine terror that I haven't felt in a long time from a movie. I wanted it to end not because I was bored but because I was sick of feeling so tense and scared. To put it briefly--fantastic movie, I loved it.
Every second of footage has scared me. It taps into the childhood of us 90s kids, with our hazy, analog nightmares
I literally don't believe you.
The build in tension from just static shots, the lo-fi look and sound adding to that tension. I don't think I remember a time where a movie has made my skin crawl like what I've experienced with this movie in decades. This director is on my watch list and I hope his next project is successful. If nothing else than to have more experimental horror, and more chances to make me squirm and feel genuine terror in the seats. I love this movie, flaws and all. PS: I felt the hair on my arms and neck stand up at that last few seconds of film before the end.
I love the theory of the child hitting his head early on, and then everything afterwards is all a nightmare spilling out of him
I just read a really great editorial on Bloodydisgusting about "House of Leaves" and how much it has inspired the horror genere over the past 20 years. It really was the start of internet horror and creepypastas. Regardless of weather these creater have read the novel or not it really is a touchstone for horror
I think this was a cheap cash in on liminal spaces and analog horror and it's an empty plate.
Worthy genre, but Skinamarink is a 5 minute script stretched over 90 minutes.
I loved this movie. I’ve wanted to see a horror/horror-adjacent movie that’s filmed in this style for years.
Literally I am sitting in the theatre right now and just finished the movie. I hardly ever comment on CZcams but if you are looking to see reviews on watching the movie. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY. It’s ridiculous
I saw this film last night in a packed theatre and the creepiness and dread that the film gave was absolutely palpable. And without giving away any personal spoilers, I had a very clear idea for what the film was saying through the visuals. But bottom line, I enjoyed it immensely!! And as always Chris, you gave a fantastically succinct review 😎🤓👍👍
Man’s really sneaked in the nerd emoji lol
@@yer6105 ya say that like it's a bad thing lol
Chris if you have a love for this kind of movie, I would love for you to see "incantation".
It's a found footage, Taiwanese horror film that taps into Toaism and folk lore.
I'd think you'd appreciate it and Taiwanese films need some love ❤
This looks like exactly what I’d love to see in the cinema 🤓 when I was making shorts at uni in the early 00’s I’d been so into exploring experimental shots and this is bloody inspiring! I hope it gets a uk release theatrically 🙏🏼
It’s genuinely a terrifying film. It buries itself in the most uncomfortable places in your brain. It’s so unsettling I sat there watching it with all my fingers curled into a ball. I still have those thoughts about what’s sitting in the darkness of my house late at night when all the lights are out. It’s already one of my favorite movies of the year.
I really pride myself on the fact that horrors do NOTHING to me scare-wise.
I love them immensely, probably my fave genre. But that said, all scares, spooks, quirks from every horror I have seen the past 3 decades of my life have just rolled off me like they were nothing.
*Skinamarink though?* I put on some high quality noise cancelling headphones, turned off my light, put on the movie, and I gotta tell you, it really got to me! Jesus, it's actually genuinely unsettling. I finished the movie, and was like "yeah, that light's going on, like immediately. What is this feeling?" 😂
I imagine it's probably the same feeling you'd get sitting through a maga speech.
Scared the absolute piss out of me. One of the most original and effective horror flicks in a long long time. Can't wait to see it again.
What scared you?
What scared you?
Also youtube has alot of these type of videos where they just show random backgrounds lol and some talking
@Dying Waffle lol I know. People are being so ridiculous here. I saw this last night and it's legit a high-school film project people are trying to say is high art 🙄
@@mewgiah8057 I agree it's
@@mewgiah8057 I have some old VHS recordings I can show you. It's grainy,blurry and it's just us opening Xmas gifts 😂
Just saw this. Honestly a perfect review Chris thank you!
This movie genuinely scared the living shit out of me. I watched it first alone and then with a friend and even on the second watch with someone next to me I was not comfortable. This definitely isn't for everyone but for me this is exactly what I want to see in a movie. I hope this will push more people to make creative and genuinely terrifying movies.
All the windows and doors have vanished yet I see doors all over the trailer and posters.