Folks don't usually expect to see a SF or Horror film from one of the leading names in International cinema, but Spain's Pedro Almodovar has delivered an intriguing take on what could be described as a melding between EYES WITHOUT A FACE and the Frankenstein legend, with some echoes of Frankenheimer's SECONDS. Of course, with Almodovar's trademark sexual intrigue. It's sexy sharp looking film with good performances by Antonio Banderas and the gorgeous Elena Anaya.
Lately, Almodovar has branched out into more genre like films such as BAD EDUCATION and BROKEN EMBRACES (and even the wonderful VOLVER had touches). Overall, I don't think these genre exercises play to Almodovar's strengths, but SKIN is more successful than BAD or BROKEN. My biggest quibble is that the film sort of re-loads half-way through with a long flashback, which while conveying important plot info, breaks the mood and buildup of the first half. And, the ending seems a bit rushed. Still, it's something Marathoners should seek out. 

http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/skin_live.jpg




edit - Yes, Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE. It played at one of the Orson Welles' Horror Marathons back in the 80s

L.A. Connection wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 10:11am:

what could be described as a melding between EYES WITH A FACE

    Dont you mean Eyes without a Face?  The Franju film?

L.A. Connection wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 10:11am:

Yes, Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE. It played at one of the Orson Welles' Horror Marathons back in the 80s

     Thought so.
     I ran this years ago, on 16mm, at the Coolidge.

L.A. Connection wrote on Nov 8^th, 2011 at 10:11am:

Yes, Franju's EYES WITHOUT A FACE.

     Just watched this tonight; havent seen it in decades.  It's really creepy & disturbing: the deliberate understatement works for it.  I think there was a major re-release in 2003, so there might be decent prints available.
     Dont know if it would be a good marathon movie; fer sher the audience would get grossed out at one gory point.

Yes, EYES WITHOUT A FACE was re-released a few years back. I actually first saw it at the Orson Welles at a Horror Marathon (and, it's more a horror film than SF).

Now, did anybody see THE SKIN I LIVE IN yet? It's still at the Kendall and former Marathon site West Newton.

If you don't see it, you might be next on her stalking list....

http://www.moviespad.com/photos/the-skin-i-live-in-photo-077de.jpg

Saw it about a month ago, liking it a lot (review here!).  It's got a couple of things that make me biased toward it that I won't spoil, to the point where I will forgive the way the script occasionally seems like Almodovar had two mad scientist movies he wanted to make that wound up being merged.

Not that I'm surprised he would have two mad scientist stories in him, though - I think he's always had a fondness for this sort of sci-fi/horror material.  He and his brother Augustin produced Alex de la Iglesia's first movie, Mutant Action, and the silent-sci-fi-inspired dream sequence in Talk to Her is kind of terrific.  It just seems to have taken him a while to find a story that he felt matched his skill set.