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The Skin I Live In

Play trailer Poster for The Skin I Live In R 2011 2h 0m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 178 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Ever since his beloved wife was horribly burned in an auto accident, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a skilled plastic surgeon, has tried to develop a new skin that could save the lives of burn victims. Finally, after 12 years, Ledgard has created a skin that guards the body, but is still sensitive to touch. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper (Marisa Paredes), Ledgard tests his creation on Vera (Elena Anaya), who is held prisoner against her will in the doctor's mansion.

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The Skin I Live In

The Skin I Live In

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Critics Consensus

The Skin I Live In lacks Almodovar's famously charged romance, replaced with a wonderfully bizarre and unpredictable detour into arthouse ick.

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Critics Reviews

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Gabrielle Rivera Autostraddle 06/11/2021
Banderas settles into the dark character of Dr. Ledgard with a stillness and apparent ease that gave me the chills I left the movie theater wondering if it worth it. Go to Full Review José Teodoro Film Comment Magazine 11/05/2013
Almodóvar has a body of work as rigorously personal as any out there, and, even with its flaws, he wears this latest Skin rather well. Go to Full Review Nicolas Rapold Film Comment Magazine 07/01/2013
Despite the typically invigorating sense of line and framing, The Skin I Live In withholds the director's customary satisfactions and affirmations. The result is a saga of obsession that, in its saturnine undertone, maintains a hard-to-enjoy integrity. Go to Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog Mar 21
3.5/4
Like the lovely Vera, the film offers cool, attractive surfaces, but the secret behind the woman and her world she inhabits will chill you to the bone. Go to Full Review Bianca Garner Filmotomy 10/04/2024
Banderas’ Ledgard is charismatic, sinister and full of deep rooted rage. Banderas’ performance is very remisicitant of Cary Grant in Suspicion (1941), but our suspicions of Ledgard is very much justified in The Skin I Live In. Go to Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek 05/07/2024
4/5
Alberto Iglesias' astounding score is a diverse work, taking in a wide array of tones and arrangements, shifting from high tension string sections, to electronic backbeats, from guitar drones to moody saxophone. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack F @MovieFan111 Apr 30 Oh my gosh this was a weird movie. Glad there was subtitles. I always love unique movies, and this one is definitely that. CSM says 18+. I think I agree with them. See more Alexsander F @Aelxs Feb 28 I am at a loss for words when it comes to articulating my thoughts regarding this film. / No encuentro palabras para expresar mis pensamientos sobre esta película. See more Richard S @RT25368873 Sep 20 Creepy and boring. I watched this film once in 2013 and once in 2025. It might be more interesting the first watch, but there is limited rewatchability See more Jordan M. @jmiller254 Jul 7 Interesting from beginning to end and hours later after you think about what the hell you just watched See more Laurian D @Laurian Jun 18 Could have been great, but makes use of graphic scenes just for shock factor, and they don't add anything to the story. It's just ok and worth a watch because of that. See more Flavio P @RT63565229 04/09/2025 Ho retto 52 minuti. Ogni minuto speravo di bruciare come la moglie del protagonista. See more Read all reviews
The Skin I Live In

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Cast & Crew

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Pedro Almodóvar

Director

Antonio Banderas

Dr. Robert Ledgard

Elena Anaya

Vera

Marisa Paredes

Marilia

Jan Cornet

Vicente

Roberto Álamo

Zeca

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The Skin I Live In

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ever since his beloved wife was horribly burned in an auto accident, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a skilled plastic surgeon, has tried to develop a new skin that could save the lives of burn victims. Finally, after 12 years, Ledgard has created a skin that guards the body, but is still sensitive to touch. With the aid of his faithful housekeeper (Marisa Paredes), Ledgard tests his creation on Vera (Elena Anaya), who is held prisoner against her will in the doctor's mansion.
Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer
Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García
Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
El Deseo S.A., FilmNation, Canal+ España
Rating
R (Drug Use|Disturbing Violent Content|Strong Sexuality|Graphic Nudity|Language|Sexual Assault)
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 14, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 10, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.2M
Runtime
2h 0m