Watch Metal Skin

Metal Skin is a cult Australian film from 1994 directed by Geoffrey Wright. It centers around the lives of four young people living on the outskirts of Melbourne, struggling to find their place in the world. The plot is a surreal blend of science fiction, romance, and social commentary, with a unique visual style that sets it apart from other films of the era.

The protagonist of the film is Joe (Aden Young), a quiet and introverted young man who works as a security guard at a factory. His life is turned upside down when he meets and falls in love with the wild and unpredictable Savina (Tara Morice), a punk rocker who dreams of leaving her life behind and becoming a famous musician. However, their budding romance is complicated by the arrival of the wealthy and manipulative Luchio (Ben Mendelsohn), who takes an interest in Savina and begins to pull her away from Joe.

Alongside their story, we follow the lives of two other young people in the same community. Roslyn (Nadine Garner) is a shy and sensitive girl who spends her days taking care of her alcoholic father and dreaming of a better life. Jamie (Chris Haywood) is a bitter and disillusioned man who works as a mechanic and struggles to connect with anyone around him.

Throughout the film, we see these characters navigating their way through a world that seems determined to crush their dreams and desires. They encounter a variety of strange and surreal obstacles, including robotic dogs, hallucinatory visions, and ghostly apparitions. The film's visual style reflects this sense of surrealism, with exaggerated colors and camera angles that serve to heighten the emotional intensity of the story.

Despite its fantastic elements, however, Metal Skin is ultimately a deeply human film. It examines themes of alienation, loneliness, and the search for meaning in a world that can seem cold and indifferent. The characters are all flawed and complex, each struggling to find their place in a society that seems to have little regard for their wellbeing.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is its soundtrack, which is filled with a mix of punk and electronic music that perfectly captures the sense of rebellion and youthful energy that permeates the story. This music is often juxtaposed with haunting choral arrangements, giving the film a sense of both chaos and beauty.

Metal Skin is a film that defies easy categorization. It is at once a sci-fi thriller, a romantic drama, and a bleak social commentary. But despite these disparate elements, it manages to weave them all together into a cohesive and deeply affecting whole. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Aden Young and Tara Morice in particular delivering standout performances as the film's central couple.

In the years since its release, Metal Skin has become something of a cult classic, cherished by fans for its unique visual style and unflinching portrayal of life on the fringes of society. It is a film that demands to be seen, and one that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who watches it.

Metal Skin is a 1994 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.