Scarlett Johansson has played superheroes, spies and some of Hollywood’s most recognisable characters, but one of her most unsettling performances came in a film where she said very little and let her actions speak for themselves.
Under the Skin, Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 science fiction thriller, is now available to stream free on Tubi in the US.
The film follows an alien disguised as a woman who drives around Scotland, luring unsuspecting men into her van. Rather than relying on familiar jump scares or lengthy explanations, Glazer builds tension through eerie images, silence and Johansson’s deliberately distant performance.
If you enjoy horror that unsettles you without giving you easy answers, this film deserves a place on your watchlist.
Treasure Ayanfe Adetula
What Makes Under The Skin Different?
Based on Michel Faber’s 2000 novel of the same name, Under the Skin follows an extraterrestrial who takes human form and uses her appearance to attract men. As she travels through Glasgow and other parts of Scotland, her encounters gradually complicate her understanding of humanity.
The premise sounds like a conventional science fiction horror story, but the film takes an unconventional approach. Johansson’s character has little conventional dialogue, and much of the story unfolds through observation rather than explanation. You are left to work out what she wants, how she sees the people around her, and why her behaviour begins to change.
The British Film Institute’s overview describes the film as a mixture of science fiction and inner-city realism, highlighting its unusual visuals and sound design. That combination makes ordinary streets, passing strangers and quiet conversations feel strangely threatening.
Scarlett Johansson’s Most Unusual Performance
Johansson is the film’s centre, but her performance is very different from the confident, expressive characters audiences may recognise from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here, she plays someone who looks human but does not initially understand human emotion, attraction, or vulnerability in the same way.
Her restrained performance is central to the film’s unease. Instead of telling you what the character feels, Johansson allows small changes in her behaviour to suggest that something is shifting beneath the surface. The result is a character who becomes more difficult to understand as the story progresses.
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