‘Skin Deep’ (2024) Review – A Fantastical And Provocative Look At Body Swapping

“You are the person you are because of the body you have.” This line is echoed early in the film Skin Deep. This provoking statement serves as the basis for the entire movie and a question that characters and, in large part, the story do not necessarily address head-on but wrestle with in a series of dramatic situations. The story finds a young couple, Leyla (Mala Emde) and Tristan (Jonas Dassler), battling relationship woes. They embark on a retreat to a remote island getaway. However, the island is more than an isolated getaway; it is a place of mystical power. There, Leyla and Tristan, through an ambiguous ritual, swap bodies. The hope is to learn more about themselves through the eyes — literally. As they transcend bodies, the fluidity of their situation becomes apparent, threatening not only their relationships but their lives as well.

Skin Deep cannot be labeled a horror film, though the island setting and ritualistic practices conjure up recent films like Midsommar and Infinity Pool. There is even a Cronenberg-lite approach to body-swapping. The film, in addition to the line “You are the person you are because of the body you have,” takes a study at the idea of sexuality and identity. In a conversation after the body swaps between Leyla and her friend Stella (Edgar Selge), who is  permanently in the body of her late father, mentions, “Our so-called self is a fragile construct.” This dynamic is dramatic, particularly as the effects of the body swap weigh heavily on Tristan, more so than Leyla. 

As a brief aside, the body swap narrative can be verbose if not handled with care. In this film, the effect, in addition to being essential to the narrative, the actors perform the switch subtly. The performances are compelling once Leyla and Tristan switch bodies with their partnered couple of Fabienne (Maryam Zaree) and Mo (Dimitrij Schadd). 

At first, Leyla and Tristian are initially portrayed as reserved compared to the bravado of Fabienne and Mo. However, the effect is powerful once the switch and the actors play themselves in another body. Tristan is the emotional center of the cast, and Dassler is brilliant at playing confused and conflicted. 

Tristan recoils at the body swaps and even aborts the game but only continues once he realizes its positive effect on Leyla. Despite his misgiving, the whole game might save their relationship. Tristan is the eyes of the audience. Through his character, the audience embarks on this journey of discovery, both internal and external. 

Skin Deep is broad, and many themes and ideas are circulating, perhaps more than the film has time to address. The film is provocative and does its best to at least add to the conversation of gender and sexual fluidity. The film puts the very meaning of body, mind, and spirit under the microscope. This film is as much a commentary on relationships as it is a fantasy. This film tries to examine both the power of destiny and self-determination. While Skin Deep provides no definitive answers, there is a lot for audiences to analyze once the credits roll.

The film sometimes needs help pacing for many ideas and topics. There is much to unpack, with much left on the table. Still, the effort is solid. The quasi-twist ending fits with the questions posed by the film. Ultimately, Skin Deep is both unsettling and uniquely provocative.

Skin Deep will debut in theaters in New York on February 2, 2024, courtesy of Kino Lorber. The film will expand to Los Angeles on February 9th with additional expansion in the following weeks. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTOfMuDcOSg]