Pedro Almodóvar directs Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Marisa Paredes in this loopy Spanish erotic sci-fi revenge flick.

Grew in my estimation on a second watch. Has the unpredictable near formless shape of one of Pedro’s melodramas or farces. For example, the first major plot catalyst is a long lost son dressed as a tiger getting violently horny. Yet despite The Skin I Live In’s erratic looseness and almost deadpan sexual brutality it somehow stays seductive and compelling. Each unlikely piece of the puzzle slots into the next and the bigger picture is both nightmarish and erotic. The themes feel at least 5 years ahead of their time; gender, sex crimes, anxiety, controlling men. Both Banderas and Elena Anaya are gorgeous and marvellous. A relatively complex sick puppy masquerading as art, one hell of a smooth yet spiky ride. Works best if you know nothing at all so I’ve tried my best to only write in vague yet effusive generalities.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/