MovieChat Forums > The Reflecting Skin (1990) Discussion > Three questions!!!

Three questions!!!

posted 19 years ago by serenagiuli
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm a big fan of Reflecting Skin and Ridley's narrations for children/teens but More I watch this movie and more have to think about the real meaning of Seth's final scream,I change my point of view everytime: ok he lost his innocence, he is starting to understand the reality of events and life but I wonder if he feels also in fault for what is happened to his friends and especially for the murder of Dolphine Blue, indeed he knew what those perverts guys were going to do but he did nothing for to avoid it,rather seems he was happy to see her to mount in the black car,maybe just when he has seen his brother crying desperated he really understood the meaning of the real wickedness and Dolphine Blue wasn't that killer-Vampire but just a victim of bad events of the life,just like himself.

Then...why when Seth is watching the three pictures on the table and he distracted the view for a moment, the pics change dispotition by themself?...Did you notice?

Who was the child crying during the night?..Maybe the ghost of foetus under the bed?...We'll never know but I'd like to know You opinions

[–] bengmason 19 years ago

Your understanding of Seths final scream at the end of the film is correct. Seth has awoken from his vivid imagination into the nightmare of the real world, and he has realised what he has done. Yes he wanted Dolphin dead but he didn't mean to cause his brother that much grief. So when he is screaming it is all the emotion inside him being released. I mean he is a 8 year old boy whose whole world has just collapsed around him. His friends are dead, his father commited suicide by blowing himself up and he hears stories about his father being a child molester, he has caused his brother a huge amount grief and his mothers gone cookoo. I think anyone would react the same way.

I myself have noticed the pictures and can't explain.

The child crying is actually Seth. He hears a sound that sounds like a woman screaming and hides under the covers crying.

Any question you have about the Reflecting Skin can be answered in the book THE AMERICAN DREAMS by PHILIP RIDLEY published by METHUEN. It contains the screenplay of the film (Including Ridley's second film THE PASSION OF DARKLY NOON) and also an interview with Philip Ridley in which he answers questions about the film. It is available on Amazon.

I hope this has answered your questions.

[–] serenagiuli 18 years ago

Thanks so much but I'm italian and don't think I can find that book here..maybe can try to take a look online.....