MovieChat Forums > Under the Skin (2014) Discussion > Most Horrifying Scene

Most Horrifying Scene

posted 10 years ago by awsmith
28 replies | jump to latest

** Spoilers **

I've given this film a little more thought, and I thought it would be interesting to hear opinions from others about the most horrifying scene.

When I first saw the film, I thought the worst part was the death and processing of the guy under the black floor, with the attempted rape and immolation being a close second. And while I still think those scenes are very hard to watch, I am beginning to think that maybe the lovemaking scene is worse. I say this because it seems to me a pretty awful thing to be attempting to have sexual intercourse with something that looks human, but is, in fact, quite alien. I guess I can understand from what I have intuited about SJ's character that she/it is proceeding from innocent motivations at this juncture of the film (trying or at least experimenting with what it means to be human), but still, from the guy's perspective ... ugh. Has anyone thought of it this way?

The intellect is cleaver; it discerns and rifts its way into the secret of things

[–] brookebarber 10 years ago

I think I was most horrified for me by far was the mother, father, & dog drowning at the beach and the baby being left to die on shore.

[–] jayt_26 10 years ago

Yep. That poor toddler. I was mortified for him. Amazing film.

[–] happycycling 10 years ago

I know I love animals, but I wouldn't let my wife go out into waters like that for an animal.

[–] SeaLion9139 9 years ago

I agree. That poor child stayed there for a long time (hours?) crying and scared before the tide came in and washed him away. It's very sad. That scene though is accurate in that there have been a lot of people who have drown trying to save their dog in the water. Often the dog makes it back, and the person dies. Even a very strong swimmer would have a hard time in that current/waves.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ephestione 9 years ago

Finally, THIS.
I came to the message boards for the reason alone to read someone say something about that scene, and I am frankly surprised to notice there wasn't a thread just about that but only this reply alone.
They only showed the parents drowning at first but I knew the kid was there, and seeing him crying alone while the alien dragged the hermit away... it was excruciating.
Really, I felt nauseous, and I can easily feel that way again thiking back to that scene, and the one where it was night and he was still there crying and crawling among the rocks.
Good god that scene ripped my insides out.
Must be because I'm a fresh-out-of-the-box dad, maybe a few years ago I would have just watched it coldly.

[–] tinasparklesau 8 years ago

I think this scene was necessary to establish Scarlett's character beginning to empathise and sympathise with humans. When we next see her listening to the radio report, it further alludes to that she may be developing traits that are transmogrifying her morals in relation to humans. The releasing of the disfigured man also then substantiates this.

[–] benettfreeman 9 years ago

I get what you're saying but the ending just blew me away. It's been haunting me constantly since I saw it. This film really exceeded my expectations, and the more I think about it, the better a film it becomes.

[–] sarasama 9 years ago

That dude setting her on fire was pretty horrible

[–] notorious_souljah_17 9 years ago

Has to be the family drowning and the little baby left crying and cold on the beach. Was quite traumatic and you really feel sorry for the baby.

[–] Stirchley 8 years ago

The baby on the beach was devastating. When he stood up (sort of) & tried to toddle away, I cried.

[–] stirling-1 8 years ago

Absolutely, this was almost too upsetting to watch.

...
How do you write women so well?

I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability

[–] MatttheBruinsfan 8 years ago

I can kind of see that though, once he finds out that she's some alien thing masquerading as human. I mean, if this were a movie from the Species franchise he'd be the hero.

Of course trying to rape what he thought was a helpless woman in the woods was absolutely horrible.

[–] Drachen77 9 years ago

I'm sorry, but that dude "popping" almost made me puke.

Yippee kay yay, Mr. Falcon!

[–] tomiesupergirl 9 years ago

Yeah that freaked me out. I guess cos I was expecting something to appear and eat him I guess? Not bam now you're only skin!

[–] Gretchen_X 9 years ago

I've given this film a little more thought, and I thought it would be interesting to hear opinions from others about the most horrifying scene.

All of the above qualify absolutely but the scene which had me really tensed up waiting for a jump scare was that with the two men suspended in 'stuff', before the first was 'consumed'. I've never seen anything like that before and found it very disturbing.

As for the lovemaking with an alien - and sorry to lower the tone - but let's face it, some men will shag anything. 😀

No, silly

[–] stirling-1 8 years ago

but let's face it, some men will shag anything.

I suppose that's true. They'll even shag the multitudes of women that will let them! 😀.

And women are not much different you know. They will shag a piece of vibrating silicon, cucumber, washing machine, horse, etc.

Leaving that aside, lets not forget that as far as the man was concerned he was shagging Scarlett Johansson, not an alien.

[–] HenryCW 9 years ago

To me, the most horrifying scene is the one where that Scarlett Johansson lookalike took off her own skin and revealed herself (or himself) to be some black dude.

[–] [deleted] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] StaunchWoman 9 years ago

Perhaps not horrifying, but I find the most emotional scene is when she removed her skin and she's looking back at herself. The expression is just so... lost and hopeless.

But then it's quickly followed by the horrifying action of a man setting fire to what he doesn't understand.



We've met before, haven't we?

[–] habul 8 years ago

totally agree with you awsmith. The rape/immolation scene was difficult to watch. The logger was so matter of fact about it that he was chewing gum - that is what tipped me to the fact that this was something he has done many times before. The alien had wandered into his hunting grounds. The other thing of it is this: why kill the alien? Why not capture her and take her to scientists. It was a missed opportunuty to learn about life on another planet and to gain some of their knowledge. Or, at least, to figure out what the aliens were doing and try to prevent more deaths.

Earth. Welcome.