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Skinamarink is a 2022 Canadian experimental horror film written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his feature directorial debut. The film follows two children who wake up at night to discover that they cannot find their father and that the house's windows, doors, and other objects are gradually vanishing.
Before the production of Skinamarink, Kyle Edward Ball ran a YouTube channel where he would upload videos based on nightmares recounted by commenters. His 2020 short film Heck was developed as a proof of concept for Skinamarink. The enigmatic conclusion of the film Skinamarink has left audiences perplexed and intrigued. Viewers are left with more questions than answers as the credits roll, prompting a fervent search for meaning and interpretation.
How Does Skinamarink End?
The final scenes of Skinamarink depict the four-year-old boy Kevin, portrayed by Lucas Paul, as he bears witness to his toys inexplicably vanishing from the floor and defying gravity by resting against the ceiling. Subsequently, he is shown to be on the ceiling. As he navigates through once-familiar hallways, he discovers that he and his home may have transcended into an alternate realm. The enigmatic appearance of the words ‘572 Days’ over a shot of an upside-down room filled with toys intentionally leaves the phrase's significance open to interpretation. However, if the prevailing theory suggesting that Kevin is in a coma holds, then the 572 days could symbolize the duration of his unconscious state.
The conclusion intimates that Kevin may have been ensnared in a web of hallucinations or dreams throughout the narrative, projecting his fears onto Kaylee's enigmatic disappearance. Furthermore, it hints at the possibility that Kaylee might have been spirited away by an otherworldly entity or a dimension beyond human comprehension. Alternatively, it suggests the grim prospect that she may have met an untimely demise or merged with the enigmatic entity. Ultimately, the conclusion leaves us pondering whether Kevin will ever reunite with Kaylee or if he is fated to remain ensnared in his harrowing nightmare.
What Is Skinamarink About?
Skinamarink delves into the primal fear of losing one's family and home in an enigmatic and foreboding setting. Through surreal imagery, distorted sound effects, and minimal dialogue, the film masterfully crafts an atmosphere of unease and bewilderment for its audience. Furthermore, it delves into profound themes such as childhood trauma, parental abandonment, identity crisis, and existential dread.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of horror fiction and folklore, including works such as Coraline (2009), Sleepaway Camp (1983), The Shining (1980), The Babadook (2014), Hereditary (2018), and The Sixth Sense (1999), Skinamarink adeptly weaves these influences into its narrative. Notably, the film subverts established tropes by presenting them from a child's perspective or infusing them with unexpected twists, adding a fresh and intriguing dimension to the storytelling.
Skinamarink | |
|---|---|
Director | Kyle Edward Ball |
Writer | Kyle Edward Ball |
Cast | Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill |
Release Date | January 13, 2023 |
Runtime | 100 minutes |
RT Score | 72% Tomatometer, 44% Audience Score |
What Is Skinamarink’s Rotten Tomatoes Score?
Skinamarink has garnered a mixed reception from both critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 72% approval rating based on 133 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's critics consensus describes Skinamarink as a film that can be more perplexing than terrifying, yet for those who can tune into its distinctive frequency, this disquieting work is likely to linger in their thoughts. Meanwhile, on Metacritic, the film scored 64 out of 100 based on 25 critics' reviews.
Certain critics lauded the film for its originality, atmospheric quality, cinematography, musical score, and the performances delivered by its young actors. They also commended its ability to elicit genuine fear and empathy in viewers who have encountered similar nightmares, as documented by Ball on his YouTube channel.
Conversely, some critics took issue with the film's lack of narrative coherence, character development, logical consistency, the effectiveness of its jump scares, and its emotional impact. They also found fault with its perplexing nature, frustrating vagueness, disturbingly graphic content, and ultimately unsatisfying resolution.
The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes paints a different picture, standing at a markedly lower 44% based on over 100 verified ratings. While some viewers appreciated the film's creativity, style, and atmosphere, others deemed it tedious, unremarkable, overly simplistic, or intolerable. Criticisms included poorly executed performances, subpar writing, direction, and editing. Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert described the movie as:
‘It’s not merely its unique tone and structure that makes Kyle Edward Ball’s highly-buzzed Skinamarink a difficult film to review. It’s certainly a film that demands your concentration, a movie that works best if you know nothing about it going in and are willing to get lost in something with strange, unsettling visual language.’
Skinamarink has encapsulated audiences with its enigmatic and open-ended conclusion, leaving them with many unanswered questions. The film's exploration of primal fears, surreal imagery, and thematic depth have sparked discussions and interpretations among viewers. Despite receiving a mixed reception from critics and audiences, the film's ability to evoke genuine fear and its unique storytelling approach has solidified its place in thought-provoking horror cinema.