FILM

Spain 2011 120 mins Dir: Pedro Almodovar Starring: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Blanca Suarez, Marisa Paredes

A deliciously dark melodrama with a twist of Cronenberg-esque body horror and a nod in the direction of 'Frankenstein' (or, if you want to be arty-farty about it, Franju's 'Eyes Without a Face'), Almodovar's twisted revenge yarn is one of those films you'll enjoy more the less you know about the plot. Jaw-dropping revelations kick in after about 20 minutes and don't let up, with extended flashback sequences to fill in the gaps. Suffice it to say that the gender identity themes he's explored in his earlier work get a much more macabre treatment here.

Appearing in his first Almodovar film in 21 years, Antonio Banderas gives an intense performance as suave, controlling, wealthy plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard, who has become obsessed with creating a new form of toughened skin using unethical transgenic techniques. He lives with loyal housekeeper Marilia (Marisa Paredes, another regular collaborator) in a fabulous isolated mansion with its own well-appointed research laboratory and operating theatre. Oh, and an attractive young woman named Vera (Anaya) is kept prisoner and forced to wear a flesh-coloured body-stocking in a sealed apartment upstairs.

It's safe to say that medical authenticity isn't a priority for Almodovar, so don't expect any of the surgery to be especially convincing. But as so often with his films, he succeeds in pulling off in style the kind of convoluted, occasionally ungainly plotting and wild tonal variation that would turn to laughable B-movie crud in lesser hands. The dénouement is a tad underwhelming, but this is another strikingly beautiful film, benefiting from handsome production design and a ravishing colour palette. It's also rich in the kind of allusion that's certain to set beards a-quiver. (Robin Askew)

Website www.theskinilivein.co.uk/

Opens Aug 26

Copyright Robin Askew 2011