METAL SKIN (1994)

 

Written & Directed By: Geoffrey Wright 

Cinematography: Ron Hagen 

Editor: Bill Murphy and Jane Usher 

Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Aden Young, Tara Morice, Nadine Garner, Chantel Contouri, Petru Gheorghiu, Arthur Angel, Richard Surherland, Tommy Dysart 

Psycho Joe, a petrol-head from Altona, Melbourne, secures employment at a local Supermarket. Here, he meets the over-sexed Dazey. Joe and Dazey form a friendship based on a mutual interest in old hot cars. Joe also forms a relationship with a Satanic fellow employee. The nihilism of these young characters, coupled with parental disputes, leads to various tragedies.

I remember reading about this film and film threat in 1994 and always meant to look for the film to watch it. Sadly, it has taken me 30 years since it’s released to finally watch it.

This is a grungy punk rock coming of age movie of aimless youth making their way through life, some with troubling parents, all having illicit behavior, looking for kicks, fun, and some kind of meaning 

The film mainly revolves around four characters making a kind of romantic Square find their thrills and car racing alcohol, sex, and the occult as they attract and betray one another and themselves it seems out of boredom and as a means to an end while supposedly trying to help one another 

All the characters in this film have problems. One has a pure tical mother, so she repels with the account and uses a friendship with a guy who she knows has a crush on her to get closer to his friend and seduce him.  The friend intern who was trying to get the man with the crush a date with her. Desires her as well when his girlfriend proves to be difficult. The young man with the crush also likes his friends girlfriend. They know to keep it at friendship. Well, also dealing with his mentally unbalanced father. 

The films editing, and camera work at times shows how fast they’re interest and attention spans can go or be taken away not only that but things can escalate literally in the blink of an eye 

So to one person so much to another same when it comes to emotions and relationships 

The film tried similar ground as the film romper Stomper as far as aimless youth this one tries to be a bit more stylistic with the Camera and directions the  material feels lighter and not as strong 

The film Shows how fast they live their lives as the camera tries to emulate by jumping around at times to and from different angles

This is the second film of Director Geoffrey Wright who wants again places us in a nihilistic atmosphere and film. The film gets kind of gross at times.

There isn’t too much of that you haven’t seen before obsession and mental illness manipulation learning that their actions can have serious consequences. This ends up being more of a character study. 

The film is an early leading role for Ben Mendelssohn, who won his career now plays more character roles here with a full Maine is more the heartthrob and kind of the star or the character who all the others follow depend on

Tara Morice gives a strong performance with the most clearly defined role and most attractive as well as challenged

The film also showcases how quickly we can form emotional attachments in youth, and they can become our whole world 

As always, when a gun is introduced, it must be used and becomes important in the long run as it evolves into fatal friendships how when you were already only hanging on by a thread all it takes is one cut or domino fall for it all to come crashing down 

The film does have a car chase ending that helps it seem a little more action fact and spice it up that adds some excitement that isn’t purely emotional  It’s only an inevitable tragedy.

As in end, the film still proves that nice guys finish last.

Grade: B-