“Skinamarink” may be more fun to discuss than watch. But to exchange theories, binge podcasts, and obsess over all venues that analyze the film, you first have to see it.
The movie made its debut at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal in 2022. We reviewed it when it came out and a quick read of the piece illustrates how polarizing the movie is. It’s either loved or hated, with no one landing in the middle, and everyone willing to offer an opinion.
Kyle Edward Ball joins the growing legion of YouTube horror creators making the leap to the Big Screen. Like Kane Parsons and Curry Barker, Kyle Edward Ball started his channel making short films visualizing nightmares he saw on Reddit. It’s a fascinating evolution of film as Gen Z bohemians enter the craft.
Analog Horror
“Skinamarink” isn’t afraid to flex its artistic chops. Its style and presentation are not for casual movie goers. Discussion of the plot is difficult as its nonexistent from a traditional sense.
Set in 1995, Kyle Edward Ball shoots the entire picture in an analog style, reminiscent of how a worn-down VHS tape would look and sound. The entire film is dark, the only sources of light coming from a flickering TV showing old cartoons, themselves unnerving. It looks and sounds old and gritty. Viewers must watch in total darkness to get the full effect.
The other experimental element is the centering of the filming. The story revolves around four-year-old Kevin (Lucas Paul) and his six-year-old sister, Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault). The kids wake up one night to find their dad (Ross Paul) missing and strange things going on inside the house. The doors and windows disappear, and a truly ethereal voice is calling to them.
We never see the’ faces of the characters. The kids are shown from the knees down as they wander about the darkened house. Same for dad. One scene shows Kaylee interacting with her mom (Jaime Hill) who is shown from behind.
It’s the opposite of conventional but I like it. In an era of reboots, recycles, and part 10s, it’s nice to see someone taking a chance and bending the rules.
Is it Scary?
“Skinamarink” is unlike any horror you have watched. It’s a slow burn for sure (more on that in a bit) that relies on its unsettling atmosphere to deliver tension.
There are a few jump scares, and all are excellent (they got me) and unexpected making them stand out. It never cheapens its quality by relying on them.
Watching the dark house on screen is like watching your own room late at night. You see subtle movements in the shadows. Your eyes begin to play tricks on you. Inanimate objects become horrific things. As the movie progresses, you find yourself wishing for the lights to come on.
Kevin and Kaylee whispering to each other is creepy. The ominous voice whispering from the shadows is terrifying. And the scene with the mom is one of the best horror scenes I have ever watched.
The Issues
The glaring weakness of “Skinamarink” is the length.
100 minutes isn’t long for a movie but in this situation, it overstays its welcome. Kyle Edward Ball has a great filming gimmick. The analog horror, the off-center shots, the barest of lighting. But 1:40 is just too long to keep the façade going.
Had the film been trimmed to 80-85 minutes, it would land in my all-time great horror films list. That said, it’s a fun movie to see if you love experimental horror.
My Grade: B+
Costing $15,000 to make, and grossing nearly $1 million dollars, Kyle Edward Ball has a promising debut. Hopefully he will become a mainstay in the next generation of horror creators.
–> Read More: Discover all of our Analog Horror reviews and articles.
