If you’re a fan of horror media, then you will have heard of Skinamarink. One of the latest horror films to take the world by storm, Skinamarink preys on a fear most of us grow out of: the dark house at night from the eye of a child.
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It’s been over a year since Skinamarink premiered in Film Festivals and theaters around the world and its eventual release on the SHUDDER streaming service. Since its release, many fans of analog or found footage horror have found themselves scared to the brink of having a very embarrassing moment. So, as someone with autism, I wanted to give the film a retroactive review from the mind of someone who can relate on a personal level to the characters depicted in the film.
Analog Horror and Social Media
Skinamarink was directed by Canadian YouTuber Kyle Edward Ball, creator of the YouTube channel “Bitesized Nightmares“. Ball’s channel was dedicated to making short films and horror-based videos centered around the nightmares of his viewers, with Ball himself inviting his viewers to submit their own nightmares to inspire his future videos.
Most of Ball’s videos are shot with a very specific style colloquially referred to as “Analog Horror”. Analog Horror utilizes visual aesthetics reminiscent of classic home movies, with the visuals themselves referencing old VHS Tape Recorders to help provide a further sense of realism to the found footage horror genre. Analog has seen a rise in popularity as the perceived low-quality visuals add to the suspense of a film’s scenes to give the audience an atmosphere that forces them to imagine the horrors that could be hiding in the darkness.
Skinamarink utilizes the Analog Horror style expertly through the use of minimalistic filming to capitalize on the fears of its viewers, already adding a sense of unease to those watching.
The Story of Skinamarink
Skinamarink follows two young children, Kevin (Lucas Paul), the four-year-old son, and Kaylee (Dali Rose), the six-year-old daughter, as they navigate their own home at night while confronted by an unknown entity. Skinamarink‘s story isn’t the primary focus of the film’s message, rather it focuses on the viewer’s growing sense of unease. The film’s visuals are shot at the children’s eye level, forcing the viewer to look at what we would see as mundane as gigantic.
The film begins with Kevin, who is a chronic sleepwalker, having an accident on the stairs, leading his father to take him to the hospital. Upon their return to the home, Kevin and Kaylee find themselves confronted by an unknown entity that messes with their psyche by manipulating the house and its occupants. Objects, including the doors and windows of the house itself, disappear and reappear at will. Mundane objects transform from adult things into children’s toys. Sometimes, these objects just appear on the ceiling.
The film’s story is simple to the point of being confusing but in a good way. Remember, the focus isn’t on the story but on the fear the film is trying to elicit. The film makes excellent use out of limited lighting to emphasize the weight of darkness on our hearts. There are moments where the weight hits you like a brick wall, such as when the children have to use flashlights to look around the house when, typically, you’d turn on the light switch…which neither child can reach. You feel the hopelessness of wanting to help but not being able to do anything.
The Theories
Due to Skinamarink‘s nature, fans of the film have taken to the internet to discuss what the film is really depicting. The two main theories postulate that Kevin has either fallen into a coma after his accident at the beginning of the film (with the film’s events showcasing the horrors of being trapped within your own mind) versus Kevin having died as a result of his injury (with the film’s events depicting Kevin’s journey into a hellish afterlife).
However, I have a much different theory. For those unaware of demonic activity, the most common result of a demonic infestation is the act of possession. However, at no point in my memory have I ever encountered a story where you’re shown the point of view of the one being possessed.
To me, this is how Skinamarink is. Before the events of the film, the mother of Kevin and Kaylee died as a result of a demonic infestation. The mother, while possessed, hurt the children at some point, emphasized by Kaylee’s refusal early in the film to even discuss their mother. The demon still haunts the house, now targeting the two children. Due to Kevin’s head injury, the demon sees an opportunity to screw with him. However, to do so, it needs a vessel: Kaylee.
Kaylee eventually succumbs to the demon’s influence, leading to the demon targeting Kevin in earnest. But here’s the thing…everything from the moment of Kevin’s injury is inside his head. The demon is attempting to possess Kevin by breaking his mind and preying on his fears. He loses his mother. He loses his father. He loses his sister. He’s four years old. And we, the viewer, are experiencing his fears through his eyes.
Overall Thoughts
Skinamarink is a film that lets the viewer theorize exactly what happens without giving any definitive answers. For a lot of viewers, this would be a huge turn-off from the film. That said, for those who stick around long enough to let the film do its work, you’ll find yourself right back in your own bedroom in the middle of the night wide awake and all alone.
As someone on the Autism Spectrum, I can freely admit that even to this day I get scared of the darkness of my home, even when I have walked my home to the extent that I’ve essentially memorized where everything is. For neuro-divergent individuals, our emotional age is often not reflective of our physical, leading to many of us feeling emotional fears that normally wouldn’t affect others.
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Skinamarink is going to remain on my mind for a while. Either as a hyper fixation as a fan of the found footage genre or the lingering reason why I still fear the dark. Regardless, the film is absolutely a worthy addition to the world of found footage and analog horror. If you’re a fan of horror, give this film a watch.
4/5 Stars
Skinamarink is available to stream now on SHUDDER and Hulu.
About Skinamarink
Release Date: January 13, 2023
Director: Kyle Edward Ball
Screenplay: Kyle Edward Ball
Producers: Dylan Pearce
Production: Mutiny Pictures, ERO Picture Company
Distribution: BayView Entertainment, IFC Midnight, Shudder
Cast: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill
Synopsis: Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well-worn videotapes of cartoons to fill the silence of the house and distract from the frightening and inexplicable situation. All the while in the hopes that eventually some grown-ups will come to rescue them. However, after a while, it becomes clear that something is watching over them.
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