Forget Netflix, Scarlett Johansson’s (Very) R-Rated 108-Minute Sci-Fi Thriller Is Officially Streaming Free

In recent days, Netflix removed one of the weirdest sci-fi movies made in the 21st century, but fortunately, the film has appeared on a new streaming platform. With MCU icon Scarlett Johansson starring, many would have thought that the film would follow the conventions of the genre, and more specifically, the familiar tropes of the alien invasion subgenre.

However, this is unlike anything you have ever seen in the world of little green men and their sinister intentions to conquer humankind. Instead, it’s just ScarJo in a role that you will never forget.

Scarlett Johansson Is Unlike Any Other Bloodthirsty Alien in ‘Under the Skin’

In Under the Skin, an alien looking for food lands on Earth. The first thing that the creature does is assume the appearance of a woman (Johansson) in a sequence that marks the start of this nightmarish experience. After that, the curious, beautiful-looking alien starts preying on strangers who fall under her spell.

However, all they find when they fall into her world is a void. They become… a meal. As she continues navigating our world and “meets” different types of men, the alien also begins to understand human nature, and how the vessel she has inhabited relates to the rest of humanity.

Under the Skin was acquired by A24 after a short festival run and premiered in theaters in April 2014. It grossed only $7.4 million against a production budget of over $13 million, making it a box-office disappointment. It’s anything but a crowd favorite, and the audience score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes is a reflection of this. The critics’ score, on the other hand, remains at 84%, reflecting the film’s strong critical resonance.

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson might be the lead, but her role is a complete twist on anything you would expect from the actor who played Black Widow in the MCU. Captain America: The Winter Soldier premiered on the same weekend, and unsurprisingly, the superhero film garnered most of the attention.

Under the Skin is not your average sci-fi movie. The presence of a spaceship complies with basic sci-fi expectations, but beyond that, it’s a slow-burn thriller about an alien’s unsettling encounter with humanity.

The continuous visits to the alien’s “lair” are also a familiar element of science fiction, but not even that place looks like anything we have seen in the genre. The R rating stems not only from violent content and alien themes but also from nudity and sexual content.

‘Under the Skin’ Is Streaming on a New Free Streaming Platform

a humanoid figure attacks Scarlett Johansson in under the skin
A24
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin
A24
A24

After being on Netflix for some time, Under the Skin was dropped from the platform on October 31 as part of this month’s update. Although it has appeared on lesser-known platforms such as Plex in the past, it is not currently available there. However, viewers eager to get their hands on this bizarre psychological sci-fi thriller are in luck.

The 108-minute indie has landed on JustWatch TV Free, a new free streaming service from the JustWatch site (best known for checking movie and TV availability). Under the Skin appears as one of the featured picks in the free streamer alongside true gems like Green Room, A Most Violent Year, Captain Fantastic, and Under the Silver Lake. If you still have some of that Halloween energy left, Under the Skin is the perfect movie to keep you in a gloomy mood.