Excellent, Without a doubt!!

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

"He Took His Skin Off for Me" is a 10-minute (without credits) British short film from last year. The director and writer is Ben Aston, but he isn't really experienced (yet). Same can be said about his co-writer. The most experience here probably comes from lead actor Sebastian Armesto who is the one this (pretty bad) title refers to. Apparently a guy decided to get rid off all his skin for his girlfriend. Why? There is no convincing explanation unfortunately. However, the whole premise also makes this a science-fiction/fantasy movie apart from drama, horror and romance, because this is simply not possible in real life. And he even says, he has no pain, which is completely unrealistic. I must say, all in all, the plot was simply not through through in a convincing manner in my opinion. It reminded me a bit of an old Robbie Williams music video. All in all, not recommended.

One of the most amazingly well made short films I've ever seen... discussing the consequences on the love life of a couple after the boyfriend takes off his skin and their social life. This movie is a real life piece of art that we see come to live, interact, communicate, love and smile. This was a very great decision of the director Ben Aston which made a character that should be frightening ,very adoring and lovable. The scenes are very intimate and there is a lot of great shots that tells so many stories inside of its details. Acting is so great, especially from the amazing Anne Maguire, who had the emotional side of the film on her, but with her great acting and her superb skills in the voice over as a narrator ,she really holds the film together. One of my favorite short films I've ever seen and beautiful made by a creative director.

There is a great piece of special effect work at the heart of this film. As the title suggests (states), the male character of the central couple, fully removes his skin for his partner – spending all but the opening seconds of the film as a glistening, bloody biological model of sorts. It is to the credits film that you get beyond this very quickly, and that I found that after a few shots where I focused on the technical aspect of it, really I was more drawn into the situation rather than the effects. The story is narrated by the woman of the couple; she is happy that he has done this for her, even though it has some downsides, however he changes through the film – clearly not happy with the change his sacrifice has brought compared to the interrelationship benefits which haven't really stepped up.I will not say it is a perfect modern parable in this way, however there is a lot of interest to see this relationship where one of the partners has significantly changed himself for the benefit of the other. The sense of excitement early on is one thing, but with friends, with work, and just fundamentally within himself, he starts to be unhappy with the change – or rather the fact that he has given up so much and not seem to have had a lot back. The film doesn't push this onto us, but the woman of the couple does seem to have the easiest role, and although we hear her voice and not his, we do not see anything in her life where she sacrifices, apart from dealing with the impact of his new look on their furnishings.It is patient as it does this, and I enjoyed the slow pace, and the fact that the film itself sits back with the woman as the narrator – letting us see things ourselves while also being within her perspective to a point. I would have liked that it maybe go deeper with this aspect, but it still works as a relationship study, albeit an extreme one. Technically the film is well made, and as good as the central effect is, I also enjoyed the attention to detail around the set, with bloody smears and marks. The two leads are very good, but ironically the film belongs to Maguire with her narration and ability to silently deliver feeling and thought. Armesto is solid but broader and more obvious with his emotions and, while the special effect is good, he doesn't totally act/move like he is wearing less, rather than more. Still, as a pair, they work very well together.Initially arresting for its title and effects, it is a film worth getting into because there is an engaging and interesting relationship piece here – even if it is not a wholly successful one.

Ben Aston's He Took His Skin Off for Me is one of the most literal short films I have yet to see, as it concerns the relationship between two people, where, the male (Sebastian Armesto) loved his partner (Anna Maguire) so much he decided to take every part of his skin completely off his body, leaving him nothing but a bright red display of muscles and ventricles. The eleven-minute short film chronicles the relationship these two have created with one another, with the female of the relationship talking about the struggles that have come about with her lover carrying out such a drastic act. While love-making and intimacy hasn't suffered, cleaning the house has become more of a common practice, as her partner leaves bloodstains all over the floors, carpets, sheets, and clothes, and his job has suffered a sharp decline due to his inability to close deals because of the distraction of his physical appearance. Nonetheless, the two share a strong bond and are largely unfazed by the opinions and glares of outsiders.Before anything else is said, special effects artists Colin Arthur and Jen Cardno must be commended for their unfathomable anatomical makeup, perfected and executed using no computer animation and all practical effects. Aston states Armesto sometimes spent up to eight hours in a makeup chair, but for good reason, as he is so breathtakingly realistic and impeccably perfected that one almost wonders what the special effects crew did with his skin. With that, the film conducts itself in a very straight-forward, minimalist manner, which could be the most disappointing element of all because the film walks with its concept rather than letting it run on its own. We watch things that play out to what we expect and nothing really more.That isn't necessarily such a hefty criticism, however, seeing as the entire cast is, for one, thoroughly capable at acting in a low-key fashion, and secondly, the makeup and special effects work is so fascinating to view. Aston's methodical storytelling, reliant predominately on dreamlike pacing and narration, makes for a strangely calming, almost reassuring aesthetic to an already deranged piece of work that is effectively defies categorization in every regard. He Took His Skin Off for Me shows just how far someone in a relationship will go to express their feelings and affection to the one they love, even if the action doesn't make much sense or liable to be met with perplexing stares and such from others.Starring: Sebastian Armesto and Anna Maguire. Directed by: Ben Aston.