Don't listen to the negative reviews

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

"Skinner", directed by the fairly unknown soft-core porn director Ivan Nagy, is one strange…STRANGE film, to say the least. I honestly can't quite label what it is exactly, but it's some sort of odd mixture between horror, revenge-exploitation and an unusual serial-killer portrait. Even stranger than the mix of themes is the choice of cast members. Ted Raimi, who usually only just makes cameo appearances in films produced and/or directed by his more successful brother Sam, takes on the lead role of the introvert psychopath Dennis Skinner, talk show hostess Ricky Lake (also known from John Waters' movies) plays his landlady and former porn star Traci Lords stars as one of Raimi's previous victims out for vengeance. The plot remains vague and unclear regarding Dennis' awkward personality and motivations, but I can only presume he's another fictional character inspired by real-life killer Ed Gein, who also formed the base for successful genre milestones like "Psycho" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Raimi's character slowly but surely develops into a tormented persona haunted by traumas from his childhood, yet a proper explanation is never given. Another truly peculiar aspect of "Skinner" is the dosing of the blood and gore. The film is overall tame, with a strict emphasis on atmosphere and character drawing, yet suddenly comes a sequence that is almost indescribably gross and sick-spirited. It's like the scene was added after filming all the rest, following negative screening results, or something, yet I didn't notice any differences or interruptions in the editing. Maybe Ivan Nagy preferred spending his entire make-up effects budget on one ultra-sadistic moment? "Skinner" is an obscure and atypical piece of 90's horror, but it's definitely worth a peep if you like cinematic oddities that can't possibly be categorized.

Skinner is a Horror & Suspense Classic that uses the killer's fantasies as flashback scenes. Dennis Skinner (Ted Raimi)a soft-spoken normal-looking drifter(with obsessive compulsions for water & blood) rents an room from Kerry Tate (Ricki Lake) and Geoff Tate-Long-haul Truck Driver (David Warshofsky) while he's out on the road. Geoff leaves Kerry alone all the time due to work, ignores her when he's home, and she appreciates the new stranger's company and attention even though her husband hates him. Dennis finds a job at a local factory and is physically and verbally harassed by a black co-worker who he also skins. At night Dennis roams the streets with a gym bag filled with knifes looking for hookers or women victims to skin, constantly followed by the deformed junkie/hooker Heidi (Traci Lords) who was mutilated by him and is now hunting him for revenge. Dennis is attracted to Kerry and wants to show her the real him so he seduces her then kidnaps and takes her to his playpen to be the next victim/art piece. Heidi tipped-off by her landlord's forced confession find's their house and she and Geoff soon follow to try to save Kerry, but Heidi drugs Geoff as they close in after crashing the factory gates with his Semi-Truck and alerting the night watchman. Will Heidi get her revenge and will Kerry die? Also Stars:Richard Schiff – Eddie; Blaire Baron – Gloria; Roberta Eaton – Sandy;Christina Englehardt – Rachel; Dewayne Williams - Earl ;Time Winters - Night watchman; Frederika Kesten – Suzanne;Sara Lee Froton -Young woman. Ivan Nagy - Directed (former boyfriend of Heidi Fleiss-The Hollywood Madam). music by Contagion, Special Make-Up Effects by KNB EFX Group.

Skinner is a film wherein Ted Raimi goes around, cutting off skin of girls and then wearing the skin. This has SOMETHING to do with Traci Lords, who spends most of the film lying in her bed, half-naked, rolling around, and masturbating to Ted Raimi's picture. This involves Ricki Lake, as well, who is dating this abusive guy. He's abusive, I guess, since he wants a clean house. And he is suspicious of Ted Raimi. Ted Raimi just moved in with Ricki, you see. And he got blood on his shirt once, and that's suspicious. Meanwhile, Ted lives a double life as a factory worker. Who kills people. And wears skin. And then has a friendly relationship with Ricki. Before going out. And killing again. And as he kills again, he explains that his dad is the reason he skins people alive. This has SOMETHING to do with Traci Lords being in some water. And as Traci Lords masturbates in the bed, her landlord watches her. Along the way, some black guy gets his skin completely cut off, and Ted Raimi wears it and walks down the street, talking jive, as he stalks another victim. Also, a dog dies from eating skin. And.. uhh... this all turns into an unfun climax that leaves the viewer very unsatisfied.Pretty confusing for only really having 3 characters that do anything. The director made the mistake of muddling up a cool concept with dream sequences, flashbacks, and hiding Traci Lords's face behind her hair. The picture quality is terrible, and the sound quality is worse. There is some decent gore here, but it's not really worth seeking out just for that. Cool concept, not a very cool film.

I am also a big fan of Ted Raimi, and this was his finest hour. He stars as the sick and depraved Dennis Skinner, who passes off sort of as a geekish type of guy, friendly to just about everyone. Untill mid-day night, he goes out after hookers and brutally kills them and skins them, for his own sick plessure. Also starring Ricki Lake, Richard Schiff and Traci Lords (who not to bring down the movie, performance was terrible.) **1/2 out of 4.