Living in Altona, Melbourne, Australia, Joe (Aden Young) is a young man who enjoys racing his muscle car but struggles to succeed in his passion. He faces challenges in his racing life and personal life, particularly in forming meaningful relationships. At home, Joe takes care of his father, who is often disruptive, loud, unpredictable, and occasionally dangerous due to his mental health issues. In search of extra cash, Joe applies for a job at a local supermarket and secures the position. Once he starts working, he interacts with other staff members, though not all first impressions are positive. However, he connects with a co-worker named Dazey (Ben Mendelsohn), who shares many of Joe’s interests, including a passion for fast cars.
Joe’s new friendship with Dazey is quite complex. Although they share many interests, Dazey has strong feelings for a woman named Roslyn (Nadine Garner), to whom Joe is also attracted. At the same time, Dazey enjoys partying and doesn’t take things too seriously, having casual relationships with various women. Another of the staff members, Savina (Tara Morice), has long harboured a passionate obsession with Dazey. Her feelings are so intense that she even resorts to asking the devil for help and conducting animal sacrifices to win his affection. As time passes, Joe empathises with Savina, and a romance develops between them. But when Dazey is intimate with Savina without wanting a serious relationship or commitment, tragedy strikes, and Joe is consumed with frustration, anger and dangerous rage.
Metal Skin is a blend of drama, romance, tragedy, and some action, particularly highlighted by sequences featuring both calm and fast cars. With its themes of tragedy and love triangles, the film evokes strong vibes reminiscent of a Shakespeare film. For those who may not know, Metal Skin was written and directed by Geoffrey Wright, whose works include Romper Stomper (1992), Cherry Falls (2000), and Macbeth (2006).
Let me be clear: I found the story of this dark and heavy film entirely unexpected on my first watch. I was surprised by the elements of witchcraft and the depicted rituals. This is a very intense film, given its heaviness, drama, and dark themes. It is also quite uncomfortable and made me slightly squeamish at various moments. I enjoyed the plot and the journey, as things often go from bad to worse. The poor choices made by characters, the submission to peer pressure, family issues, and dabbling in evil lead to heartbreaking consequences. I was invested in the characters and was concerned about their fates as the film climaxed.
Performance-wise, actor Ben Mendelsohn truly shines as Dazey. I also found the other performances superb, but Mendelsohn’s incredible charisma and confidence unintentionally stole each scene in which he appeared. The dialogue is another strong point; the discussions and dramatic moments naturally convey realism and flow. Visually, this film is impressive, featuring captivating sequences of car races and chases. However, opinions may vary regarding the story and themes. The most baffling or frustrating aspect was some of the character choices, which often led to serious consequences. As an audience, do we always comprehend the reasons behind certain decisions? Not really, but these choices are open to interpretation if they occur again.
Overall, I have strong feelings about this film—it’s certainly not to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying that there has never been an Australian film quite like Metal Skin. It is a dramatic story filled with heartbreak, betrayal, and an unexpected touch of horror and darkness. I often felt uncomfortable while watching this film for the first time, which was good. The performances are brilliant, and the dialogue, along with the gritty visuals, is equally impressive. However, the character choices can be baffling, leading to significant consequences or dire outcomes. The car sequences are particularly well done and enjoyable to watch. Given the heavy themes, it’s a solid watch, but like a Shakespearean play, its re-watchability may be limited for film enthusiasts. That said, opinions on this film are sure to vary!
Metal Skin (1994) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella Entertainment!
FILM SCORE: 6.2/10
Published: 23rd February 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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