HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: Under the Skin

This week's assignment for Hit me with your best shot is a recent film that has thrilled many cinephiles since its debut nearly a year ago. 'Under the Skin' is the latest feature by Jonathan Glazer and it stars Scarlett Johansson as a mysterious predatory woman who roams the streets of Scotland. This was my first encounter with the film and man, I was captivated. Much of that is due to the mesmerizing performance by Johansson, in a role that plays well to her otherworldly beauty and effortless magnetism.

It's hard to think of anyone else in Hollywood who could have pulled off this role better. She's dangerous in the worst way (i.e. she's so irresistibly appealing!). I never once questioned why any of her victims would follow her into that dark creepy lair.

For my best shot then, I selected an image that relates to the power of Scarlett Johansson in this movie.

Click below for my favourite shot...

This fairly innocuous shot comes from one of her final trysts. She picks up a man on the side of the road and lures him in with her sweet voice and beauty. The man isn't as easily seduced however, due to an unfortunate deformity (facial neurofibromatosis disfigurement) that has made him unlucky in love and understandably suspicious of her advances. When she finally asks him to come home with her, the camera shows him giving the perfect reaction. He immediately pinches himself, either out of nervous fear or excited disbelief. No matter what the case may be, you just know he's going. As I said earlier, she's a bbaaaddd girl that you just can't resist. There's probably a chance you may die at the end of it, but you're willing to take the risk.