Bare Skin (2026) Review

When you sit down to watch Bare Skin it is important that you are comfortable, locked in mentally and patient. This is a slow burning, psychologically demanding film that delves into the darkest parts of the human psyche.

From the mind of writer/director Mico Montes the film places five patients in a meeting with their psychiatrist Dr. Hedonia (Rachel Alig) to confront their various extreme traumas to attempt to heal. However, it is quickly apparent that all their stories interlink and play into one another.

The movie is essential split into five different acts, with each patient being the main character of their story. The stories themselves are dark and filled with jump scares, violence and tension with performances from Ariana Livingstone, Alberto Henriquez and Gabrielle Salinger selling their woes in such a way that the audience is left with a feeling of gripping tension and abject horror to ensure that they are gripped throughout.

The locations chosen for each of the acts lends something to each of the subplots. With each one giving a sense of isolation and abandonment in a different way, adding to the overall theme of the film of emotional trauma and the ever-growing sense of apprehension that makes everything feel even more desperate.

The fact that the runtime of this film surpasses most modern horrors at nearly two and half hours, without ever feeling like it is bloated or dragged out is a testament to the writing and the performances given on screen. And it is not difficult to see why the movie has already won the gongs for Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2025 Shock A-Go-Go Film festival and is most certainly worthy of the attention and time of any horror film enthusiast who likes their scares with a little more depth.

Movie Rating:

Bare Skin trailer