Watch Skin

Skin is a movie based on the real-life story of Bryon Widner (Jonathan Tucker), a reformed skinhead who undergoes a painful transformation to remove the symbols of his past life. The opening scene of the movie sees Widner with his partner Julie (Danielle MacDonald) and two men getting ready to attack a black family's home. The attack goes awry, and Widner is beaten up and left behind by his fellow assailants. It's obvious from the start that Skin is not going to shy away from the brutality and ugliness of the white supremacist world that Widner has been raised and had spent most of his life in.

After being disavowed by his skinhead colleagues, Widner finds himself isolated and ostracized by society. He begins questioning the hate-filled ideology that had once fueled his existence, and like a man on a mission, he sets out to find a way out. With the help of Daryle Jenkins, the founder of One People's Project (OPS), a non-violent civil rights organisation, Widner starts a brand new life. Julie and her children, who he had been living with, become his new family, and he throws himself into community outreach work, attending rallies and speaking engagements.

However, while his new life is fulfilling, the tattoos he acquired in his past continue to haunt him, as they are a constant reminder of his dark past. Widner is faced with a tough choice - either continue to endure the shame of his past, or undergo a painful and risky process of tattoo removal. He chooses the latter, and we see the aftermath of a man caught between worlds, in excruciating pain as he undergoes multiple surgeries and grueling sessions to erase the skin from his skin.

The story of Skin is one of redemption, and it's definitely not an easy journey to watch. The film is brutal, unflinching, and unapologetic in its portrayal of a world that many of us would rather not acknowledge exists. However, the film doesn't glorify or justify it either. In fact, it's a call to arms for people to come together and fight racism and hatred in all its forms.

Jonathan Tucker shines in his role as Widner, and he brings an incredible vulnerability to the character. There are moments where he's terrified and unsure of himself, and you can feel his pain and sense of isolation. Danielle MacDonald also delivers a standout performance as Julie, Widner's partner, who provides a sense of stability and grounding for him throughout his journey.

Ultimately, Skin is a movie that asks the question, can we really ever overcome our past? Can we escape the labels that we've been given, or the deeds we've committed? Through Widner's story, the film reminds us that we all have tremendous power to change and to grow, but it's not an easy path. We must be willing to confront our past and find the strength to overcome it, and in doing so, we may inspire others to follow in our path.

Skin is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 21 minutes.