Pre-production
Director Jonathan Glazer decided to adapt Michel Faber's novel Under the Skin (2000) after finishing his debut film Sexy Beast (2000), but work did not begin until he had finished his second film, Birth (2004).[17] Glazer's producer James Wilson sent him a script that closely adapted the novel; Glazer admired the script but had no interest in filming it, saying: "I knew then that I absolutely didn't want to film the book. But I still wanted to make the book a film."[17]
Glazer and co-writer Milo Addica, later replaced by Walter Campbell, spent several years writing and rewriting the story. They conceived an elaborate high-budget film, and produced a script about two aliens disguised as husband-and-wife farmers. Brad Pitt was cast as the husband, but progress was slow.[18] Glazer eventually decided to make a film that represented an alien perspective of the human world and focused only on the female character.[18] He and Campbell deleted every scene in their script that did not involve her and deleted the elaborate special effects sequences, a process Glazer likened to "a big, extravagant rock band turning into PJ Harvey".[18] The film also removes the character names.[19] Whereas the novel is explicit that the main character is an alien processing humans for meat, the film is more ambiguous.[20]
Glazer shot commercials while the film was in pre-production, which he used to "sketch" ideas and test equipment.[21] Under the Skin was jointly financed by Film4 Productions, the British Film Institute, Scottish Screen, Silver Reel, and FilmNation Entertainment. Glazer secured final backing after cutting the elaborate special effects scenes from the script.[21]
Casting
Gemma Arterton,[22] Eva Green, January Jones, Abbie Cornish and Olivia Wilde were considered for the lead.[23] In 2015, Arterton said that she had been Glazer's first choice but the film had needed a bigger star to get funding.[22] The role went to Scarlett Johansson, who remained committed to the project for four years before it was made.[21] Johansson was known for her roles in blockbusters such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Glazer said: "It made a great deal of sense to cast somebody very well known out of context. I remember seeing her walking along the street in a pink jumper on a long lens and she looks like an exotic insect on the wrong continent."[23] Despite her fame, Johansson was rarely recognised, as members of the public did not believe it could be her.[23] For the role, she learnt to drive a van and mastered an English accent.[18]
Jeremy McWilliams, a championship road racer, was cast as the motorcyclist, as the film required a skillful motorcyclist who could ride through the Scottish Highlands at high speeds in bad weather. The logger was played by the owner of a location researched for the film.[24] For the man with disfigurement, Glazer did not want to use prosthetics; the production team contacted the charity Changing Faces, which supports people with facial disfigurements. The role went to Adam Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis and had worked in television production. Pearson's suggestions about how Johansson's character could lure his character were used in the script.[24]
Filming
Parts of Under the Skin were shot at Tantallon Castle in East Lothian, Scotland.As Glazer wanted the film to feel realistic,[18] most characters were played by non-actors. Many scenes, such as those set in the nightclub and shopping centre, and the scenes in which Johansson's character picks up men in the van, were unscripted sequences filmed with hidden cameras.[20][25] Afterwards, the production team informed the subjects that they had been filmed and asked permission to use the footage.[20] Glazer said the men were "talked through what extremes they would have to go to if they agreed to take part in the film once they understood what we were doing".[25]
The crew built their own cameras to shoot some scenes.[21] Johansson drove the van with the crew inside, and towed a trailer containing a generator for their equipment.[20] To create the black room in which her character traps men, the crew built a set with a reflective floor, blackout and custom lighting. The men were filmed walking into a pool whose floor sank as they walked, submerging them. The scenes were finished with computer graphics.[21]
Filming locations included Argyle Street, Glasgow, Buchanan Galleries, Auchmithie Beach, Arbroath, Almondvale, Livingston, Loch Restil and Lochgoilhead, Cairndow, Wanlockhead, Dumfries & Galloway, Tantallon Castle, North Berwick, Port Glasgow, Wishaw, Kilsyth and the vicinity of Celtic Park.[26]
