Serpent’s Skin (The)

Twentysomething Anna (Alexandra McVicker, October Crow) finally leaves her small, transphobic hometown for good and quickly begins dating goth tattoo artist Gen (Avalon Fast, Castration Movie) after the two discover they share supernatural powers. But before Anna can call up the U-Haul, Gen inadvertently summons a demon through the sick neck tattoo she gives sensitive guitarist Danny (Jordan Dulieu). As Danny — or whatever’s inside of him — begins feeding off their friends, it’s up to Anna and Gen to figure out how to use their powers to save everyone before it’s too late.

The sixth-and-latest feature by 20-year-old filmmaking force of nature Alice Maio Mackay (Carnage for Christmas, The Serpent's Skin like a trans take on The Craft or the YA horror paperback you wished you had in high school. Returning to the same premise as her early short The Serpent’s Nest (2021) and working with a group of trans film luminaries — including producer Louise Weard (Castration Movie, editor Vera Drew (The People’s Joker), and colorist Jessica Dunn Rovinelli (So Pretty), all remarkable filmmakers in their own right — The Serpent’s Skin sees the full blossoming of the bold neo-Araki aesthetic that has made Mackay one of the most exciting voices in this current wave of independent trans cinema. Elizabeth Purchell

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