I came across Deerskin a while ago now, and it's a film that I originally tried to watch while sick with Covid, but I found myself incapable of finishing it at the time. For some reason I sort of forgot it existed and moved on, though the other day it came to mind and I realised I was actually very much interested in how this film would tell its story, not sure what to expect from the few scenes I did manage to see before. Deerskin is a unique film, one that you rarely see these days. Fun, low budget, silly, but short and ensures it gets its point across without trying to be anything more. To sum up Deerskin: a man obtains a deerskin jacket and becomes obsessed with it. That's it. That's pretty much the film!
Though this simple idea allows for some room to explore some other themes. Fill them with creative cinematography and little snippets of comedy. Allowing for the film to hold a more dark comedy genre attribute more than anything other. Though still seeming quite different to the rest of the genre that often seems more focused on the comedy than it does much else. Deerskin was a unique surprise, and definitely a refreshing one despite it still being relatively strange. But everything definitely works in its favour, instantly getting a recommendation from me if you are a bit bored of the current trend of films and want something new. As mentioned: Deerskin has a very short runtime, but with the short time it has, it does a lot.
Quentin Dupieux I had never heard of before this film; in fact, I still haven't looked up their other works in the event I may have seen something of theirs. But I do know I'll be checking out that name every so often from here on, curious as to where their career may end up after this. Definitely an indie talent, and one that I feel should remain in this lower budget area of film production. Capable of exploring these unique ideas that really do allow for names to stand out.
I'm sure by now you have seen the Patrick Bateman and Ryan Gosling memes across the Internet. The idea of meen being sigma males, riddled with emotion and style that makes them see the world in a particular way. The Internet clings to these characters because they are in fact very relatable to many. These audiences see these characters and see elements of their own personalities within, but the whole joke of it all comes from the fact that these films and characters end up completely changing a person's personality. They become these cool characters that seem to have everything they need in life. A style that stands out but keeps them from view, acting careless and void of another person's influence. Ironic, given that it does in fact shape a personality and cause influence to others. People purchased the Drive jacket and wore it seriously. People watch American Psycho and have the Bateman narcissism as they look down on others that they feel look down upon them initially.
Why am I saying all of this? Well, Deerskin is similar in this regard. A French males comes across a 100% deerskin jacket and instantly falls in love with it. Wearing it at all times and often posing with it. But this deerskin jacket creates something new from within: newfound confidence. He feels cool, different, untouchable. Slowly, but also very quickly in the film's sense, this jacket begins to shape his personality to insane extremes. Lying to a waitress about being a filmmaker, to the point where he convinces her to use her own money to fund his alleged indie film that he's making with a small shitty camcorder and only seeming to feature him. Manipulation and weirdness becomes his character. Odd scenes in which he hires strangers to throw away their jackets and state on camera that they'll never wear a jacket again. These are his supposed scenes to his indie film.
The comedy from this works well with just how stupid it all is. A grown man becoming so obsessed with a jacket that he finds himself going to extremes to make others throw away their own jackets. Pretending to hire a waitress as an editor for his nonsensical clips that he claims are to be a great film. These scenes take place in a rural town, very small and surrounded by mountains, making the film seem more believable as he roams the area causing havoc and just being strange. There's some aspect of Taxi Driver influence within with the constant scenes of our protagonist looking in the mirror. Acting out things and filming them, exploring his new personality. Though of course to us, the audience, we see the insanity of it all. Particularly as he continues to go through extreme lengths to increase his cool appearance. Fortunately, with a short runtime, the film doesn't exhaust its weirdness for comedy at all. Things remain engaging and fresh throughout, with a buildup that seems both sudden and slow as the film balances his gradual rise to insanity and the dialogue he has with others.
The idea of the editor waitress adds to the film's small cast, and takes advantage of this character to ensure there's balance in the film to seemingly serve as a counter to his crazy attitude. It's weird and funny to see someone falling for it all, acting like he is some profound filmmaker with a creative and struggling mind in dire need of financing and support. Her presence has us as the audience constantly question as to how someone can be so stupid to follow him, while also throwing light at the lengths our deerskin-loving indie filmmaker is willing to go. There's undertones to the film that really speak of how we take on personalities that aren't really us, influence by outsiders and objects. Appearances taking reign over our lives and causing us to do things that make no real sense or hold any true bearing. Though none of this is forced into us, instead it's just an aspect of the film's story that isn't really told directly. Being just a short story of craziness more than anything else. No pretentiousness. No over the top cinematography that screams indie or arthouse, though admittedly with some creative perspectives every so often, and it all really works for the film.
I haven't seen a film like this in quite some time. One that stands out so much despite being so simple. It's creative through this. To the point where I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Knowing it could've been made by such a small group of people and not requiring a massive budget. Still having something to say about the world and generating some laughs through it. Not political in any way. Not forcing any agenda. Just a unique film on the idea of obsession and personalities that get morphed by the mind's wants and needs.
I'm glad you finished watching this film in good health to enjoy it, when you summed up the plot in one sentence I burst out laughing, man obsessing over his jacket, simple things are often more interesting in their depth, obsessions and all that comes with internal conflict make the characters more human and empathise with the viewer.
Keeping the comedy throughout the film is a difficult thing to achieve, it must be a great production. 😉
Thanks for the reminder. I was about to watch this, a month or two ago, and then I forgot about it :<)
You actually came to mind when I was writing this. I think this is definitely your kind of thing.
Cheers. I believe it was on Mubi, recently, but I can't find it any longer. Will keep it in mind though.