We don’t feature nearly enough short films on UTG, but when we see one that really throws us for a loop we cannot help creating a post.

Ben Aston spent two years trying to make his latest short, He Took His Skin Off For Me, and along the way he recruited the help of over 250 backers through use of Kickstarter. The story he decided to tell is one that defies genre classification, though I think the description of a ‘fractured fairytale’ wouldn’t be too far off the mark. It’s a practical SFX filled, CGI-free tale of love and the extreme lengths some will go to in order to ensure another’s continued happiness. You’ll laugh, you’ll feel disgusted, and you might even cry. Whatever the case, you need to see He Took His Skin Off For Me, and lucky for everyone it’s available for free for a limited time. You can stream the film below:

Writing to viewers about the film, Ben Aston offered the following thoughts:

‘He Took His Skin Off For Me’ is a practical SFX fairytale. No CGI whatsoever. Based on the short story by Maria Hummer it is my grad film from the London Film School. It took us 2 years, 217 Kickstarter backers and a whole lot of fake blood to pull off. SFX legend Colin Arthur (NeverEnding Story, 2001: A Space Odyssey) helped us achieve the impossible, allowing SFX Supervisor Jen Cardno and her team set a new standard for anatomical practical effects. Actor Sebastian Armesto (Anonymous, Pirates of the Caribbean) spent as long as 8hrs in makeup each day to bring this story to life. Alongside Anna Maguire (Saving Private Ryan, Parade’s End) they both give us something wonderful, horrible and completely unique. I don’t want to tell people what the film should be. Even finding a genre to describe it is difficult. I want people to come to this film just like I came to the original story, completely unprepared.

If I can leave with one pearl of wisdom, though; if you take off your skin just to be with somebody? That’s only ever going to end messy…

I honestly watched this short twice before sharing it here on UTG. There are dozens of ways the story can be interpreted, so I am curious to see what you, the UTG reader, think of Aston’s latest creation. Comment below and let us know your thoughts.

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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