American Skin
Release Date: January 15, 2021 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
24
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
2
Negative:
7
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
VarietyOwen GleibermanSep 1, 2019
It’s a good movie: tense, bold, angry, empathetic, provocative, observant, morally engaged. And also, to be honest, a trifle gimmicky. Read full review
55
CNNBrian LowryJan 15, 2021
American Skin is worth seeing, for the issues Parker seeks to address, even if it only partially works in leaving a mark. Read full review
40
The GuardianXan BrooksSep 1, 2019
No one in real life speaks the way they do in this film. No genuine drama is this crudely ordered drama, with its telegraphed turnabouts and conveniently-placed confessions, all building to a stage-managed plea for tolerance and unity. Read full review
30
The New York TimesNicolas RapoldJan 14, 2021
Instead of lending immediacy, the padded-out documentary conceit only spotlights the stiltedness, and Parker falls short of building credible drama out of urgent issues. Read full review
30
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneySep 1, 2019
Well-intentioned but heavy-handed ... To be fair, while Parker's film lacks finesse and the writing too readily slides into bullet-point didacticism and self-righteous speechifying, it does go to some lengths to give both sides a voice, even if it inevitably stacks the deck. Read full review
25
IndieWireDavid EhrlichSep 1, 2019
An asinine and self-serving call to action that tries to hide its basic incompetence behind a veil of righteous fury. Read full review
25
TheWrapAlonso DuraldeSep 1, 2019
A clunky, heavy-handed film that takes a pressing contemporary issue and flattens it under two genres the writer-director seems ill-equipped to handle — the mockumentary and the courtroom drama. Read full review
20
Los Angeles TimesCarlos AguilarJan 15, 2021
Rather than speaking to the moment coherently, the movie communicates its message in loud fits of dull screaming. Read full review
10
Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangSep 3, 2019
From beginning to end, American Skin is a jagged symphony of false notes, each one struck with a sledgehammer. The most charitable thing that can be said about it is that if Parker is attempting to simulate the work of a bad or inexperienced filmmaker, he succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. Read full review
10
Screen DailyTim GriersonSep 1, 2019
Infuriatingly manipulative and insufferably preachy. Read full review
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