Bare Skin Digital Release Review

4 star slow but effective psychological horror.

Bare Skin is a 2026 psychological horror thriller film, written and directed by Mico Montes in his accomplished and well thought out feature directorial debut.

It is available to stream on UK Digital Platforms from 23rd February 2026, courtesy of Miracle Media.

“Let’s start with a present centred exercise, make use of the tardiness. Has anyone experienced turmoil lately?”

The soft spoken Dr. Hedonia (Rachel Alig – Omaha, Invisible) is a clinical psychologist specialising in dealing with patients who have undergone extreme trauma. In order to better help her patients heal, she has arranged to bring them all together in one room for the first time, to try out a group session. Here, they each recount the events behind their trauma as well as the impact it has had on their lives.

Once rules are established, the group work can begin. First up is Lenny (Torrey B. Lawrence – Cold Blows the Wind), who is terrified of owning any possessions following a devastating house fire which took everything he had, leaving him with a problematic compulsion.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

Next is Claire (Ariana Livingston – After Hours Trading). Kidnapped and imprisoned as well as losing part of her tongue, now she is incredibly paranoid and wants only revenge. Dev (Ryan Wayne – Mean Boys) is a young man who is deeply angry with himself and everyone else following an encounter with a murderous violinist (Eric Charles Jorgenson – Broken Glass), my new favourite serial killer.

Oday (Alberto Henriquez – Do I Shock U Like Lightning?) was abducted on the way home from work by persons unknown and kept in a well, buckets of water thrown down on him with no food and no explanation until he was forever changed. And finally October (Gabrielle Salinger), who was subjected to a brutal attack in her own home and turned to gothic pursuits for comfort.

They each begin to open up to each other, but as the session goes on they start to realise they might all be more connected than they thought. Why are they really here?

“The little tattoo on her right hip? Look at it Charles. So cute. I wish I had soft skin for a tattoo.”

Bare Skin is an excellent film. At 143 minutes, it is long for this kind of film, but it doesn’t feel too long. Instead it gives us the opportunity to really get to know these characters, superbly portrayed and all very believable.

It is deeply disturbing and takes a good hard look at the human psyche, managing to feel deeply claustrophobic but occasionally uplifted (until the twist at the end of course).

It’s well written, atmospheric and keeps you guessing right to the very end of the film. Well worth a watch.

“You have the right to feel anxious. Sharing in a group setting isn’t easy. It’s vulnerable, but you’ll have to learn to trust each other, just as you learned to trust me.”