Skin 2019

In a bold fusion of reality and fiction, the film draws inspiration from a gripping true story. As we delve into the narrative, we’re treated to an intimate glimpse of tattoo removal procedures, expertly woven alongside the unfolding events. The viewer is initially immersed in a hospital setting, where a man sits patiently awaiting treatment. Meanwhile, we’re privy to a series of striking visuals that juxtapose ritualistic practices with the harsh realities of our world.

The scene shifts as we witness a young boy’s hair being shaved, followed by a tattooed individual undergoing a gruesome hand removal procedure. The camera then pans out to reveal a bonfire surrounded by a circle of figures, who collectively cry out “Hail!” This primal display serves as a stark contrast to the chaos that unfolds on the streets of Columbus, Ohio in 2009.

As tensions escalate between white supremacists and anti-hate protesters, led by Daryle Lamont Jenkins (Mike Colter), head of the One People’s Project, a young African American boy is brutally attacked. The aftermath of this senseless violence leaves no doubt about the destructive nature of hate groups.

In a stark contrast to this darkness, we’re introduced to Byron Widner (Jamie Bell), a heavily tattooed individual with a mysterious past. His quiet moments are punctuated by interactions with those around him, including his canine companion Boss and a young girl named Iggy. The tender exchange between Byron and Iggy serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for kindness.

As the story progresses, we’re transported to a Nordic Festival, where Krager (Bill Camp) announces his plans to run for Congress once more. His declaration is met with resistance from Jerry (Michael Villar), who has a contentious history with Krager’s movement. The cacophony of voices and chants serves as a backdrop for Iggy and her sisters Sierra (Kylie Rogers) and Desiree (Zoe Colletti) to take the stage, performing an enchanting song about Norse mythology.

However, their joyous moment is disrupted by a thrown beverage can, which prompts Byron to intervene and exact revenge upon Jerry. As the dust settles, Byron accompanies Julie (Danielle McDonald) and the girls to their car, where they share a heartwarming moment with him and Boss. It’s clear that this chapter of their lives has come to a close, as Julie reveals that they’ve disentangled themselves from the movement due to its negative impact on their children.

In the aftermath of this revelation, Byron’s turmoil boils over, leading him to kick his girlfriend out and succumb to his emotional exhaustion. The film’s narrative threads begin to converge, setting the stage for a poignant exploration of identity, redemption, and the power of human connection.

As the authorities burst into the residence, they apprehend Bryon for his brutal assault on a young boy amidst the chaos at the film’s inception. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) swiftly intervenes, with Agent Jackie Marks (Mary Stuart Masterson) appearing to unravel the enigmatic symbolism behind Bryon’s copious tattoos. In exchange for his cooperation, she offers him a deal: clearly decipher the meanings of each tattoo and the incidents tied to them, and he’ll be granted entry into witness protection while the authorities take down the rest of his gang. With a smirk, Bryon obliges, exposing a provocative tattoo spanning his legs (“snitches get stitches”) before rejecting the proposal.

Meanwhile, Jenkins is meticulously reviewing footage of the protests alongside a young African-American boy, pausing on an image of Bryon to remark that “the more tattoos on the face, the more scared they are.” He then explains the duo’s modus operandi: identifying and exposing white supremacists, subsequently doxxing them so their true nature is revealed. The boy implores him to treat Bryon similarly to the injured youngster, prompting Jenkins to escort him to a room filled with photographs of the white supremacists they’ve helped leave the movement. He hopes this young individual will become his next “picture.”

As Bryon departs the station, he’s confronted by the mother of the boy he brutally attacked, leading to her subsequent arrest. Krager picks him up and they head home.

En route, Krager spots three white youths lounging and approaches them, prompting Bryon’s annoyance. However, Krager ultimately rescues Gavin (Russell Posner) and brings him back to his residence, where his wife Shareen, affectionately known as Ma (Vera Farmiga), welcomes the young man into their fold. With a warm embrace, she shaves his head while singing a haunting melody about Freya.

Bryon is later awoken by the cacophony of barking dogs outside and witnesses Slayer attempting to provoke Boss in an intense dogfight. Enraged, Bryon engages Slayer in a fierce physical confrontation. Krager intervenes, demanding to know the reason behind the altercation. Slayer explains that Bryon’s past mistreatment of April (Louisa Krause) has led to his current retaliation, prompting Krager to impose fines on Slayer for every future transgression. He then coerces Slayer into apologizing and Bryon into accepting the apology.

As Gavin ventures into the rustic barn, he’s met with a sight that prompts him to address Bryon (Tom Hardy) as “brother.” However, this attempt at camaraderie is swiftly dismissed by Bryon, who clarifies that Boss holds a higher rank within the club than Gavin and must be referred to accordingly. This rebuke serves as a precursor to a series of probing questions from Bryon, who seeks to understand Gavin’s motivations for joining their movement. His advice? To reconsider and return home.

In a subsequent phone conversation with Julie (Felicity Jones), Bryon schedules a clandestine meeting at her residence, where the pair engages in a candid discussion about their pasts. Bryon opens up about his troubled childhood, marked by the loss of his mother to addiction and the ensuing instability that led him to seek refuge with Krager and Shareen. Julie’s empathetic ear is a balm to his soul, and as they share a tender moment, their connection deepens.

As the night wears on, Bryon’s skills as a tattoo artist are put to good use, as he works on repairing a botched Swastika tattoo on Julie’s leg. This act of kindness sparks a romantic spark between them, which culminates in a passionate kiss.

The following day, Julie and her friends make their way to Bryon’s shop, where they’re treated to a series of temporary tattoos courtesy of the skilled artist. Desiree, however, is less than enthused about this offering and instead takes a walk outside, where she’s soon joined by Shareen for a marijuana-fueled escapade.

Meanwhile, Bryon and Julie grow closer as they spend time with the younger members of their group – Iggy and Sierra. Their bond strengthens, and it’s not long before they succumb to their desires.

As Halloween approaches, the group attends a celebration hosted by the White Supremacists, where they’re joined by Jenkins ( actor name), who’s filming the event for later use. Bryon is once again approached with an offer of assistance from this mysterious figure, one that he politely declines.

The atmosphere at the party takes a dark turn when April (actor name) goads Julie over Bryon, prompting them to make a hasty exit. As they settle in for the night at Bryon’s residence, his phone rings, and it’s Krager on the other end, summoning him to take care of some “work.” Julie awakens to find Krager’s van parked outside, prompting her to slip away with Bryon in pursuit.

As Bryon (actor name) and Krager make their way towards Toledo, a dark secret is revealed: Julie’s father had once been involved with the Ku Klux Klan, only to “turn rat.” Bryon feigns ignorance, but the weight of this revelation lingers as they arrive at a mosque intended for arson. While searching the premises, Bryan discovers Muslim workers and instructs them to flee, his conscience momentarily stirring. Gavin appears, and Bryon’s anxiety grows as he struggles to light the match that would set the building ablaze. Slayer ultimately takes over, igniting the flames.

Bryon returns home, attempting to erase the tattoos that have become a constant reminder of his troubled past. He places a collect call to Jenkins, recounting the mosque fire and inquiring about the well-being of the boy he had previously injured. The sound of crackling flames still echoing in his mind, Bryon makes his way to Julie’s, accompanied by Boss and his entourage. With a newfound sense of resolve, Bryon announces that he has abandoned the movement, stating, “Family doesn’t make you owe them shit.” This declaration is met with a mixture of surprise and understanding from Julie.

As they prepare for their future together, Bryon faces challenges in finding stable employment, thanks to his infamous status on the FBI’s most-wanted list. He takes on odd jobs alongside undocumented workers, who treat him with kindness and respect. However, his life is once again disrupted when Krager and the gang arrive at his doorstep, demanding his return. Bryon refuses, prompting Shareen to intervene, warning him that she is scared for the sake of the girls.

The group heads to a salvage yard, where Slayer reveals that the authorities are seeking information about three survivors from the mosque fire. Slayer demands that Bryon finish the job, but when he refuses, the former neo-Nazi leader resorts to violence, stabbing the men and engaging in a fierce battle with Bryon before shooting him. Slayer then turns his attention to Krager and Shareen, declaring that it is time for new blood to take over. Gavin intervenes, striking down Slayer with gunfire.

Krager orders the bodies burned and instructs the others to take Bryon away. Meanwhile, Julie receives a call from April, alerting her to Bryon’s hospitalization and urging her to arrive quickly before he meets his demise. At the hospital, Krager attempts to extract information from Bryon about his newfound allies by restricting his oxygen flow. However, this tactic proves fruitless, and Krager departs with Shareen, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

Julie arrives at the hospital just in time to see Bryon scribbling a cryptic message on her hand - a desperate call for Jenkins to come forth and save him from the clutches of his former comrades.

As the trio - Jenkins (character), Bryon, and Julie - converge to deliberate their escape from the movement, a somber reality settles in: Julie’s pregnancy serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences that come with leaving behind a toxic ideology. The weight of their decision is underscored by Jenkins’ harrowing anecdote about having to kidnap his own sons to break free from the gang he was once entrenched in. Furthermore, he reveals a glimmer of hope for Bryon’s future, sharing that a wealthy woman volunteering with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) may be willing to foot the bill for his facial tattoos to be removed. With paperwork in hand, Jenkins instructs them to converge at a Nashville hotel the following night, cautioning them to remain tight-lipped about their plans.

As Julie and Bryon prepare to depart, they leave Boss behind, allowing him to tend to his bodily functions. However, their carefree moment is short-lived, as their home is riddled with bullets. The girls huddle in the bathroom, shaken but unscathed, while Bryon ventures outside to survey the damage. He’s met with a grisly scene: their house and car are defaced with graffiti, and Boss lies lifeless and suspended from a tree.

The following night, Bryon’s restlessness and paranoia reach a fever pitch at the hotel, where he becomes increasingly agitated by Desiree’s presence. A seemingly innocuous glance at her arm reveals a Freya tattoo, triggering a chain reaction of suspicion and violence within Bryon. He pummels a bystander who attempts to intervene, sends Julie tumbling to the ground, and then confronts Desiree about the tattoo. As tensions escalate, he ultimately pushes Julie away, unable to reconcile his own demons.

In a jarring juxtaposition, we cut to Bryon’s meeting with Jenkins at the FBI office, where they’re greeted by Agent Marks. The scene shifts abruptly to a white supremacist compound being raided by federal agents, as Gavin makes a desperate attempt to flee before being brought down by gunfire. Meanwhile, Krager is taken into custody.

As the day of Bryon’s final tattoo removal approaches, he meets Jenkins outside, his new appearance a testament to the procedure’s success. In a poignant moment, Bryon inquires about the impact of his transformed visage on his character, only to receive a wry response from Jenkins: that all it takes is for him to show people what he showed him.

Bryon’s journey culminates with a visit to Julie’s doorstep, where she now stands as a mother, cradling her newborn son. As he contemplates the vast expanse of his changed life, Jenkins’ photograph appears in a gallery of former white supremacists, serving as a haunting reminder of the path that once lay before him.

As the credits roll, we’re given a glimpse into the enduring legacy of Jenkins (actor name), whose steadfast leadership at the One People’s Project continues to inspire hope and unity. Meanwhile, Byron, once a symbol of rebellion and individuality, has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding the physical manifestations of his former self through a grueling two-year process of surgical revision. Now, as he pursues a degree in criminal psychology, Bryon is leveraging his personal experiences to promote tolerance and inclusivity on a national stage, using his unique narrative to bridge the gaps between seemingly disparate communities.