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Under Our Skin

EMAILPRINTShadow Distribution

Under Our Skin reviews
63
6.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 4 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary

Written by:

Directed by: Andy Abrahams Wilson

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 19, 2009

Running Time: 104 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

A gripping tale of microbes, medicine & money Under Our Skin investigates the untold story of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic larger than AIDS. Each year thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, often told that their symptoms are "all in their head." Following the stories of patients and physicians fighting the disease, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of the health care system and a medical establishment all too willing to put profits ahead of patients. (Open Eye Pictures)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

78

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

The information it presents is eye-opening for medical consumers and health professionals of any stripe. And the film incidentally makes a great case for health care reform.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Justin Berton

We may not get to argue both sides of the debate, but Under Our Skin stirs the deepest emotions and reveals the most unsettling truth: We're all vulnerable to a tick bite, sure, but it's the health care system that really gets us in the end.

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75

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

This compelling account of the explosive growth of Lyme disease grows to encompass all the peculiar politics, corruption and inertia of American medicine.

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75

New York Post V.A. Musetto

The movie is frightening not only because of the severe effects the ailment can have on the human body but also because it shows that many doctors are unable to diagnose, let alone treat, the malady.

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70

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Scary enough to make the faint of heart decide never to venture into the woods or to lie on the grass again without protective covering.

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70

Variety Alissa Simon

Takes a creative, humanistic approach that makes the complex material dramatic and visually interesting.

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70

The Hollywood Reporter Sarah Sluis

Both informative and persuasive, Under Our Skin targets both the heart and brain to advocate for the Lyme disease community.

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70

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Under Our Skin has a major ax to grind, but if even half of what it alleges is true, it's more deeply terrifying than any slasher film you'll ever see.

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70

Los Angeles Times Gary Goldstein

Frightening, powerful stuff.

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50

The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray

Well-produced and engaging, but it’s also anecdotal and conspiratorial, and damnably non-confrontational.

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50

LA Weekly Vadim Rizov

Andy Abrahams Wilson builds a decent, if stylistically dull, case that Lyme disease is far deadlier and more neurologically debilitating than most doctors want to admit.

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50

Boston Globe Joel Brown

Heartbreaking stories of patients suffering life-shattering illness make Under Our Skin compelling. It would have been an even better movie if the filmmakers had been more diligent in following the money.

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40

Film Threat Phil Hall

Wilson overstuffs the film with endless artsy shots of nature.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Beth C. gave it an8:
It's not as entertaining as Michael Moore's film on the health care system. Yet this is a compelling, frightening film about a real disease that many in the medical business would like to sweep under the carpet. You come to care about the people profiled in this film, both the sufferers and the courageous doctors who take on these patients, at risk of losing their medical licenses.

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