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Adventure thriller

Cold Skin (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Cold Skin (2018) movie poster

Cold Skin is a 2018 adventure thriller directed by Xavier Gens, starring Ray Stevenson as Gruner, Aura Garrido and David Oakes. It is based on Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol and Cheryl Leah Morgan. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $737,478 worldwide on a $9.8 million budget. Critics gave it 50% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Rotten Tomatoes
50%
worldwide gross
$737.5K
Echo Score
66
budget
$9.8M
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Cold Skin (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Xavier Gens
Original language
English
Budget
$9.8M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cold Skin About?

The premise of Cold Skin without spoilers, adapted from Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol and Cheryl Leah Morgan. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In the remote and icy expanse of Antarctica, a man takes on a solitary assignment as a weather observer. He soon finds himself in a desolate and mysterious environment, where the unsettling stories of a previous inhabitant suggest a terrifying presence. Isolated and facing the unknown, he must confront the secrets hidden within the frozen landscape and determine the truth behind the chilling tales.

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Cast & crew

Cold Skin Cast & Characters

Ray Stevenson leads the cast as Gruner, with Aura Garrido as Aneris and David Oakes as Friend. Directed by Xavier Gens; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Cold Skin

· 6 more
From the director

More from Xavier Gens

More films directed by Xavier Gens, best-rated first: Mayhem!, The Divide, Hitman and Frontier(s).

Full filmography
Ratings

Cold Skin Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cold Skin 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in sensory experience (88) and weakest in story & flow (35).

66 /100

Cold Skin Echo Score Breakdown

Cold Skin displays strong visual and auditory craftsmanship but is hindered by a predictable narrative and uneven character engagement. The film’s striking cinematography and effective score are widely praised, creating a compelling atmosphere of isolation and dread, yet many reviews note a flat storyline with limited surprises. While the performances bring moments of empathy and tension, the uneven pacing and thematic execution limit its lasting impact. Overall, the movie offers sensory appeal but struggles to fully satisfy narratively.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Cold Skin excels through its striking cinematography and thoughtful production design. Reviews consistently highlight the island’s bleak landscapes and well-executed creature effects, despite occasional underwhelming visuals in a few sequences. The direction maintains a cohesive visual style, resulting in a polished aesthetic that anchors the film’s ominous atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the performances in Cold Skin are generally competent but yield uneven depth. Lead actors deliver moments of genuine empathy, conveying the isolation and psychological strain of their roles. However, the central conflict and emotional dynamics sometimes feel underdeveloped, limiting the film’s ability to foster sustained audience investment.

  • Story & Flow 35

    Regarding story and flow, Cold Skin struggles with predictability and pacing issues that undermine its horror premise. Critics and viewers note a familiar siege narrative with few surprises and noticeable plot gaps. The progression often feels rushed or uneven, detracting from the intended suspense. Overall, the narrative coherence and originality fall short of its atmospheric ambitions.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In terms of sensory experience, the film shines with a dynamic balance of sound and visuals that immerse the audience. The score effectively underscores tension, while sound design and practical effects contribute to a palpable sense of dread. Visual styling remains cohesive across settings, reinforcing the film’s mood and heightening the impact of its creature sequences.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    With regard to rewatch value, Cold Skin offers striking visuals and atmosphere that may reward repeat viewings, but its narrative flaws limit lasting appeal. While some viewers find new details in the film’s setting and thematic undercurrents on subsequent watches, the predictable plot and uneven character engagement often deter full reappraisal. The overall replay value remains moderate.

Plot

Cold Skin Plot Summary

What happens in Cold Skin from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1914, a young Irish meteorologist travels to a remote South Atlantic island to work as a weather observer, sharing the outpost with Gruner, Ray Stevenson, the blunt, solitary caretaker of a crudely fortified lighthouse. Gruner explains that the previous observer died of typhus and that there is no body to bury, a detail that unsettles the newcomer as he begins to map the island’s winds and currents.

Full summary

The whole story of Cold Skin, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Cold Skin Box Office & Budget

Cold Skin grossed $737,478 worldwide on a $9.8 million budget, 8% of what it cost.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$737.5K

8% of its budget back

International
$737.5K
Budget
$9.8M
Videos

Cold Skin Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Cold Skin.

Official North American Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cold Skin?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

In what year does the story of Cold Skin take place?

Cars

Cars in Cold Skin

21 cars on screen, including the 2013 Cadillac ATS and the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility.

All 21 cars
  • 2013 Cadillac ATS in Cold Skin 2013 Cadillac ATS Important role
  • 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility in Cold Skin 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Important role
  • 2015 Ford Transit in Cold Skin 2015 Ford Transit Important role
  • 2006 Hummer H2 in Cold Skin 2006 Hummer H2 Important role
Details

Cold Skin Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “콜드 스킨” and “La piel fría”.

Also known as
  • 콜드 스킨
  • La piel fría
  • Атлантида
  • La pell freda
  • コールド・スキン
  • Cold Skin - La creatura di Atlantide
  • La peau froide
  • 冰海異種
  • Студена кожа
  • Hideg Bőr
  • Soğuk Ten
  • A Pele Fria
+5 more
  • 冰肤传说
  • עור קר
  • Cold Skin - Insel der Kreaturen
  • พรายนรก ป้อมทมิฬ
  • Mrzla koža

Seen Cold Skin?

FAQ

Cold Skin FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Cold Skin, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cold Skin?

Cold Skin runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was Cold Skin released?

Cold Skin was released on September 7, 2018.

Who directed Cold Skin?

Cold Skin was directed by Xavier Gens.

More films by Xavier Gens

Who is in the cast of Cold Skin?

Cold Skin stars Ray Stevenson as Gruner, Aura Garrido as Aneris and David Oakes as Friend, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Cold Skin make at the box office?

Cold Skin grossed $737,478 worldwide on a budget of $9.8 million.

How is Cold Skin rated?

Cold Skin has 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63% on TMDB, 2.9/5 on Letterboxd and 3.4/5 on Movie Insider.

Is Cold Skin based on a book?

Yes. Cold Skin is adapted from Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol and Cheryl Leah Morgan.

Does Cold Skin have a post-credit scene?

No. Cold Skin has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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