The Serpent's Skin: Desire Meets Fantasy | BFI Flare 2026
Supernatural powers, overpowering desire, and inexplicable deaths make for a unique and exciting indie film. The Serpent's Skin delivers a fast-paced young adult novel brought to life.
This trans led queer horror is driven by mysterious characters, each hiding their own secret. New to town, a young trans woman finds her feet with a new job, and finds herself quickly in bad situations. She falls deeply in love with the intoxicating tattoo artist, and the two girls are drawn closer together with their discovery of shared supernatural powers. As they work to harness these dangerous powers, a demon is released into an unknowing ex, and the death toll rises as they attempt to stop the madness.
This film is a perfect modern take on a somewhat "cheesy" vampire movie - and I truly say that with love! The acting from the leading cast is fun and steady, albeit lacking in places, and they provide moments of tension and electric chemistry that juxtapose each other perfectly. You can feel the heat and passion, driving it neatly into the horror aspect, allowing for a natural build of energy.
A strength of this film is its ability to portray excellent representation without centralising it. This film empowers members of the trans and lesbian community, however, in a way that does not sensationalise the idea but rather lets it fit into the wider plot. This conceptualises a way forward for mainstream media - where the queer community is not always tied to a tale of tragedy, but simply present in a good 90-minute movie.
The production and storyline work well together to produce a strong film celebrating trans art. The visuals, music, and costumes tie together seamlessly and demonstrate a fresh perspective in directing from Alice Maio Mackay that is exciting to see. It was so different from much of what I watched at BFI Flare, and was a real point of toxic spooky fun that was a real call back to early 2000 production. The filming style really captures the magic of a coming-of-age film - with a twist.
The Serpent's Skin is an enjoyable take on a gothic horror story, driven by young adults just trying to make their way in the world. It is full of passion and chemistry with moments of real connection and story. A perfect addition to the Halloween watchlist.
