Until recently, Lovecraftian fish monsters were purely regarded with fear and disgust by most characters in fiction, receiving even less sympathy than other monsters like vampires, werewolves and the undead. After movies like Guillermo Del Toro’s unexpectedly poignant The Shape of Water, however, we’re now aware that, in the right hands, audiences are capable of empathizing with even the fishiest of creatures. And with his atmospheric thriller Cold Skin, veteran director Xavier Gens attempts to walk the line between attraction and revulsion in a surprisingly original experience.

Cold Skin stars David Oakes as a nameless young man sent to observe weather patterns during a yearlong stay at a remote island near the South Pole. His only company is in the form of a reclusive lighthouse keeper named Gruner (played by Ray Stevenson), whom he’s forced to live with after his new home is destroyed in an attack by humanoid sea-creatures. However, Gruner is harboring his own dark secrets, and the young man must decide if survival is worth allying himself with this dangerous hermit until rescue arrives.

Naturally, a grim survival story ensues, as our protagonist is faced with mankind’s own monstrous tendencies, finding himself in the middle of a demented hierarchy while simultaneously having to fight for his life as the sea-creatures routinely assault the lighthouse. Although the film also features less violent interspecies relationships, Cold Skin insists on keeping things as uncomfortable as possible throughout, unlike its Oscar-Winning counterpart, The Shape of Water.

This results in an emotionally hefty film that doesn’t shy away from deeper issues regarding the human condition. Sadly, this atmospheric character study is also severely hampered by a flawed script that doesn’t quite know what to do once it establishes the story’s main themes. While I appreciate the fact that the movie wastes almost no time at all in setting up these characters and their plight, not much time is spent on the mythology and intricacies of this world inhabited by literal sea monsters.

The characters themselves are psychologically complex, and it’s a miracle boredom never sets in despite there only being two speaking characters throughout the majority of the picture. Unfortunately, the resolution to this struggle isn’t quite as satisfying as it should be. While Oakes makes for a compelling protagonist, he isn’t given much to do other than wallow in horror at the gruesome events surrounding him. Stevenson, on the other hand, stands out with a phenomenal performance as a broken man who’s willing to go to any lengths in order to maintain his exile, and I would have liked to see a more deserving finale for such a memorable character.

Aura Garrido also provides a solid performance as Aneris, a “friendlier” member of the bloodthirsty species invading the island. This is particularly impressive when you consider that she has no lines and is constantly shrouded in heavy makeup, which is also a testament to the practical effects work (and also contributes to some of the most disturbing sex scenes in recent memory).

While the makeup and prosthetics are impeccable, the movie does inevitably rely on CGI for some of its unexpectedly gruesome action sequences. The majority of the film is visually stunning, with moody cinematography making the most of the lonely island, but some of these effects-heavy sequences can feel a bit cartoonish. This is more of a financial issue, though, and it’s still amazing that they accomplished what they did on such a tight budget.

Cold Skin‘s reach may exceed its grasp where story is concerned, but it’s still a remarkably well-crafted film. The script and digital effects may feel unpolished at times, but the rest of the production is nearly flawless. Ultimately, the movie is smart and memorable enough to make up for these shortcomings, but it is frustrating to see it come so close to greatness. As it stands, Cold Skin is definitely worth a watch, so long as you temper your expectations.