Mysterious Skin (2004)

Option 1Option 2

Avg Rating: 4.5 / 5. Voted: 205

No one cared thus far. Do you?

AKA:
Directed by: Gregg Araki
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Neil), Brady Corbet (Brian), Chase Ellison (young Neil), George Webster (young Brian), Elisabeth Shue (Neil’s mother), Bill Sage (Coach), Chris Mulkey (Brian’s father), Lisa Long (Brian’s mother), Michelle Trachtenberg (Wendy), Jeff Licon (Eric)
Country: United States
Language: English (Eng Subs)
Runtime: 01:45:04
Genres: Rape-Sexual-Violence against Men, Gay, Old-Young, Sci-Fi, Teensploitation

Plot – Spoilers:
Mysterious Skin follows the experiences of two boys Neil and Brian one summer as 8 year-olds and then picks up when they’re fifteen. That one summer shapes their worldview and future experiences. There is some alien abduction and scifi along the way that seems ridiculous and jarring, but if you stick with it, it all pulls together in the end.

Mysterious Skin is a harsh reminder of the effects of child abuse and a pivotal movie in the genre.

guest
43 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
hey
hey
October 28, 2023 7:02 pm

just wondering, what kind of money do you have to be offered to play a pedo? like, why would anyone accept this kind of role otherwise. except ofc if they were an actual pedo and they just got to act out their fantasies :/

cunt
cunt
Reply to  hey
November 24, 2023 6:45 pm

better than playing a gay

KC
KC
Reply to  cunt
November 24, 2023 10:09 pm

Oh um please rot you fucking perv

Bukowski
Bukowski
May 21, 2023 12:50 pm

Jesus…. what a film.

The parallels between aliens and disassociation remind me of so called alien abduction survivor Whitley Strieber ( author of communion), whose alien stories are obviously dissociative artifacts from his trafficking as a child. This is a subtle theme in some alien movies.

Wonder if this is why Gregg Araki turned out the way he did. Thanks EUM.

5/5

omg
omg
January 12, 2023 2:11 pm

this opened my fucking eyes…

Jonathan
Jonathan
Reply to  omg
January 12, 2023 2:31 pm

Opened my ass too

slowdive
slowdive
December 17, 2022 4:22 pm

One of my favorite movies of all time, probably Araki’s best work and a beautiful, heartbreaking film…the soundtrack combined with the visuals just…even when we have people that love us and care about us and support us, they can’t always save us. Sometimes we get hurt and have to return to them, broken and bloody, before we can really let them know what happened. And then, sometimes, if we’re lucky, we find the people who get us without having to share a word about what happened. “You called me…your angel.” I’ve felt that pain, that anger. I wanted him to love me, I would have given anything for him to really love me. I gave him all of me and he told me I was special but you can’t think about it too hard, it hurts too much. The sharp, jagged edges stick out when you focus too hard. I feel like I could talk for hours about this movie. The first time I watched it as soon as it ended I restarted the film just to watch it again. I watched it five times in two days. I had never – never – just felt seen by a film. I wanted to show it to everyone I knew and loved just to say “don’t you get it? Don’t you get it now?” Our stories aren’t exact, nor will they ever be, but the hole that opens inside you from a sort of primordial pain makes it almost impossible to… Read more »

Rayane
Rayane
Reply to  slowdive
April 25, 2023 9:10 pm

Omg yes this comment is everything litteraly took the words out of my mouth
This movie portrails everything to perfection the shame the guilt the pain the void, letting without even wanting to that event shape your life and define and haunt you and you’re in that loop where u dont know if you can go on and don’t know if there is a way out and it becomes just unberreable

amira
amira
June 25, 2022 1:16 pm

going through one of the worst episodes of depression and anxiety and reminicing over more trauma than i ever have in my life, dont know if watchin g this is gonna be one of the best of worst decisions of my life

Joey
Joey
Reply to  amira
June 25, 2022 5:27 pm

The world doesn’t revolve around you and your problems, bozo

william richardson
william richardson
June 22, 2022 3:13 pm

this movie is litteraly made me cry the story telling is 100% sympathised with both of them the whole time

Visitor Q
Visitor Q
Reply to  william richardson
June 22, 2022 8:07 pm

Hi Willy… I’m just wondering here if by any chance you suffer from acute mental retardation? Because with this name surely tour native language is English so I can only assume the problem is your brain???
I mean no offence, btw

...
...
Reply to  Visitor Q
June 25, 2022 11:29 pm

“tour native language”.. nice one, dum-dum

Visitor Q
Visitor Q
Reply to  ...
June 26, 2022 9:37 am

Really??? Trolling a typo??? Is that the best you can do???
Even retards can do better…

perkele
perkele
Reply to  Visitor Q
June 26, 2022 5:00 pm

you are the retard Q 🙂

...
...
Reply to  Visitor Q
June 26, 2022 5:16 pm

It’s hardly trolling when calling out hypocrisy, but you’re right about the last part, so go take a spelling test and aim for a higher mark…

KC
KC
Reply to  Visitor Q
November 24, 2023 10:12 pm

Incel freak

zaika
zaika
April 2, 2022 7:16 pm

too close to home. most gut wrenching movie on this site. thank you for posting it. hoping all others who commented similarly are safe and healed.

An_Oldboy
An_Oldboy
March 22, 2022 10:20 am

Wow, this is a well directed film with great acting all round which (imo) was needed as the subject matter is effed up. There is also great attention to detail that adds to the film, from all the 80’s games/toys in the coaches house down to the choice of painting in Zeke’s bedroom. I found this an uncomfortable watch at times but nevertheless it is still a great film. Truly sad and effed up and well worth a watch. Thanks Admin for uploading this film that otherwise I would never have known about. A strong 4.5/5 boxes of cereal.

Dr Harris
Dr Harris
March 4, 2022 5:05 pm

Even better second time round.
A fantastic film. Scary and true aswell sadly.

Yeux
Yeux
January 13, 2022 4:50 pm

It is just me, or this movie ended out of nowhere? Like, it needed something more to happen after the last part.

It was a pretty interesting movie, and it shows how a single traumatic event in your childhood can affects your peception of life and your personality in the future, and in a negative way. In this case the trauma those 2 boys suffered from being abused by that pedo scum.

Very interesting.

amira
amira
Reply to  Yeux
June 25, 2022 1:18 pm

i disagree, i think the ending is one of my favorite parts of the film, its suddenness demonstrates that just because they remember and come together and cry about their trauma, it doesnt mean it fades, theyre just together in their understanding of it now, would love to discuss this further tho btw

slowdive
slowdive
Reply to  amira
December 17, 2022 4:36 pm

That’s how I interpreted it. A big thing that sticks out to me in the ending is Neil saying “I wish I could tell him that it would be alright, that the hurt was over but that would be a lie.” Just knowing doesn’t mean it’s okay…now they know, they have each other, but it doesn’t go away.

The Eye of Art
The Eye of Art
January 7, 2022 10:16 pm

Not gonna lie, my ass felt uncomfortable the entire time. The visual and narration just made it felt so surreal.

Vampire Cat
Vampire Cat
Reply to  The Eye of Art
December 17, 2022 10:56 pm

get a more comfortable chair?

noonereally
noonereally
December 29, 2021 11:33 pm

Thanks for this one EUM. Been a while since I watched it… needed to see it today ;(

spitonbaby
spitonbaby
October 3, 2021 9:22 pm

the movie made me speechless, how it struck home rlly badly
it made u feel as if it took your breath for a second, not knowing what to feel it wasnt smtg that makes u cry but one that made u think of what had happened in your past if anyone has been in this situation before

it would made u stop and take some few breath before doing anytg else, theres nothing i could complain about this movie

Lotty Da
Lotty Da
October 2, 2021 6:57 pm

Great movie, well acted and well done. Perfect casting. Thanks again, effedup

Idekyetfuck
Idekyetfuck
July 18, 2021 3:29 pm

People told me i’d cry. I never cry during movies. I was sad at the end like any normal human but not enough to cry. Then my eyes started watering. I was kind of doing this intentionally to see if it would be cathartic since my tears get built up. However, after the movie was over it got me reflecting on my own life and looking at events in a new light. I’ve never balled harder in my life. Watch this film. If you’ve ever experienced any sort of sexual trauma, it will hit close to home.

Glum.Sullen
Glum.Sullen
Reply to  Idekyetfuck
July 19, 2021 12:45 am

I had the same exact experience when i watched it with my ex-girlfriend a few years ago. She just held me and i wasnt even completely sure why i was crying.

Its honestly pretty comforting knowing that wasnt a unique reaction.

lenetra
lenetra
May 27, 2021 7:36 pm

i like this movie

Cordu
Cordu
March 14, 2021 8:47 pm

Harsh and good. Excelent movie.

Dr Harris
Dr Harris
January 31, 2021 6:18 pm

Excellent work … Not a film is usually bother with but it’s premise seemed worthy of my attention. Very well executed….. And deserves to be seen and learnt from

shadyshady
shadyshady
December 9, 2020 7:22 pm

watched this in september. my eyes were welling up at the end, i especially loved the last line said. definately a favourite move of mine now. certain songs remind me of it and i get sad everytime, but in a good way.

Fred Fat
Fred Fat
October 14, 2020 9:59 pm

heart breaking

Necrophilia slut
Necrophilia slut
September 12, 2020 11:54 am

Sad but good

Chase
Chase
August 20, 2020 9:20 am

Way to close to home

Pamela
Pamela
August 3, 2020 10:49 pm

really sad, then makes you mad cause this shit happens. good movie. thanks eum

Zomo
Zomo
July 14, 2020 8:43 pm

When I say trauma is a bitch, nothing hurts more than remembering the hurt that someone selfishly caused. This movie really made me cry and triggered me but it was a very good movie nonetheless.

RedArmageddon
RedArmageddon
June 28, 2020 11:12 pm

This movie had my heart tearing apart :,^[
It’s well shot, but it’s heartbreaking, especially the ending dialogue betw/ Neil and Brian (so sad).
I don’t have a fav scene ’cause the movie is just so pretty, idk, but I do like Brian alot !!
I recommand this movie so much, it’s something you have to watch >:^]

sidney
sidney
March 14, 2020 8:56 pm

this movie rly broke my heart

luke
luke
Reply to  sidney
May 29, 2020 8:12 am

bro….. why am i crying rn………

william richardson
william richardson
Reply to  sidney
June 22, 2022 3:14 pm

same i literally cried when the movie ended