Mysterious Skin (2004)
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.
The best movie I never wanna see again
Omg Slowdive!!
That was a MOVIE! Wow… I came in with my eyes closed and got out with my eyes wide opened! Great work Araki.
I mean good movie… But why the hell would you let your kid play in a movie like this?????
everyone is raving about JGL but I thought the other guy did a way better job. I honestly felt so bad for him when Avalyn tried to get in his pants, he sold that hurt asexual person perfectly. really sucks that the posters etc dont include him.
also is it REALLY surprising that a male prositute got raped? you can see that one coming from a mile away
I fucking hate pedos. i hope they all die
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 :/
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
this opened my fucking eyes…
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 »
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
this movie is litteraly made me cry the story telling is 100% sympathised with both of them the whole time
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.
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.
Even better second time round.
A fantastic film. Scary and true aswell sadly.
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.
Not gonna lie, my ass felt uncomfortable the entire time. The visual and narration just made it felt so surreal.
Thanks for this one EUM. Been a while since I watched it… needed to see it today ;(
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
Great movie, well acted and well done. Perfect casting. Thanks again, effedup
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.
i like this movie
Harsh and good. Excelent movie.
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
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.
heart breaking
Sad but good
Way to close to home
really sad, then makes you mad cause this shit happens. good movie. thanks eum
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.
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 >:^]
this movie rly broke my heart