Rent Mysterious Skin (2004)
3.6 of 5 from 188 ratings
1h 41min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- "The summer I was 8 years old, five hours disappeared from my life. Five hours... lost... gone without a trace" Ten years later, Brian Lackey is still tormented by the black hole in his life - the five missing hours that have left him convinced he was abducted by aliens. In the same small Kansas town, another teen has no such worries. A hustler wise beyond his years, he has only one thing on his mind; sex and the path his urges are going to take. Searching for answers, both boys separately head for New York City, where a twist of fate brings them together to realize that their future happiness lies in exorcising the collective demons of their past.
- Actors:
- Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison, George Webster, Rachael Nastassja Kraft, Lisa Long, Chris Mulkey, David Lee Smith, Bill Sage, Riley McGuire, Ryan Stenzel, Richard Riehle, Michelle Trachtenberg, Larry Marko, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Clover, Jeffrey Licon, Bruno Alexander, Forrest Fountain
- Directors:
- Gregg Araki
- Writers:
- Gregg Araki, Scott Heim
- Studio:
- Tartan
- Genres:
- Drama, Lesbian & Gay
- Collections:
- A History of Gay Cinema: According to Hollywood, Drama Films & TV
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Reviews (4) of Mysterious Skin
A realistic look at the aftermath of sexual abuse - Mysterious Skin review by CP Customer
The story of 'Mysterious Skin' revolves around the lives of two teenagers, who as young boys were sexually abused by their little league coach. As older teens they are both suffering in different ways. Brian is obsessed with aliens, has nosebleeds and blackouts, and Neil has become a promiscuous gay hustler. Though slowly they're now starting to realise what happened to them in their past and how their lives are now falling apart. Although the story is painfully disturbing and depressing, it's also has some lighter funny lines and situations, though it's certainly not an easy film to watch; and the troubling subject matter is never served in a palatable manner. The two main characters endure hell, only then to have it go from bad to worse throughout. However, it's probably some of the best acting you'll see for a long while, Brady Corbet as 'Brian' is absolutely heart breaking to watch as he portrays his character perfectly, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as 'Neil' is quite simply incredible.
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Intelligent melodrama. - Mysterious Skin review by Steve
Dreamlike and surreal account of two boys whose lives are devastated, in different ways, by a forgotten episode from their schooldays. A charismatic star turn from Joseph Gordon Levitt powers this one. Sensitive, touching and imaginative handling by the director of an difficult subject.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Not what I thought. - Mysterious Skin review by CP Customer
Expecting to watch a film about alien abduction only to find this a film about the sexual abuse of two young boys.In some places I found it very hard to watch as the subject isn't glossed over but shown I thought in it's full horror.I found this film quite depressing.
1 out of 4 members found this review helpful.