Mysterious Skin

Under no circumstances will I watch this film again.

the poor Brian just crying in Neil's lap after knowing the truth...OMFG I think I'll never get trough this film.

This movie is a heavy one, filled to the brim with a feeling of dread and a pit in your stomach. Its raw and its real. The performances are incredible; Joseph Gordon-Levitt is always brilliant but this role in particular was really strong from him. I'd never seen Brady Corbet or Jeffrey Licon in anything before but both were super captivating to me. Michelle Trachtenberg really shines in a more adult role than what she'd been typically cast in at the time. There's something about this that is just incredibly impactful and touching in a way that i don't know how to explain. The cinematography and sound design are both brilliant and on a technical level this is an incredible piece of art. Im not sure I'd be quick to rewatch it, the heavy themes make it a hard watch, but i did really enjoy this film.

"I wish there was some way for us to go back and undo the past. But there wasn't. There was nothing we could do."

wow I think that I will never watch this film again! Not because it's bad, it is an absolutely powerful film but very tough to watch! I always heard great things about Mysterious Skin but I wasn't expecting something so painful and dark, yet so good!

Such a deep, brutal and disturbing story with phenomenal acting, specially by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

I am still processing it. Man, it's so sad and depressing! Great film.

Fucking haunting. Amazing performance by JGL. His best friend's was a bit weak but she wasn't around too much for it to matter. Very frightening film but very real.

Back then they weren’t afraid to make real movies

A melancholy atmosphere permeates the narrative, reflecting the introspective loneliness of the main characters. They are deeply developed, emotionally complex and extremely expressive. The story is dense, capable of conveying violence and innocence with intensity, reflecting the emotional complexity that trauma imposes on the lives of these characters. All of this causes persistent discomfort.

WARNING: If you are easily offended this film is definitely not for you!!

"Mysterious Skin" was a really tough film to sit through. However, Gregg Araki once again fascinates me in his use of cinema. Araki and Scott Heim wrote a story that brutally honest captures the idea that we cannot escape traumas and once we experience catastrophic and heartrending sudden events, it will follow us all our lives and shape who we grow up to be as individuals, wether that be in a bad or good way. No matter how hard we try to block things out of our lives, they will still be there locked up in the back of our minds. It is hard to never not live tragic events, unfortunately. And this film demonstrates that harshly through child abuse and rape, and eventually teenage prostitution. It is fucking excruciating.

That being said, I don’t know if I could re-watch this movie ever again, despite how captivating and absolutely powerful it was in it’s authenticity. It is too damn harsh.

3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Mysterious Skin’:

1. I didn’t even know this film existed, until it was recommended to me, and wow… that was heavy… an understatement at that. This is quite a tragic and challenging watch, a reminder that movies are not always meant to entertain. But while it’s dark, there is beauty in the friendships, and light found between two victims who are no longer alone in their trauma. Still, it’s a tough journey to sit through.

2. Did the parents not know what was going on?! I understand that the focus wasn’t on them, but I wish they would have been confronted a bit more.

3. It was crazy to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt take on such a daring role. His performance here is certainly a testament to his talent and is definitely the standout of the film.

The good
+ great performance by JGL, and others too.
+ interesting from start til end; leaves you guessing

neutral
- dark and odd vibe.

The bad
- while the ending closed the story, it wasn't satisfying. I hate when people say "the ending was predictable" but in this case it really is warranted.
- Pedophile is presented as a quite likable dude.

Conclusion:
1. Kinda 'meh' feeling about this movie.
2. No reason to watch it again.
3. Wouldn't have missed much if I didn't watch it in the first place.