This is a modified repost of an old review, originally written on 20 May 2005
Mysterious Skin is a sensitive and a touching movie that deals with a very delicate issue. Disturbing, intense, warm and shocking are probably the words that would sum up the experience of watching this movie. I have not quite felt the same way after watching a movie in a long time.
Promotional Poster for Mysterious Skin
The movie, eighth by director Gregg Araki is an adaptation of a novel by fellow American writer Scott Heim by the same name.
The movie has a sexual theme, which is quite common for almost all Araki’s movies albeit this one deals with a slightly more serious topic of child sexual abuse. The plot is set in Hutchinson, Kansas, USA, and describes effects of childhood sexual abuse through the eyes of two teenagers.
When aged eight, the two boys are subjected to sexual abuse by their Little League Baseball coach. One of them, Brian Lackey, is so traumatized by the entire experience that he shuts out the entire episode, and is convinced that he was abducted by aliens. The other, Neil McCormick on the other hand recalls the entire experience vividly and chooses to believe that the coach was the love of his young life. Subsequently he grows up to be a teenage male prostitute whereas Brian has asexual feelings, nosebleeds and dreams about alien abductions. Brian tries to unravel the hidden meaning behind his dreams and decides to track down Neil, ten long years after the incident in hopes of finding out the truth. One cannot remember, while the other cannot forget. Both eventually find a kind of balance through the other’s shared experience.
“Where normal people have a heart, Neil McCormick has a bottomless black hole.”
The relationship between Neil, his best friend Eric, and his “soul mate” and “partner in crime” Wendy is portrayed beautifully and gives an insight into the lives of these young teenagers.
Neil, Eric and Wendy
Neil comes to term with his sexuality, while Brian on the other hand, on account of his troubled past avoids it altogether. Wendy, initially infatuated with Neil, comes to term with his homosexuality and is supportive of him. Eric, Neil’s best friend and later a good friend of Brian provides some much needed shades of white throughout the movie. Neil’s sexual encounters are unsettling, sad and sometimes almost comic. On the other hand, Brain’s non-social and inward tendencies give a good account of the toll the event has taken on his life. Brian seems to be frozen in his uncertain childhood and is afraid to grow up. Coming to terms with the truth is a very painful experience for him.
The movie is by far one of the most disturbing movies I have come across in recent times. A lot of credit has to be given to the actors for their solid, intense performances.
Teenaged Neil McCormick’s portrayal by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, 10 Things I Hate About You) is simply brilliant. Brady Corbet also does justice in his role as the traumatized Brain. Michelle Trachtenberg’s (Eurotrip, Ice Princess) performance as Wendy too, is noteworthy. The trauma, pain and grief of the victims and their haunting pasts have been captured exceptionally well by Araki. The opening and closing sequences especially are intense and gripping. Araki has also ensured that the child actors involved were protected from the subject matter of this film. The scenes depicting Brian and Neil’s first sexual encounters handled with care and shot separately and later on edited to give the appearance of the abuse happening to the children. They were also given scripts that were different from those given to the rest of the cast.
“As we sat there listening to the carollers, I wanted to tell Brian that it was over now and that everything would be okay. But that was a lie, plus I couldn’t speak anyway. I wish there was some way to go back and undo the past. But there wasn’t. There was nothing we could do. So I just stayed silent and tried to telepathically communicate how sorry I was about what happened. And I thought of all the grief and suffering and fucked up stuff in the world, and it made me want to escape. I wished with all my heart we could just leave this world behind. Rise like two angels in the night and magically disappear.”
Eric reveals the painful truth about Brian’s past
Mysterious skin is a complex, emotional and a thought provoking movie. It is not for the weak hearted, nor is it for those who cannot come to terms with alternate sexuality. It is a movie about discovery, and scarring experiences. How one experience could shape or alter your life. Neil was perhaps born gay, and his encounter gave him a direction. On the other hand, the encounter was too much for Brian who is scarred forever. His innocence has been robbed, and he may never feel or look at anything in the same way ever again.
As stated before, Mysterious Skin is a disturbing movie. If you are looking for something fun, you may as well look elsewhere.
Having said that, I must say I’m quite looking forward to see Araki’s next venture, Smiley Face which deals with the misadventures of a young actress after she unknowingly eats her roommate’s pot brownies.
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