Review of Mysterious Skin (2005) by Caesar M — 06 Jan 2013

Mysterious Skin is one of the very few dramas capable of making us feel emotionally invested in fictional characters and boldly showing us a trouble subject matter how it is. It's a difficult film to sit through for child sexual abuse and the long-terms effect are difficult to shallow for these events will and have occurred in our society. It's not a pleasant or entertaining film of any sorts, but it is one that is very powerful both emotionally and how we view our society.

Mysterious Skin tells the story of two pre-adolescent boys who are sexually abused by their baseball coach, and how it affects their lives in different ways into their young adulthood. One boy becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous male prostitute, while the other retreats into a fantasy of alien abduction. Mysterious Skin biggest strength in it story is it realism. Sure it tells a fictional story, but the events that unfold throughout the film can happen. It contains several unpleasant scenes; some are as difficult as seeing 8 year old getting sexually abuse and a young adult prostituting himself for money. Events like these are cold and honest making us feel uncomfortable with each passing second as it should. Never does it step out of boundaries where you feel the content is simply sick nor does it paint pedophilia in black or white moral. Masterfully written sending it message on pedophilia without shoveling it down the viewer throat with developed characters we grow an attachment towards. All these elements come together for the entire picture without an dragging a single scene. The ending of this film is one the greatest one could possibly witness; not because it closes the story in a heartbreaking manner, but because it gives us a reflection on what we witness and applying it into our society in a viewpoint that's not presented on solely one side.

Mysterious Skin would not be the same film without Gregg Araki flawless direction and the cast magnificent performances. Araki handles the very difficult film content in a way where he doesn't hammer down any morals. He does not dilute the effect of child sexual abuse nor does he ever go to far with the filming of a disturbing scene. He restrains himself enough where the a disturbing is still effective, but not sickening that a director filmed such scene for his own amusement. The lead performances by Brady Corbet and Joseph Gordon Levitt are terrific. It's hard to imagine these roles with other actors. Brady Cobret and Joseph Gordon Levitt play on each other character so different from one another well. Cobret interacts with his costars with grace and immense belivability. It's this film that I contain the most respect of Joseph Gordon Levitt as an actor. He gives his character a genuine quality where you don't see him as an actor. Levitt looses himself in his character making us feel what he feels. It's heartfelt, powerful, and one of the best performances Levitt has ever given. Both Cobret and Levitt have you caring about them making the ending and the entire emotionally thought-provoking.

Mysterious Skin is a masterpiece in dramatic film making. It never shy's away from it source material nor glosses pedophilia into a simple black & white moral. It's a film that is honest, with a masterful direction, moving performances, and gives it sensitive subject depth allowing us to reflect on it with heart.