Review of Mysterious Skin (2005) by Roel B — 23 Jul 2011

This film is a very powerful and emotional drama. Two young boys endure trauma when they are younger and both deal with it in different ways.

The coach grooms young Neil and eventually violates him, which results in Neil acting out and having sexualized behaviour himself. The film is pretty accurate as to the progression and effects of sexual abuse. Another boy, Brian is also abused when he is younger and he suppressed the memories. He was unable to deal with the trauma he experienced so his mind blocked out the incident but his subconscious has let some memories leak through his dreams. Brian starts to believe that he was 'abducted by aliens' and begins to unravel what happened to him.