Review of Mysterious Skin (2005) by Joseph S — 19 Apr 2010
"Precious" wishes it were "Mysterious Skin", but it's not. Gregg Araki spins a tale that could have been a weird Law and Order SVU episode or Lifetime movie, but instead comes off like a classic novel, the kind that sucks you into every page from first to last.
There are point of view shots in this film, from perspectives that we often see, but are rarely forced into "experiencing" the way we are here. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was especially impressive here, considering I had basically written him off before this.
Small town pedophilia is nothing new, and though the film does not shy away from the fact, it's the focus on the characters and the opposite ways they respond to the event that makes the film so tragic, fragile, complex, funny, and disturbing.
To use SVU lingo, the film speaks for the "victims", though Araki's true masterstroke is his ability to portray characters who would never describe themselves as such.
This review of Mysterious Skin (2005) was written by Joseph S on 19 Apr 2010.
Mysterious Skin has generally received very positive reviews.
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