Review of Mysterious Skin (2005) by Heath - — 17 Sep 2009

Where as L.I.E (which I reviewed recently) asked you to see past the label and into the heart of a man, Mysterious skin doesn't ask us to put aside judgement, nor does it crucify the pedarest. Mysterious skin focus it's attention on the victims and how the abuse the young leads suffered early in life, has shaped them. Far more than a scratch, Mysterious Skin delves into the issue head first and in my opinion, is the most accurate in it's depiction of abuse and it's devestating affects on personalities and in lives.

The story revolves around two boys, one who can't remember.

And the other who can never forget.....

Brian Lackey, is haunted by 5 hours that he can not account for 10 years ago in the summer of his 8th year. All Brian can really recall is being at little league practice one minute and huddling in a cellar with a bloody nose the next. This obsession to recall is all consuming for the young man who, desperately wishes to unlock the secrets of the summer of his young life. Under the influence of a television show and the lack of evidence to support that anything traumatic happened to him, he concludes that these physical problems, the nosebleeds and blackouts, are the result of an alien abduction. As Brian's memory becomes clearer, he sees the face of another young boy, whom he remembers from his time in little league, Brian believes that if he can find this boy from long ago that he will be able to unlock Brian's past.

Neil McCormick, on the other hand cerishes and and clings to his memory of little league coach. Neil a rather sexually curious young boy, well beyond his 8 years inpart,thanks to his mother, who brings random guys home to boink not caring if her son sees or not, feels an instant attraction to to the tall, blonde, some may say good looking, little league coach. Harboring a crush and in need of a stable father figure, Neil submits to whatever it is the coach ask of him, because as Neil says, he always wanted to make coach proud of him.

Neil mistakingly belives that what went on between him and the coach when he was a child, was a loving and respectable relationship. Where as Brian is asexual, Neil tries in desperation to recapture the love he believed exsisted between him and the coach, and yet at the same time, Neil almost seems to despise the encounters he has with the men he picks. Every encounter seems to leave him just as empty as he was before, if not more.

Before long, the two boys paths cross, one will remember and one will see the truth.

Mysterious skin, with it's uncomfortable, grizzly realism is very difficult, distrubing and heartbreaking to watch at times, it demands that we look in the darkest areas of human experiences with a clear, unobstructed view.

Yes it's disturbing,but the reality of the subject is more so than one writer's words could ever truely capture, but it sure comes as close to reality as possible.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to just anyone as it is very difficult and depressing to watch, especially the ending.