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Mysterious Skin

Released Sep 11, 2004 1h 39m Drama List
86% Tomatometer 117 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
One youth (Brady Corbet) becomes obsessed with UFOs, while another (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becomes a gay hustler in the years following a childhood trauma.
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Mysterious Skin

Mysterious Skin

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Critics Consensus

Bold performances and sensitive, spot-on direction make watching this difficult tale of trauma and abuse a thought-provoking, resonant experience.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek The movie sugarcoats nothing, but it doesn't revel in its own darkness either. It sheds a clear, compassionate, illuminating light. Feb 28, 2018 Full Review Noel Murray The Dissolve [...] For a movie about something as painful as child sexual abuse, Mysterious Skin doesn't repel. There's an allure to the images, which are as carefully posed and framed as figures in a softly illuminated dollhouse. Rated: 4/5 Mar 17, 2014 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Gordon-Levitt's performance is nothing short of astonishing. Rated: A- Nov 28, 2005 Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog This evocative adaptation of Scott Heim's acclaimed novel is an impressive return to form for writer/director Gregg Araki (The Living End, The Doom Generation). More to the point, it's his best film. Rated: 4/4 Jul 31, 2024 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast A harrowing, but ultimately compassionate film that will stick with you long after the credits roll. Rated: 4.5/5 May 20, 2024 Full Review Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast Araki's fearless adaptation of Scott Heim's novel is challenging and uncomfortable. Featuring a stand-out performance by Gordon-Levitt and intimate, unflinching close-up camerawork by the writer/director, Mysterious Skin is important and powerful. Rated: 4.5/5 May 15, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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mor c Que buena pelicula, como para no verla otra vez Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Jonah K the kind of devastating that leaves you sitting through the entire credits in silence. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review Olive very depressing movie, but a good take on childhood trauma and the different ways people can take it. the cinematography, and characters where very likable. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review Lou M intéressant, répétition traumatique vs levée d'amnésie sur le même évènement traumatique chez deux garçons différents gordon-levitt en twink miamoum Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/24 Full Review Dionisis T Unexpectedly good and,in fact it was lovely Joseph Gordon-Levitt was phenomenal in that movie.The plot though it was respectable and the ending was totally expected... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/29/23 Full Review Roque Contreras G Esta película es una expresión del abuso. Lo manejan muy real, sientes tanta ternura que te hace llegar a cuestionarte todo. De verdad es sumamente bella, ya que te sumerge tanto que realmente llegas a entender y comprender a los personajes. La película es sumamente dolorosa, tan hermosa que sientes pena. No tengo palabras para describirla, aún no puedo creer lo enferma que es la gente. También te enseña la vida de algunas personas homosexuales, lo que son los famosos «encuentros». Sinceramente, esta película se merece aplausos por los temas que toco. Aunque la gente no lo admita, esto lo vivimos algunos adolescentes. En mi punto de vista, esta película sería para mayores de 16. Si tienes problemas con los temas que toca la película es mejor que no la veas. Para mí este filme es surreal. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

Chain 63% 64% Chain Thirteen 81% 77% Thirteen Laurel Canyon 68% 52% Laurel Canyon Crash 74% 88% Crash The Woodsman 88% 77% The Woodsman Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis One youth (Brady Corbet) becomes obsessed with UFOs, while another (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becomes a gay hustler in the years following a childhood trauma.
Director
Gregg Araki
Producer
Gregg Araki, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Mary Jane Skalski
Screenwriter
Gregg Araki, Scott Heim
Distributor
TLA Releasing, Tartan Films USA
Production Co
Fortissimo Film Sales, Desperate Pictures, Antidote Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 11, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 6, 2005
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 9, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$697.2K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround
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