Mysterious Skin, Greg Araki's adaptation of a Scott Heim novel, is a difficult film to watch. In fact, it is a numbing experience. It deals with a taboo subject most people simply whisper about in quiet conversations: child molestation.
The movie centres on the lives of two teen-aged boys who happened to be molested together by their Little League baseball coach when they were still eight-years old.
Neil, played by Joseph Gordon Hewitt of Third Rock from the Sun fame, ends up being a gay hustler on the streets. He seems to relish the sexual relationship he had with his coach and tries to relive those moments through his trade.
Meanwhile, Brian played by Brady Corbet, unable to remember those events, keeps on having nightmares, black outs and nosebleeds, believing that space aliens abducted him when he was a kid. While Neil is unable to forget, Brian is incapable of remembering.
Inevitably, Brian's search for answers leads him to Neil's, where the truly shocking revelations were laid bare.
Mysterious Skin is definitely not for the squeamish: it includes a brutal rape scene and one involving fire crackers. Raw and graphic, it feels so real, and the events and the milieu surrouding the acts seem so commonplace in today's society. It's not something I want to watch again.
An examination of the psychological impact of child abuse, the movie avoided being preachy, focusing more on character. It made the elements of the movie more powerful when they finally appear.
The two leads gave excellent performances. Gordon-Hewitt looks withered and dried-up enough for a fifteen-year old hustler, while Corbet manages to retain the innocence and wide-eyed look of someone who's totally clueless about events in his past.
Mysterious Skin is a moving, gripping and uncompromising work. It is definitely not for everyone, but is insightful nonetheless.
The movie centres on the lives of two teen-aged boys who happened to be molested together by their Little League baseball coach when they were still eight-years old.
Neil, played by Joseph Gordon Hewitt of Third Rock from the Sun fame, ends up being a gay hustler on the streets. He seems to relish the sexual relationship he had with his coach and tries to relive those moments through his trade.
Meanwhile, Brian played by Brady Corbet, unable to remember those events, keeps on having nightmares, black outs and nosebleeds, believing that space aliens abducted him when he was a kid. While Neil is unable to forget, Brian is incapable of remembering.
Inevitably, Brian's search for answers leads him to Neil's, where the truly shocking revelations were laid bare.
Mysterious Skin is definitely not for the squeamish: it includes a brutal rape scene and one involving fire crackers. Raw and graphic, it feels so real, and the events and the milieu surrouding the acts seem so commonplace in today's society. It's not something I want to watch again.
An examination of the psychological impact of child abuse, the movie avoided being preachy, focusing more on character. It made the elements of the movie more powerful when they finally appear.
The two leads gave excellent performances. Gordon-Hewitt looks withered and dried-up enough for a fifteen-year old hustler, while Corbet manages to retain the innocence and wide-eyed look of someone who's totally clueless about events in his past.
Mysterious Skin is a moving, gripping and uncompromising work. It is definitely not for everyone, but is insightful nonetheless.
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