Mysterious Skin Movie Review 2004

As 8-year-olds in 1981, clumsy Brian and athletic Neil both play for the same Kansas Little League team. They have something else in common; both are sexually abused by their Coach (Sage). By 1991, Neil (Gordon-Levitt) has become a reckless hustler--first in his dull hometown and later in New York, where he's followed his best friend Wendy (Trachtenberg). Brian (Corbet) has grown into an awkward misfit who (having suppressed the abuse) believes he was abducted and experimented upon by aliens. He has a vague memory of Neil and decides to track the other teen down to find out what really happened--a confrontation that takes place in a challenging scene set on Christmas Eve. Araki displays a fearless candor in showing the damage that was wrought without exploiting his inflammatory subject matter Both leads give strong, gut-wrenching performances. Based on the 1995 novel by Scott Heims.

Distribution

TLA Releasing, 234 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, Phone: (215)733-0608, Toll-free: 800-333-8521, Fax: (215)733-0637, Email: sales@tlavideo.com, URL: http://www.tlareleasing.com

Available on DVD
Running time 103 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Sexual Abuse, Rape, Gays, Child Abuse, Childhood Buddies, Oldest Profession, New York, New York

Screenplay

Gregg Araki

Cast

Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Elisabeth Shue, Jeff(rey) Licon, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Chris Mulkey, Richard Riehle, Lisa Long, Billy Drago, William Sage, George Webster, Chase Ellison

Cinematography

Steve Gainer

Director

Gregg Araki

Music

Harold Budd, Robin Guthrie

Other

Trip Brock, Gregg Araki, Alix Hester, Devorah Herbert

Producer

Mary Jane Skalski, Jeff Levy-Hinte, Gregg Araki, Antidote Film, Desperate Pictures, Fortissimo Films