Mysterious Skin (Mini Review)

I pretty much have an opinion on every film I watch but often I don't stretch it out enough to make it 1000+ words. So in 2018, I want to write more but make it easier for myself when writing. No one wants to read a review that continuously reasserts itself and I don't want to write one. The solution, I think, is to write smaller reviews that easier digest for both parties. These reviews will be written in short periods of time too.

Tackling the subject of paedophilia from the point of view of any party in any medium is never easy. It takes grace, compassion and sympathy. Director Greg Araki brings all of that to the table both stylistically and through his storytelling. Based on the book of the same name (by Scott Heim) we see the repercussions of the sexual abuse suffered by two adolescent boys committed by their little league coach.

One (Brady Corbet) retreats into a fantasy that he was abducted by aliens to block out the memory. The other (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becomes a gay hustler who more sexual experience that most people will ever have in their life. Their respective paths and reactions to said events aren't similar nor are their lives connected after the source of their trauma.

Araki uses a parallel narrative to connect the two. In seeing them deal with their trauma and some creative editing to bring them together. He often uses J/L sound cuts and visual fades to bring two together while letting their individual paths play out. While both narratives are strong on their own, this film is more than the sum of its parts.

Thankfully each story has each other as they each have their own minor flaws. The one with Corbet includes a lady who also claims to be abducted on a TV program. Corbet's character gets in contact with her as they live in neighbouring towns. This relationship progresses in a way that only seemed to serve narrative and looked past character a bit. On the other hand, in the Levitt's story. For the most part, it struggles to construct an urgency for his character to grow as he often seems to have a strong sense of self.

The performances of both Levitt and Corbet show us how they both managed to work with even bigger directors later in their career. Neither actor judges their character. They're both proud of who they are despite having something missing. This helps us get invested in their journey to fulfilment and confronting their past.

The film's themes are confronting and it's intimate moments, especially in the moments of sexual abuse. The film never seems like it wants you to be uncomfortable in the same way Todd Solondz does in his film 'Happiness' which also features similar themes but from the perspective of the perpetrator.

The film's 107 minute run time flows extremely well, considering it was edited on a mac book. Despite this film's flaws, it still managed to be an effective exercise in character sympathy and parallel narrative storytelling.

Overall Score: 8/10

What do you think of this film if you have seen it?

Mysterious Skin is available on DVD... Somewhere.

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Director/Writer/Editor: Greg Araki

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet

Cinematography: Steve Gainer