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Mysterious Skin Reviews

2004

60
from 13,324 members

In 1981, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the eight years old boy Neil McCormick is sexually abused by his pedophile baseball coach and his deranged and promiscuous mother does not pay attention. Meanwhile, the also eight years Brian Lackey awakes from a brief amnesia of four hours with a bleeding nose, but his negligent father does not .. Read more

Starring	Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbett, Elisabeth Shue, Michelle Trachtenberg
Director	Gregg Araki
Genres	Drama, Gay/Lesbian

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Critic's review of Mysterious Skin
View all critics' reviews (7)
- Based on Scott Heim's novel, Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin has twin narrators. As teenagers, Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)and Brian (Brady Corbet) seem worlds apart. read more »
- LOVEFiLM Review
  - Tom Charity
  - LOVEFiLM
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Mysterious Skin
View all members' reviews (286)
- - 102
  - 27
  Stunning movie
  
  This film is the best of its kind i have ever seen. It is a rollercoaster from start to end. Superbly cast with the acting painfully believable. The film is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 157281
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Kent , England
  - 05 Oct 2005 at 14:50
Most recent members' reviews of Mysterious Skin
View all members' reviews (286)
- - 1
  - 8
  poor film
  
  poor film and no clear direction.i found the film very boring and skiped to end as it did not intrest me.
  
  Report this review
- 1074089
- - a customer
  - 17 Dec 2011 at 12:28
- - 2
  - 0
  A must see
  
  Completely brilliant in every way. I can't remember ever being so moved by a film before. The acting, writing and direction are all outstanding. It is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1072910
- - a customer
  - 13 Dec 2011 at 00:21
- - 0
  - 0
  Life in the Raw
  
  I was very surprised by this film, the acting was very good, the direction tight and a script that was dark, multi layered and very thought provoking. The scary... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1057563
- - OscarFreak
  - 248 reviews
  - London
  - 01 Nov 2011 at 12:21
- - 0
  - 0
  Only in Kansas?
  
  Gripping film till the end and superb acting by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the rest of the cast.
  
  Although the content is disturbing at times, it is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1052808
- - a customer
  - 18 Oct 2011 at 22:26
- - 0
  - 1
  Weird watch
  
  This film is very hard to watch but the acting was good glad I watched it but I won't be again I just found it quite upsetting
  
  Report this review
- 1050950
- - Danny251986
  - 34 reviews
  - Oxford
  - 13 Oct 2011 at 09:57
- - 0
  - 0
  Thought provoking
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Fantastic acting throughout. The cast deserve to do well. Arty style, gritty realism, tragic and thought provoking story especially the way the two lads lives ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1045073
- - a customer
  - 26 Sep 2011 at 14:51
- - 1
  - 0
  Truely exceptional!
  
  Absolutely astounding film.
  
  Don't get me wrong, It's not easy viewing but wonderfully (and at times bravely) acted and very touching.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1041744
- - Loulouporcelaina
  - 1 review
  - 17 Sep 2011 at 18:24
- - 2
  - 0
  COMPELLINGLY TRAGIC, but BRILLIANT!
  
  A Harrowing tale with shockingly graphic acting, but brilliantly played by those involved. The film includes clever and insightful scenes about relationships, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1011593
- - FeeCollins
  - 19 reviews
  - 30 Jun 2011 at 19:08
- - 2
  - 2
  What a brilliant film
  
  I've never seen anything as honest and compassionate about this subject before. Brilliant. It doesn't pull any punches but doesn't sensationalise it... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008094
- - Anniegetyogun
  - 112 reviews
  - Down South
  - 21 Jun 2011 at 21:41
- - 3
  - 0
  Compelling Acting
  
  Having just watched the movie i'm full of emotion and yet stuck for words.
  
  A bit awkward/tough to watch at first due to the paedophillia but I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1001423
- - a customer
  - 06 Jun 2011 at 23:59
View all members' reviews (286)

- - 102
  - 27
  Stunning movie
  
  This film is the best of its kind i have ever seen. It is a rollercoaster from start to end. Superbly cast with the acting painfully believable. The film is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 157281
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Kent , England
  - 05 Oct 2005 at 14:50
- - 35
  - 3
  Can you handle a harsh,frank yet sensitive exploration of paedophilia and male prostitution?If so,crack on!
  
  Feel-good family fare?Not a bit of it,strictly adult heavy-yet- rewarding,going. Have you seen Kevin Bacon in 'The Woodsman',Todd Solondz's '... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 441717
- - QPR Olly
  - Shepherd's Bush,England
  - 20 May 2007 at 05:14
- - 28
  - 1
  A work of art, if not for everyone
  
  Last time I was this moved by a film, it was The Railway Children or It's A Wonderful Life. Rather different subject matter - there's scenes of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 198934
- - a customer
  - London, UK
  - 26 Jan 2006 at 16:47
- - 22
  - 8
  Sick and Wrong
  
  NOBODY needs to see this sort of thing! Least of all I would imagine, people who have been through this sort of trauma. It would be all too easy to stumble ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 254832
- - jamie balcanquall
  - Sussex
  - 15 Jun 2006 at 13:23
- - 18
  - 4
  AVOID
  
  THIS FILM BOARDERS ON ILEGAL CHILD PORN.HAD TO TURN OFF QUICK AND GET IT IN POST BOX AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
  
  Report this review
- 244438
- - a customer
  - LANCASHIRE
  - 15 May 2006 at 16:36
- - 18
  - 6
  WARNING PARENTS WONT LIKE THIS AT ALL
  
  This is not a sci-fi film at all. Its not the gay side of it that concerns me its the scenes of a small boy being sexually abused and then going on selling ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 204989
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 09 Feb 2006 at 23:04
- - 17
  - 7
  Graphic, Voyeuristic
  
  Graphic to the point of being voyeuristic.
  
  Seemed more like gay porn at some points rather than drama abour effects of paedophilia. Camera lingers ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 364704
- - MrsChekov
  - 4 reviews
  - London
  - 10 May 2006 at 21:50
- - 15
  - 5
  Good film, but make sure you know what to expect...
  
  This is a good film, but the synopsis fails fails to mention that it is about child sexual abuse, and how the boys come to terms with it. It is certainly not a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 203008
- - a customer
  - Coventry, England
  - 06 Feb 2006 at 00:36
- - 12
  - 1
  Controversial films and those who view them...
  
  I can appreciate that the harrowing nature of this film will not make it suitable for every occasion, but I do object to reviewers who have instantly dismissed ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 230356
- - Ben
  - Wiltshire
  - 08 Apr 2006 at 19:39
- - 12
  - 4
  Young Lives.
  
  This darkly beautiful film has at its heart the destructive influence paedophilia has on still malleable young lives. We are however placed in the unsettling ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 358455
- - ssoulcurls
  - Hampshire
  - 19 Jan 2006 at 11:18

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Critics' reviews
- Based on Scott Heim's novel, Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin has twin narrators. As teenagers, Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)and Brian (Brady Corbet) seem worlds apart. read more »
- LOVEFiLM Review
  - Tom Charity
  - LOVEFiLM
- A compelling story marred somewhat by uneven storytelling, Araki leads us through the early lives of two Kansas boys,... read more on Time Out
- 48490
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:18
- A lyrical, atmospheric and deeply involving film
- 39380
- - Heat
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:20
- Immensely brave and ethereally beautiful
- 39379
- - Daily Telegraph
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:20
- Brilliant and disturbing
- 39383
- - What's On
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:20
- Compelling Performances
- 39382
- - Total Film
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:20
- Gripping
- 39378
- - Daily Star
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:20

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Mysterious Skin
  
  In 1981, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the eight years old boy Neil McCormick is sexually abused by his pedophile baseball coach and his deranged and promiscuous mother does not pay attention. Meanwhile, the also eight years Brian Lackey awakes from a brief amnesia of four hours with a bleeding nose, but ...