Mysterious Skin

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1:45

Mysterious Skin

In Theaters Aug 14

1h 39m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Two pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.

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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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Gregg Araki

Director

Brady Corbet

Brian Lackey

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Neil McCormick

Michelle Trachtenberg

Wendy

Jeff Licon

Eric Preston

Bill Sage

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/28/2018

The movie sugarcoats nothing, but it doesn't revel in its own darkness either. It sheds a clear, compassionate, illuminating light.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

03/17/2014

4/5

[...] 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.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

11/28/2005

A-

Gordon-Levitt's performance is nothing short of astonishing.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

06/28/2025

3/4

A moving film that examines the betrayal of childhood innocence as well as the fallibility of roiling memories.

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

07/31/2024

4/4

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.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

05/20/2024

4.5/5

A harrowing, but ultimately compassionate film that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

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Kev C

@RT47402663 Jun 27

An absolute cinematic masterpiece that explores profound trauma and own self sexuality turmoil.

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Cadu C

@RT43479466 Apr 10

The best way to show the impact of the violation of childhood. You see how the two guys were never the same, in different ways, but equally strong. This is terrible feeling is perfectly showed by the talent of the actors and every frame of Gregg Araki direction.

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Alex A

@RT05801140 Mar 28

10/10, don't recommend it

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AJ

Mar 23

Stumbled upon this film whilst checking out Mubi having never seen JG-L in his earlier works and thought he, amongst his fellow actors played their character roles in this storyline incredibly well.

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Gabriella L.

@gxbbie Jan 18

beautifully disturbing, one of my favorites but never watching again.

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Luis V.

@KIDDR.0 Dec 24

This movie was definitely an uncomfortable watch. but I have to say this is one of the best movies I’ve ever watched. Gordon’s acting was amazing and explores a topic that usually isn’t talked about much. I would never watch this movie again but I would 100% recommend this this movie is so raw and does not sugarcoat anything.

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Synopsis

Two pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.

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: Antidote Films, Fortissimo Film Sales, Desperate Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 9, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $697.2K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround