Mysterious Skin
Mysterious Skin Image
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Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 78 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Brady Corbet, Elisabeth Shue, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
  • Summary: Based on the acclaimed novel by Scott Heim, Mysterious Skin explores the hearts and minds of two very different boys who come to find the key to their future happiness lies in the exorcism of their collective demons. (Tartan Films)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    This thoughtful, troubling drama is leagues above the sensationalistic stuff Araki peddled in earlier films.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    80
    A warped, but beautiful and strangely hopeful, coming-of-age tale.
  3. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Don R. Lewis
    60
    By the end of Mysterious Skin, I felt physically exhausted but I also felt satisfied at the way it all falls into place.
  4. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Bill White
    25
    Had Araki chosen to illuminate, rather than exploit, the traumatic aftermath of child molestation, his wallow in the horrors of Mysterious Skin might have had a purpose. As it stands, his film is just another trashy look at America as the land of imbecilic perverts.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 39
  3. Negative: 4 out of 39
  1. itsmybodysplan
    10
    People can't face the truth. Araki didn't create the alien idea. It is 0% fictional. Maybe the most incredible story of the last 10 years. The movie is perfect on itself.… Expand
  2. Tss5078
    8
    Mysterious Skin is the story of two boys and an event one summer, that changed their lives forever. Both had different reactions to it and both had their whole lives consumed by it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Neil, and does an outstanding job. Neil is a male prostitute, cold and heartless on the outside, but lonely and miserable on the inside. JGL does a great job of portraying both to the audience. Be warned thou, this is one graphic film, not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of raw scenes featuring Neil, in fact, I don't think I've ever seen someone get undressed as many times in one movie as JGL does in this one. As for the film, it starts out strong, then in the middle, it seems like your typical, weird, indie flick. Don't turn it off just yet, because it gets better and better, building up to one of the strongest endings I've seen in a long time. This isn't something that hasn't been done before, but a combination of a great cast, top notch acting, and a brutally graphic depiction of events, makes it unique and something that you're going to want to see.… Expand
  3. Matt
    6
    Well-acted and shot, if not the most involving movie experience. Ian M is spot on
  4. NolanD.
    1
    I was furious watching this movie, not because of the content but because of the treatment of the content. It's one of the most delicate subjects, if not THE most delicate subject, and this director went at it like a bull in a china shop, and then in an interview claims he's not trying to shock anyone, which is such utter @#$!. I agree with Matt A., and I truly don't know what to make of the general response that this movie has recieved.… Expand

See all 39 User Reviews

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