Mysterious Skin

“And I thought of all the grief and sadness and fucked up suffering in the world, and it made me want to escape. I wished with all my heart that we could just leave this world behind.” Let’s just say going into this I thought this was a movie all about aliens and UFOs… I’ve been accustomed to Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing more light-hearted roles, so seeing him in a much more dark and complex role was incredibly interesting. His ability to convey the confusion and pain while simultaneously being the defiant teen is outstanding. Seriously, he blew me away! I ADORE the way the narrative is constructed. The way the lives of Neil and Brian are intertwined helps distinguish their distinct but interconnected paths. Brian’s quiet journey of discovering his repressed memories contrasts starkly with Neil’s outward and chaotic lifestyle.  Araki’s direction is on POINT, ensuring that the balance between the harrowing subject matter and the moments of beauty is just right. I also think the use of the flashbacks was effective in gradually revealing the boys’ shared trauma without overwhelming the audience (even though there are times where it’s definitely hard to watch). I haven’t been able to get certain scenes and thoughts about this movie out of my head. It’s like Mr. Wriggles from Late Night w the Devil has gotten into my brain and has made himself at home. This one hit. And when I say it hit I mean it really fucking HIT. This one’s gonna linger!!!