Gregg Araki
Continuing his work with New Queer Cinema, Gregg Araki adapts the work of Scott Heim to present the two possible reactions a child can have to molestation and paedophilia. Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Chase Ellison (young)) becomes a street hustler in the small town of Hutchinson, obsessed with older men, especially resembling the looks of his molester. Brian (Brady Corbet & George Webster (young)) believes the blank space in his memory, from when he was molested, is filled with a moment of alien abduction.
The man in question, to cause these atrocities, was Neil’s coach, who fed him the love and support his single mother didn’t. In turn, a young Neil convinces Brian to join him in a series of violating sexual activities with the coach, one which included fisting.
After growing up, Brian becomes bewildered about his troubles as a child and aims to seek the boy who appears in his disturbing recurring dreams, to answer his questions.
Finally learning the truth, in the house that was previously owned by the coach, Brian finds comfort in the lap of Neil, and the latter reciprocates.
Mysterious Skin
year 2004
director GREGG ARAKI
director of photography STEVE GAINER
cast BRADY CORBET, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, ELISABETH SHUE and STEVE GAINER
words PRIYESH PATEL
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