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IMDbPro

Mysterious Skin

  • 20042004
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
70K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,059
869
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Mysterious Skin (2004)
Theatrical Trailer from TLA Releasing
Play trailer1:53
1 Video
99+ Photos
Drama

A teenage hustler and a young man obsessed with alien abductions cross paths, together discovering a horrible, liberating truth.A teenage hustler and a young man obsessed with alien abductions cross paths, together discovering a horrible, liberating truth.A teenage hustler and a young man obsessed with alien abductions cross paths, together discovering a horrible, liberating truth.

IMDb RATING
7.6/10
70K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,059
869
  • Director
    • Gregg Araki
  • Writers
    • Gregg Araki(screenplay)
    • Scott Heim(novel)
  • Stars
    • Brady Corbet
    • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Elisabeth Shue
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gregg Araki
  • Writers
    • Gregg Araki(screenplay)
    • Scott Heim(novel)
  • Stars
    • Brady Corbet
    • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Elisabeth Shue
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 270User reviews
    • 151Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos1

    Mysterious Skin
    Trailer 1:53
    Mysterious Skin

    Photos127

    Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison, and Bill Sage in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Michelle Trachtenberg, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Jeffrey Licon in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Lisa Long, Rachael Nastassja Kraft, and George Webster in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Michelle Trachtenberg and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Mary Lynn Rajskub and Brady Corbet in Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Brady Corbet at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Gregg Araki, Brady Corbet, and Scott Heim at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Gregg Araki at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Scott Heim at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Scott Heim at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)
    Brady Corbet at an event for Mysterious Skin (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brady Corbet
    Brady Corbet
    • Brian
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    • Neil
    Elisabeth Shue
    Elisabeth Shue
    • Mrs. McCormick
    Chase Ellison
    Chase Ellison
    • Neil (age 8)
    George Webster
    George Webster
    • Brian (age 8)
    Rachael Nastassja Kraft
    • Deborah (age 12)
    • (as Rachael Kraft)
    Lisa Long
    Lisa Long
    • Mrs. Lackey
    Chris Mulkey
    Chris Mulkey
    • Mr. Lackey
    David Lee Smith
    David Lee Smith
    • Alfred
    Bill Sage
    Bill Sage
    • Coach
    Riley McGuire
    • Wendy (age 11)
    Ryan Stenzel
    • Stephen Zepherelli
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Charlie
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    Michelle Trachtenberg
    • Wendy
    Larry Marko
    • Old man with scar
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    • Avalyn Friesen
    Clover
    • Patches
    Jeffrey Licon
    Jeffrey Licon
    • Eric
    • (as Jeff Licon)
    • Director
      • Gregg Araki
    • Writers
      • Gregg Araki(screenplay)
      • Scott Heim(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gregg Araki said in an NPR interview that he shot all of the scenes with the child actors in such a way that they did not know the sexual context of their abuse scenes, and only during editing did he make the movie appear to show children being abused or witnessing abuse.
    • Goofs
      There is a Metallica "St. Anger" sticker (with the "St." torn off) on the right rear fender of Eric's Gremlin in 1991. "St. Anger" wasn't released until 2003.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Neil: [narration voice-over] And as we sat there listening to the carolers, I wanted to tell Brian it was over now and everything would be okay. But that was a lie, plus, I couldn't speak anyway. I wish there was some way for us to go back and undo the past. But there wasn't. There was nothing we could do. So I just stayed silent and trying to telepathically communicate how sorry I was about what had happened. 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. Rise like two angels in the night and magically... disappear.

    • Crazy credits
      The movie title is displayed at the start of the film (at 0:01:56) spaced out as M-YS-TERIOUS S-K-I-N.
    • Alternate versions
      The 2005 film reviews generally list a 99 minute run-time. The British Board of Film Classification, bbfc.co.uk, rated the uncut 105m 19s film as 18 on 5/20/2005. The 3/20/2006 "Unrated Director's Edition" Strand Releasing DVD has a 104m 59s run-time, but its case lists a 99m length; it is also anamorphic 853x479 pixels format (1.78:1 aspect) but the case lists Letterboxed. The Internet Movie Database technical specifications list a 107 min Sundance Channel Library Print, but on Sundance.com Sundance TV lists a 105 minutes run-time.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Lords of Dogtown/Mysterious Skin/Rock School/Batman Begins (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Golden Hair
      Written by Syd Barrett

      Performed by Slowdive

      Courtesy of SINE a division of Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Limited

      Used by permission of BMG Music Publishing International o/b/o Lupus Music Company Ltd.

    User reviews270

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Powerful, Disturbing, Brave--Hat's off to Greg Araki, the cast and Scott Heim
    Just got back from the Sundance Film Festival. I am still processing this powerful movie and the stunning reminder of the cost some of life's choices bring to our lives. I was amazed at the brutal honesty of this story. While I cannot say enough about the acting, Brady Corbet's subtle portrayal of Brian should be honored and remembered for a very long time. Bravo to all involved with this movie.

    Before seeing this movie I could only remember that the novel, Mysterious Skin, had been disturbing. Greg Araki has made this novel into something that cuts emotionally but could also have a great impact in how people learn to deal with a painful past and the defenses they have built up to protect potentially devastating secrets.

    Anyone who wants a movie to move them, to make them feel and to think should do everything they can to make sure they do not miss Mysterious Skin
    helpful•195
    70
    • robkillian
    • Feb 1, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 24, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Netherlands
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tenin Gizemi
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Antidote Films (I)
      • Desperate Pictures
      • Fortissimo Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $713,240
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $17,425
      • May 8, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,532,932
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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