I just read an interview with Araki where he explains that they had a whole separate script for the kids and that it is the magic of angles and editing that allows them to tell their stories without traumatizing the child actors. Greg said he wasn’t about to make a movie about childhood trauma by traumatizing children. I love it that the kids had their own fun safe experience making a movie and the adults in their lives knew what the actual intent was but the filmmakers were committed to not making the kids act out those scenes. Maybe  now 20 years later they have seen the film and can appreciate their contributions without having any traumatic memories related to the experience.

This movie was the best depiction of SA I’ve ever seen in a film. As someone who’ve been through a traumatic experience like this aswell.. it was super triggering yet powerful.

One can’t forget, and one can’t remember

I was abused at 10, 11, 12, 13. All by the same person and then someone else at 10, someone who was supposed to be close, same with the other times. This movie felt so accurate to how I felt, I can’t remember a lot of it, but at the same time it makes me the person I am, this movie is absolutely beautiful, and the best movie to describe how sexual abuse feels in different perspectives, I couldn’t cry somehow, I just stared at the screen as the scenes went by, completely focused, because I felt it all.

Finished this movie yesterday night, was just bored and scrolling through my movie board on Pinterest  and decided to watch it. I wasn’t prepared at all. I sat silently throughout the film not being able to pause it or even move at all. The only thing I could feel was disgust and sickness. Once the movie was over and the credits started playing I just cried. The monologue at the end also just broke me. In the end of the day we might be adults but things from our childhood, things we can’t possibly control shape our lives. This is a real story for so many people of so many different ages and backgrounds.

The way they filmed the movie and how raw it was, in my opinion was exceptional, I don’t think it can really be done again in our day and age.

I hope everyone that sees this comment is doing ok .Sending love to you all ❤

I just want to say, your voice is lovely and so soft, like a cashmere sweater. Your gentle delivery makes remembering this brutal film less devastating. That is all.

i always felt weird for describing this movie as beautiful...but it is...but it's also very haunting...

Excellent analysis, very thoughtful. A deeply underrated movie which deserves more attention than it received at its initial release.

And has the beautiful, talented and amazing Michelle Tracktemberg 😢

Thank you for discussing this! This was one of the first Greg Araki movies I ever saw, and I watched it in middle school with my best friend. It has always been one of my favorite films of all time. In my opinion, the way the subject matter was handled was very special. I was always fascinated by the characters and how they dealt with trauma. The ending has remained particularly memorable for me. The two main characters, who are essentially strangers, formed a strange yet heartbreaking bond over a shared traumatic event. It was especially disheartening because I became so attached to them and just wanted to see them be happy. The worst part is that the coach got away with his actions, and this kind of situation is all too common. He moved on while those poor kids are left to deal with the aftermath of what happened to them.

watching this movie brought back memories but its one of my favorites. its comforting in a way seeing myself in brian and neil and just having a piece of media that captures the feeling so well.

I’ve only seen this movie once, years ago, and it destroyed me. It’s visceral and beautiful and so tragic. Absolutely brilliant film.

It's an amazing film that deserves more credit. Is about growing up for boys who were abused by a predator and how this experience, even though they are not conscient of the damage, marks their adolescese and how they deal with a trauma that nobody else understands.  The ones watching this already watched Misterious Skin. I will say tjis is the counterpart of 13.

Beautiful Recap, i remember i was visually speechless, my heart was racing and body sweating while watching the ending. the way it all added up to the end. the way Brian put his head on Neil knowing there the only people to understand each other in such deeply unsettling trauma. i never ball my eyes out to film, but this one here i was Bawling and woke up trauma I've possibly never recovered. Thank You

I LOVE Mysterious Skin!
I watch this on repeat...it's so good.
It. Is. SO. Good.
  Michelle Trachtenburg😢💔    
You have to REALLY disconnect from it emotionally in order to watch...
But it was good.

I just discovered this channel.

I went with my friend to see this it really upset him I appreciated the film but it didn’t hit me emotionally as much as my friend he vowed to never watch it again. It still remains impressive to me to this day.

I loved this movie. Late 90s/early 00s had some fantastic (but dark) indie films. Great time for filmmakers.

Subbed. ❤

I saw this movie for the first time a few days ago and I've been unable to stop thinking about it & watching it. I must've listened to the movie about 5 times and watched it at least 3, it hits really close to home for me and I think it portrays abuse and the aftermaths of it wonderfully, the ending wraps up the movie so nicely and it makes me feel whole almost. It's such a sweet ending I feel, I have so many strong feelings about this film, cannot wait to read the book.

For a very long time I wanted to watch this movie, but for some reason I kept putting it off. I think it's because I watched the movie trailer several times and I knew it would be a heart -breaker. I've always been a huge fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is one awesome actor. I don't recall him ever making a bad movie. This movie had a great cast. So, moving on I decided to watch the movie tonight and I'm so glad I finally did. It's a tragic movie but still an excellent movie. What happens to these boys happens all the time in society. It is one of the saddest movies I've watched in years. I didn't cry until the very end when Brian finally found out what he always wanted to know. Why was he passing out and having all of those nosebleeds. It all came together when both boys met near the end. Neil even apologizes to Brian for his own actions the night he was molested, but Neil was a kid himself. He didn't know any different because his Coach convinced him that having sex with him was okay. Only the Coach is who to blame. I loved the way Neil takes Brian to the Coaches home where the molesting took place. The last couple of minutes of the movie is where I really became emotional. While Neil was explaining to Brian about everything that happened that night he allowed Brian to rest his head on his shoulder and then his lap comforting him while he stroked his hair.