For all its focus on sexuality and abuse, the film’s strongest points come in portraying teen angst in a real manner, better than even Stand By Me, as well as the loneliness children feel in small towns, especially the pointless frustration that talentless youths feel. This is because, for all the idolatry bestowed upon him by the three other teens - Wendy, Eric, and Brian - the fact is that Neil is utterly run of the mill and forgettable. And, at some level, he knows this, and reviles the others for their worship. The film has moments that evoke the best in films like My Dog Skip, My Life As A Dog, The Curse Of The Cat People, and Godzilla’s Revenge, all terrific films that deal with often overlooked aspects of childhood. The film suffered many slings along the road to production, from bad reviews to attempts at censorship and banning and, at a cost of $10 million, made less than a tenth of that in box office, according to online sources. It’s too bad, because films like this, despite their flaws, should be made in Hollywood, not by self-marginalized directors like Araki (who seems to revel in gay and sexually bizarre subcultural themes).
The DVD, put out by Tartan Video, has the original theatrical trailer, trailers for other films, a reading of the source novel by the two male leads, and a film commentary by the director, Araki, and both male leads, Gordon-Levitt and Corbet. The commentary is actually quite good, especially compared to most actor-director commentaries. It is intelligent, witty, and to the point. Perhaps the only downside is Gordon-Levitt’s relentless boner and rhapsodizing about the beauty (or "hotness") of Michelle Trachtenberg whenever she is onscreen.
Mysterious Skin is a film that, upon rewatch, and even just after letting it settle in, will inevitably leave one wanting for more, but it does show that Araki is a filmmaker with potential, mostly via the screenplay aspect of the film, although Steve Gainer’s cinematography shows potential. It is not a film that, like those of Michelangelo Antonioni or Akira Kurosawa, will dazzle you, but it will leave something within, and that’s all too rare these days. If Araki can rein in his worst tendencies (such as the belief that sex is easy for anyone to get, including nerds like Brian and Avalyn, and that there are a plethora of buff gay men willing to pay for anonymous sex with strangers), which likely emanate from his own unresolved sexual issues, his art can soar. Here’s hoping things work out, for him and us.
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