History Film / MysteriousSkin

At eight years of age, Neil [=McCormick=] (portrayed by Chase Ellison as a boy and Creator/JosephGordonLevitt as a teen) discovers he is homosexual, developing an obsession with his mother's boyfriends and the men in her ''Playgirl'' magazines. He develops a crush on his baseball coach (Bill Sage), who takes advantage of this and starts taking special interest in him. One stormy night, an incident happens...

Several years later, a teenage Neil works as a gay hustler. Meanwhile, another young man named Brian Lackey (George Webster as a boy and Brady Corbet as a teen) who is obsessed with [[AlienAbduction alien abduction conspiracy theories]] is trying to piece together his past. He cannot remember the events of several hours in his youth, and he assumes that during this time, aliens had abducted him.

While the film was critically acclaimed, it was extremely controversial for its subject matter. MoralGuardians in Australia attempted to [[BannedInChina have it banned]], on the grounds that it could encourage copycat behavior. However, to the filmmakers' credit, the child actors' welfare was thoroughly looked after by means of separate scripts and being asked to perform innocent actions that would then be edited to appear suggestive.

''Mysterious Skin'' is a 2005 drama film (though produced in 2004) directed by Gregg Araki, who specializes in avant-garde films about homosexual relationships. It is [[FilmOfTheBook based on the novel of the same name]] by Scott Heim.

While the film was critically acclaimed, it was extremely controversial for its subject matter. MoralGuardians in Australia attempted to [[BannedInChina have it banned]], on the grounds that it could encourage copycat behavior. However, to the filmmakers' credit, the child actors' welfare was very thoroughly looked after by means of separate scripts and being asked to perform innocent motions that would be edited to take on a more suggestive appearance.

%% * AwfulTruth: And ''how''.

%% * ComingOutStory: Neil tells his at the beginning.

* WhatNowEnding: [[spoiler:Following a reveal of what really happened to Brian when he was "abducted", the film promptly closes with carolers singing outside while Neil cradles Brian, leaving absolutely no closure on their broken lives.]]

Several years later, Neil has grown up into a teen and has became a gay hustler. Meanwhile, another teen named Brian Lackey (George Webster as a boy and Brady Corbet as a teen) who is obsessed with [[AlienAbduction alien abduction conspiracy theories]] is trying to piece together his past. He cannot remember the events of several hours in his youth, and he assumes that during this time, aliens had abducted him.

* {{Asexual}}: Brian is described as one, but it's unclear whether he would still be repulsed by sex had [[spoiler:he not been raped/molested as a child.]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Neil is reckless and selfish, not to mention incredibly warped and self destructive through no fault of his own, but he does care about his friends and mother and grows to be a better person, also being willing to get an actual job rather than just work in the dangerous position of being a male prostitute. [[spoiler:his comforting of Brian at the end is a prime example]]

* AllGaysArePedophiles: The coach is, but plenty of other gay men are not. The movie also averts the related trope that being molested as a child makes you gay, as Neil mentions having been attracted to men before he even meets the coach (and the coach is able to molest Neil because Neil had a crush on him, also due to him being Neil's type)
* {{Asexual}}: Brian is described as one but it's unclear whether he would still be repulsed by sex had [[spoiler:he not been raped/molested as a child.]]

* PrecisionFStrike: When Brian [[CallingTheOldManOut finally confronts his father]] is the one time he swears in the film.
--> '''Brian:''' I was bleeding! I kept passing out! I wet my FUCKING bed! AND YOU NEVER ASKED WHY!

--> '''Neil:''' I am so FUCKING sick of this little buttcrack of a town!

* LonersAreFreaks: This is portrayed in Brian's personality. Putting aside his horrific earlier experiences, he does seem to be socially awkward even in fairly routine situations, such as his encounter with a librarian.

* OddFriendship: Brian and Avalyn, who commiserate over their shared alien abduction stories (until [[spoiler: she tries to have sex with him]], as well as Brian and Eric, who meet up and become friends when Brian's trying to learn about Eric's friend Neil.