Mysterious Skin

It really gets under your skin. Oh yes it does. Here's what you will not expect from this film. You will not expect a happy ending. You will not expect everything working out for our main characters because real life just doesn't work that way. You will not expect to stay calm throughout the entire film. You will not feel good after this film because it's not something that you watch to escape 2 hours of your life for.

What you can expect from this film. You will look at some of your friends in a different light. If you have suffered similar experiences as them, you know that you are not alone. You will be disturbed. Greatly disturbed. By many shocking scenes of b-m fellatio and violence.

What's amazing about Mysterious Skin is that it's a no holds barred look at pedophiles and their victims. More so of their victims. Different people choose different paths for their lives after episodes with pedophiles and it's really quite an interesting and honest outlook into how children choose to cope with their encounters. Some embrace their newfound lifestyle as the norm and act upon it with the assurance of the adults (it's ok. it's ok. this is what we do when we want to show someone we love them very much) Some can force themselves to totally block out the memories in an attempt to lead their lives normally.

The content here really hits home to me because I do have a few army friends that turned to the other side thanks to childhood meetings with such pedophiles. It might be a one-off experience but it resulted in their discovering of their sexuality a little differently. Watching this was like understanding how it might be possible. And knowing the truth really hurts. There is no holding back on the brutality of abuse these children go through and it kinda made me think of the email regarding the AWARE research. Quite applicable. But too bad the dateline's over.

Overall if one wants to check out something different and you dare to experiment the unusual, do try this film out. Not for the faint of heart or weak stomached, but if you survive the experience, you'll learn things. And you just might feel the same way as I did when the credits rolled. Too awestruck to move from my seat.

I dare ya.