Mysterious Skin (2005)

Original Theatrical Director's Cut DVD

Uttterly unflinching, Gregg Araki's coming-of-age film hews closely to Scott Heim's heartwrenching novella of tortured sexual awakening. Potent in its theatrical form, Mysterious Skin doesn't lose the cinematic magic that made it a critical darling on DVD.

The highlight: Joseph Gordon-Levitt winning performance as Neil McCormick, an emotionally-tormented adolescent hustler whose faux nonchalance fools everyone - his male customers included - save those closest to him; his path crosses with Brian Lackey (Brady Corbet), a teen also trying to make sense of the alien abduction flashbacks which haunt him.

Mysterious Skin is a kaleidoscope of emotions, of undiscovered territories and shocking epiphanies. At times cruel (Neil's violent rape), at times darkly funny (Brian's adoration of all things-extraterrestrial), Araki's success lies in an unerring ability to sift through the pages of Heim's work and bring the book's emotional gravitas to the screen.

Few perks included: no making-of docs or extensive cast interviews. What is here though is pretty cool: a fun audio commentary with Araki, Gordon-Levitt and Corbet revealing little tidbits - a camera catching fire, Gordon-Levitt's smoking preparations, differences between the book and film - and an unexpected book reading by its stars. For such a potent movie, I was hoping for more behind-the-scenes moments, maybe even interviews with Scott Heim itself.

Gregg Araki's film adaptation of Scott Heim's novella finally hits DVD in a no-frills package, but no matter: One of the year's best films speaks for itself.