MovieChat Forums > Mysterious Skin (2005) Discussion > Did any victims/survivors watch this?

Did any victims/survivors watch this?

posted 12 years ago by bluebutterfly199280
36 replies | jump to latest

I was sexually taken advantage of as a child for about 6-7 years by a close relative. I had always heard that this film is one of JGL's best works. I read about the film's story on Wiki and was stunned to find out that it deals with sexual abuse and it made me hesitant to watch the film. But, I felt as though I should watch it.

Anyway, just finished watching it and I am exhausted from crying so much. I found every scene sad and disturbing but when Neil encountered with that man who raped him, I lost it. I was well aware of the rape scene after reading about the film and that the boys were both sexually abused, but it just sucks to see someone else going through it-even if they are actors and actresses.

I can relate to both of the boys when it comes to not telling anyone about it b/c people just prefer not to acknowledge this.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] cthulhulurks 12 years ago

Do you think Neil lives in denial of that he's a victim so that somehow he'd still be the one in control in his own psyche?

The movie's rather ambiguous, it leaves the viewer to decide whether Neil is a victim or not. According to a theory, child's a full blown sexual creature.

my vote history:
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur13767631/ratings

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[–] arkadchamp 12 years ago

Well bro I've just finished watching this and Im feeling as sorry for you as I feel for Brian. Such awful experience in childhood disturbs the whole life,would you mind if I wanna ask you do you feel same insecurity in life as Brian felt in the film? Just out of curiosity Im asking bro,dont take it personal.

[–] ARH 12 years ago

I'm a survivor of childhood sexual (as wells physical, emotional, and emotional) abuse. I watched this a few years ago. I rented it because I liked the Gregg Araki films I had seen previously. I was unaware the it was about abuse. I just thought it was a gay-themed drama. It's very different from Araki's earlier films!

This film is one of the only movies that ever game me nightmaes, and the only one that gave me nightmares as an adult. It really got under my skin. In spite of that, I'm glad I saw it.

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[–] TheCineSinge 11 years ago

I think the abuse I experienced was the reason I sought it out at about the age of 14. It certainly made some sort of resonance with me though I think I was too young to fully grasp it at the time.

I'm now 19 and have just finished re-watching it for the first time in over 5 years and it had a profound effect on me.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] AlmostReal 11 years ago

You're an ignorant insenitive prick

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] dogluver1970 11 years ago

Gee, what an insight! At least I'd be able to handle being abused. If a creepy uncle touched me when I was 5, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't make me gay AND I would simply say "mommy, uncle touched my pee-pee and I didn't like it." and that would be it.

Just when you think you've seen the most ignorant posts on another internet board...

Are you really THAT ignorant/uneducated, or just dumb and super insensitive (though if you're dumb, maybe you don't know how insensitive you're being).

Child molestation (man on boy) doesn't "make (the boy) gay," and often has little to do with sex - it's about power, control and a sick adult seeking unconditional love from someone, and who better than a child to give it?? (they're not stable enough to have healthy relationships with other adults). And by the way, about the same number of men (percentage-wise), who molest boys are heterosexual as they are homosexual. Just like a heterosexual man abusing a young girl isn't considered a "hetero" relationship, as a CHILD cannot give consent to a sexual relationship!!

Ugh, go read a book...

[–] Carriexoc 8 years ago

Well said my friend!

[–] 8 years ago

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