MovieChat Forums > Mysterious Skin (2005) Discussion > Movie/Book Comparison

Movie/Book Comparison

posted 11 years ago by rodcenray
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I'm a fan of both the book and movie of Mysterious Skin and although the movie does leave out some scenes depicted in the book I have to give the movie props for adding something that wasn't in the book. In the book Wendy and Eric never meet. Yeah, they know of each other's existence but they really never knew each other. In the movie, however, they do know each other and it creates an amazing scene that depicts Neil beautifully when Wendy warns Eric about Neil by saying, "...where normal people have a heart Neil McCormick has a bottomless black hole if you don't watch out you can fall in and get lost forever." I think that line really added some depth and made Wendy and Eric being friends a good thing that actually added to the story. Both the book and movie are amazing and truly heartbreaking. Props to Scott Heim for writing the book and Gregg Araki for making it into a motion picture!

[–] lavender_pixie 11 years ago

Yes! I'm 3/4 into the book as we speak - far enough to say without a doubt that Gregg made an excellent adaptation. The scene you're referring to makes total sense from a narrative standpoint because it contrasts Eric's distant infatuation with Neil vs. Wendy's knowing him so deeply/understanding his darkness.

There are a number of differences, but I really think Gregg's changes were tasteful and made for a better movie, while still "getting the main points across," as Avalyn would say. ;)