The movie often cited as the ‘most screwed up’ that viewers have ever seen was released two decades ago, yet it continues to leave a lasting impression on audiences.
While Marley & Me might come to mind for its emotional depth, the film in question delves into far more disturbing territory. It’s worth noting that the emotional impact of Marley & Me is still felt by some, who think about the dog every day.
However, this particular movie has affected viewers in a completely different manner.
The 2004 thriller stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet, focusing on two teenagers who share a bizarre past experience.
Gordon-Levitt portrays Neil, a gay sex worker who recalls a troubling encounter with his former baseball coach. Corbet’s character, Brian, becomes fixated on aliens after experiencing an amnesia blackout, leading him to believe he may have been abducted.
As the story unfolds, Brian discovers clues that could connect Neil to his own experience, prompting a search for him in New York City.
The film, titled Mysterious Skin, boasts high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with an Audience Score of 89 percent and a Tomatometer score of 86 percent.
Described as ‘devastating’, ‘illuminating’, and ‘captivating’, Reddit users have also labeled it as the ‘most screwed up movie’ they’ve ever seen.
One Redditor remarked: “Because unlike torture porn like A Serbian film or Human centipede, it’s distributing because it’s realistic and unflinching in its depiction of abuse and how people react to it.”
“This movie really made me feel uncomfortable,” shared another viewer, while a third person added: “Yep this one is top of my list of brilliant movies I don’t want to watch again.”
One viewer admitted to still thinking about the movie two decades after its release, saying: “I was thinking of this film the other day, but couldn’t remember the name of it for the life of me. Yup, that film definitely sticks with you (well except for the title apparently..)”
Audiences also praised Gordon-Levitt’s performance, with director Gregg Araki noting that the film’s central characters ‘pull you into the story’.
In an interview with Indie Wire, Araki explained: “There’s tough stuff in the film but none of it is gratuitous. None of it is there for any sort of shock value.
“It’s really all about this emotional journey of these two boys.”