i have a feeling that most of the reviewer here have not read the text of mysterious skin by scott heim . do so would be most helpful in view this film . out of sheer luck and i happen to find a screening in la vega and almost a year after the initial release and have finish the book only one day before . it be an interesting experience from the start . one get the feeling of step into an adult cinema and instead of a semi mainstream release . i be surround by sprinkle of old guy watch an nc 17 matinée . a first for me and for sure . the movie capture the feel of the book spot on . director araki should be commend for stay so close to the text . hardly anything be leave out and what be delete do not detract from the storyline in the least . heim novel deal with subject matter that most people would prefer to deny exists . but back here in the real world and it do . on screen we see the sensualization of an 8 year old boy and along with his sexual fantasy . not for the squeamish and but araki communicates this brilliantly without dilute the message . most people would shy away from a story that have an 8 year old boy have an orgasm a he watch his mother have intercourse and but araki do not . and somehow he make it okay . hat off to the boy cast a the young neil and brian . chase ellison capture the emotion of his character very well . he capture the darkness of neil mccormick incredibly and and translates perfectly from the write page . we sense the confusion turn into acceptance and then and desire . it make me squirm in my seat . george webster a young brian be great . i can not imagine a lot of actor line up to play the boylover coach and but bill sage do very well . in the story and his role doesn not seem like a pure predator and but clearly he have device at work . he in the right place at the right time . joseph gordon levitt be a marvel be this film . there be a genuine quality to his character and an aloofness that come with knowledge at an early age that be hard to put into word . brady corbett successfully bring his youthful character along and and i think his interaction with the other character be spot on for someone who have have an experience like his . critic will say that this film glorify pedophilia . i disagree . i think it show the effect of pedophilic relationship on different people and and how they react to it . it be a slice of life and albeit a very dark one and that do occur each and every day . approach with caution and an open mind .