Lou Lumenick from the "New York Post" commented, "Not for the squeamish, but it is a beautifully crafted and thoughtful film that genuinely provokes." Ella Taylor from LA Weekly wrote “A warped, but beautiful and strangely hopeful, coming-of-age tale.” Roger Ebert gave "Mysterious Skin" 3.5 out of a possible 4 stars, describing it as "at once the most harrowing and, strangely, the most touching film I have seen about child abuse." Steven Rhea of "The Philadelphia Inquirer" awarded the film 3 out of 4 stars, stating that "Mysterious Skin" ultimately "manages to deal with its raw, awful subject matter in ways that are both challenging and illuminating." Gordon-Levitt was praised by critics for his performance, and the actor has stated that people on the streets had come up to him to applaud his performance in the film. His portrayal of a teenage hustler inspired director Scott Frank to cast him in "The Lookout" (2007).