Mysterious Skin

AFS Cinema is bringing back Mysterious Skin for a few screenings this summer, starting Saturday, August 29. It's a new 4K restoration of Gregg Araki's 2004 drama, which runs 107 minutes.

Adapted from the novel by Scott Heim, the story follows two boys whose traumatic experiences during one summer send them down radically different paths. Brian becomes convinced he was abducted by aliens and spends his life obsessed with uncovering his memories; Neil turns to hustling. Years later, Brian seeks Neil out, hoping he holds the key to unlocking the past. The film deals frankly with childhood sexual abuse and the scars it leaves behind—a subject that makes it an unconventional comfort watch.

It was a departure for Araki, whose work is usually light and poppy. Critics called it psychologically rich, emotionally haunting, and technically superior to anything he'd done before, with The New York Times describing it as infused with remarkable tenderness and beauty. The cast features a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet, with Michelle Trachtenberg and Elisabeth Shue in supporting roles.

There are three screenings to choose from: Saturday, August 29 at 6:30 PM; Sunday, August 30 at 4:10 PM; and Wednesday, September 2 at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for evening shows and $12 for matinees, which are available Monday through Friday for shows before 5 PM. AFS MAKE & WATCH members get $4 off, and LOVE & Impact Circle members get in free. There are also discounts for AISD educators and local high school and college students at the box office with a valid school ID. You can find the cinema at 6406 N I-35 Suite 3100, Austin, TX 78752.