Gregg Araki, the director behind the 21-year-old queer classic 'Mysterious Skin,' has breathed new life into his iconic film. Utilizing a post-production tool called DaVinci Resolve, Araki was able to meticulously restore and improve upon the movie, bringing it up to modern standards while remaining faithful to its original intent.
The decision to revisit the restoration process comes 21 years after 'Mysterious Skin' first premiered. This time around, Araki had unprecedented access to advanced digital tools that allowed him to manipulate footage in ways previously impossible on a limited micro-budget. The result is a visually stunning film that showcases the potential of these new technologies.
Araki's approach was meticulous and artistic. He worked closely with Beau Genot, who handled post-production on the original film, to ensure a cohesive look throughout. This attention to detail paid off, as every shot has been meticulously improved upon. The director himself admitted to manipulating every single shot in the movie.
One of the most notable improvements is the opening credits sequence, which previously featured distracting optical printing effects due to its use of 35mm film. Araki re-created the entire sequence using digital text, revealing hidden areas on the frame that had never been seen before. This allowed him to refine the look and feel of the film, bringing it in line with his original vision.
Furthermore, Araki took advantage of DaVinci Resolve's advanced color correction capabilities, creating a visually striking film with richer, more vivid colors. This approach reinforced the candy-bright sense of childhood present in certain scenes, while dialling back the intensity for others to match the tone of the scene.
The director views his restoration process as an exercise in fulfilling his original intent rather than betraying it. In contrast to filmmakers who alter their work upon re-release, Araki aimed to correct limitations inherent to 35mm film, showcasing the capabilities of digital tools.
Ultimately, Araki's meticulous approach has resulted in a stunning 'Mysterious Skin' that feels both modern and true to its roots. With the support of Strand Releasing and MK2 Films, the restored film is set for a national theatrical release in 2026, accompanied by international sales and releases.
The decision to revisit the restoration process comes 21 years after 'Mysterious Skin' first premiered. This time around, Araki had unprecedented access to advanced digital tools that allowed him to manipulate footage in ways previously impossible on a limited micro-budget. The result is a visually stunning film that showcases the potential of these new technologies.
Araki's approach was meticulous and artistic. He worked closely with Beau Genot, who handled post-production on the original film, to ensure a cohesive look throughout. This attention to detail paid off, as every shot has been meticulously improved upon. The director himself admitted to manipulating every single shot in the movie.
One of the most notable improvements is the opening credits sequence, which previously featured distracting optical printing effects due to its use of 35mm film. Araki re-created the entire sequence using digital text, revealing hidden areas on the frame that had never been seen before. This allowed him to refine the look and feel of the film, bringing it in line with his original vision.
Furthermore, Araki took advantage of DaVinci Resolve's advanced color correction capabilities, creating a visually striking film with richer, more vivid colors. This approach reinforced the candy-bright sense of childhood present in certain scenes, while dialling back the intensity for others to match the tone of the scene.
The director views his restoration process as an exercise in fulfilling his original intent rather than betraying it. In contrast to filmmakers who alter their work upon re-release, Araki aimed to correct limitations inherent to 35mm film, showcasing the capabilities of digital tools.
Ultimately, Araki's meticulous approach has resulted in a stunning 'Mysterious Skin' that feels both modern and true to its roots. With the support of Strand Releasing and MK2 Films, the restored film is set for a national theatrical release in 2026, accompanied by international sales and releases.
He's really pushed the boundaries with DaVinci Resolve, bringing new life to the film without losing its original vibe. The attention to detail is insane, and I'm especially stoked about the updated opening credits sequence - it's like getting to see the whole frame for the first time 
. Plus, the color correction is giving me major 90s vibes 
. It's all about refining the look while staying true to Araki's vision. Can't wait to catch this on the big screen in 2026! 
and i love that he played around with those optical printing effects in the opening credits, it's like he revealed a secret world within the frame 
but what really gets me is how much care and attention went into the restoration process - it's clear he wanted to bring this film back to life without changing its essence, you know? 
. The way he used DaVinci Resolve to bring out those hidden areas on the frame is straight fire 
. And I love how he didn't try to change the tone of the film at all – it's still got that same weird, wonderful vibe that made it a classic in the first place. Plus, it's awesome that he was able to work with Beau Genot again and maintain that cohesive look throughout the whole thing 
. I'm hyped for its release next year!
The attention to detail is insane, every shot has been improved upon and it shows in the end result. I think Araki's approach is really refreshing, focusing on correcting limitations of 35mm film rather than altering his original intent. It's like he's given the film a whole new lease on life 
!
And can we talk about that opening credits sequence? The optical printing effects were so distracting in the past 
The color correction on this one is NEXT LEVEL 
