Review of Boy Erased (2018) by James T — 16 Nov 2018

I am sad to say that I was very disappointed in the film. While the acting is solid, the overall journey leaves a lot to be desired. There is no character development for supporting cast... so many of the things that happen, happen "off screen" leaving a draft-like script that leaves a lot of questions.

Lines like, "play along... you dont want to see what will happen if you don't..." get downright irritating. For, if you are going to make a movie about gay conversion therapy and the effects it has then truly dive into the horrors of it all and show it!!! The entire film sorta just tiptoes through the subject matter.

I've seen short films and music videos that presented a more engaging picture on the subject. As big of a nicole kidman fan as I am, I was simply even bored by her. She had very little to work with overall.

You keep waiting for her big scene and it just never comes. Interesting scenes are rushed and over in a blink... while the monotonous scenes meander at a slightly faster than glacial pace. Even when they try to deliver the scene to bring on the waterworks.

.. there was nothing. Before you can muster any feeling, as the resulting event was seen a mile away, the film once again jumps. It is all so fragmented. It is in no way a "bad" movie. But it does not deserve the acclaim it is receiving.

It all felt like some after school special or big tv movie of the week rather than an awards season film contender. Under a different director and a better script, this could have been so much better.

The subject matter alone deserves a better representation to make people aware of these horrible practices. For, I hate to say it... and I have already heard it from other viewers, but there is some attitude of "what the hell was so bad? One boy got thumped with a bible and they were forced to tell lies to advance the.

Selves in the program...?" In reality, there is a lot more to it than that... but this film fails to expose it. :(.