Boy Erased
What’s it about?
Jarod is the son of a preacher, but rather than being ‘the only man who could ever reach Aretha Franklin’ he’s instead much more interested in the company of gentlemen. In a misguided plan instigated by his parents, Jarod signs up for gay conversion therapy. It turns out not to be much fun.
What we thought
Dan says: Gay conversion therapy seems like some horror from the fifties, like lynchings and sanitariums. Alas this is still occurring constantly in the USA. A deep fiery religious fervour clouds many minds as to how destructive and ineffective it has been proven to be. It’s this harrowing tale that hasn’t translated effectively to the screen. Side characters seem like plot deliver mechanisms. The stakes do not feel as high as they ought to.
Viewers who connect strongly with the subject matter will have a different experience as there is a competency here but so far as storytelling goes it all turns out to be a little unsatisfying.
