‘Boy Erased’ (2018) Review:

As an Australian, and a member of the LGBQT communty,  this movie made me beam with pride. As it had a large Australian cast and was directed by Joel Edgerton, a filmaker I have admired for quite a while now. The story explored in ‘Boy Erased’ makes this even more of an achievement. It is no easy story to tell, and it was done so raw and realistically, I walked out very happy and satisfied.

I was thoroughly impressed with a lot of the cinematography in this film. The shots were constantly well crafted and created a very dull atmosphere, which suited the story perfectly. The colours were extremely symbolic, a lot of red being shown to symbolise hell and then light to contrast as heaven. This refers strongly back to the notion of “gay people going to hell” and “being straight sends you to heaven.”

Speaking of this notion, a part of the story I found very interesting was the battle we saw Jared have with wanting to be loved by his parents but also wanting to love the same sex. This war occurring in his brain is a war that not only religious LGBQT people go through, but all LGBQT members do. The way it was explored was amazing, and Edgerton took great care in making sure he did it right. Some gay coming-of-age films such as ‘Blue Is The Warmest Colour’ and ‘Call Me By Your Name’ have stirred up some debate in the LGBQT community as they were both over-sexualised. The main focus of these films was the “sexual coming-of-age” aspect, and less of the actual “coming-of-age.” Whereas ‘Boy Erased’ was about Jared accepting himself and growing into the man he wanted to be., even with the all of the odds against him. Which is something all LGBQT members have to go through.

“I love God, but I also love my son,” was a line of dialogue spoken by Nicole Kidman that had me in tears. Take into consideration this was all a true story, it helped me feel connected to all these characters. So the fact that Jared’s Mother in real life, portrayed by Kidman in the film, accepted her son and believed the literal hell he was going through at the conversion program, will give hope to a lot of young people watching the film also struggling with the whole “coming out” process. In LGBQT films it is so important for representation of parents who are loving and accepting, this was also well done in ‘Love, Simon’ (2018).

Recently, LGBQT films have started to get it right. Showing the struggles in a raw and realistic way, not over-sexualising the community, and showing parents that can put aside their differences and love their child for who they are. These are just some of the notions that we need more and more of in these kinds of films, and I am proud to say that Joel Edgerton nailed it. The story is compelling but also comforting, and I highly recommend seeing this one before it leaves your local cinemas.