By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Gay conversion camp is so fucked! I knew that going in to this flick. When perpetuated on adults it’s fraud. When perpetuated on children it’s abuse.
BOY ERASED (2018) is the story of one boy who was forced into this crazy bullshit. Jared (Lucas Hedges) is like Dusty Springfield’s favorite boy-toy. He’s the son of a Preacher Man. Marshall (Russell Crowe) is a reverend who believes being a homosexual is a sin that needs to be corrected. I hate organized religion so very much. It sucks because church on the surface could be cool. You hang out with a bunch of people who seemingly want to do the right thing and are chilling on a Sunday morning. You can often get punch and a pastry after the sermon. I did the church gig for many a years as a child and frequented many different ones within the Christian faith.It’s not my thing – not my thing at all. That’s because underneath the surface of niceties often lies judgement, condemnation and a bunch of self-righteous assholes.
Marshall and his submissive wife Nancy (Nicole Kidman) decide that the best thing for their son is to save his soul by praying the gay away. Now Nancy in her heart-of-hearts knows this doesn’t work, but she silences that voice to be a good little Stepford Wife. Damn her for that. When a masc is being irrational in a hetero relationship, the fem has to take the reigns – especially when it’s in regards to protecting a child.
Sadly, no one speaks up for Jared and instead he’s sent to this horrible anti-gay camp to fix homosexual kids. Victor Sykes (Joel Edgerton) runs this terrible insane bullshit. The kids have zero autonomy. They can’t journal without the counselors reading it. They can’t make phone calls. They can’t show affection for their fellow prisoners. Sykes has zero training in the field of psychology and no degrees for his work. He’s a quack who is destroying countless lives.
The man this character was based on is John J. Smid. He eventually abandoned the bullshit conversion therapy and married his boyfriend Larry – and thank God for that. At least, one less person is pedaling this fucktard philosophy.
Poor Jared doesn’t want to let anyone down. He goes along with everything and tries to push his feelings down. He tries to repress who he is. He dates a pretty girl and makes out with her in the car, but just can’t. There’s a good reason he can’t. He’s FUCKING gay! Do you hear that Marshall and Nancy? Your kid is gay! Stop being abusive assholes and deal with it!
Now, I’m being harsh on Marshall and Nancy, I know. They did this out of love and because they were raised to think this was right. I get it, but come on. I can’t muster too much sympathy for them. I think I have more animosity than Jared showed. He was compassionate and even under duress wouldn’t express hatred for Marshall – not because he was hiding it, but rather he really didn’t have any. I’m not as forgiving. There were times that Jared was sent back to that place long after his parents should have pulled him.
At one point, he is sexually assaulted by a boy he likes. He wasn’t the first to be assaulted by him either. If being raped wasn’t tragic enough, later scumbag Victor tries to imply he wanted it. When Jared is on stage confessing his sins, he OBVIOUSLY doesn’t mention the assault. Vic does! Jared explains how that wasn’t his crime and Vic acts as though it is. Vic is a fucking asshole. Fuck Victor Sykes. Fuck him hard.
Thankfully, Jared does encounter real affection from someone who wants nothing in return. A sexy fem boy from college allows him to crash at his place. They cuddle and hold hands, but that’s it. Once again during confession Vic doesn’t believe Jared that he only cuddled. He demands to know more – probably because he wants to jerk off over the details later. Fuck Victor Sykes.
Jared does get out of that shithole and Nancy at least grows a set. She takes control and despite Marshall demanding Jared go back, she stands her ground. Finally, some goddamn maternal instinct kicks in! What do you want? Seriously, someone needed to go to these people and be like – what do you want – a dead closeted son or a happy gay son because it’s going to be one or the other. It takes Marshall a bit longer to evolve because religion fucks with people.
I can’t suggest this film enough. The acting is fabulous. I’m a Russell Crowe fan by nature. I’ve long forgiven him for the train wreck that was LES MISERABLES (2012). Here, he was fabulous. Though I was very angry with the character and unsympathetic to his plight, Crowe brought his A game. The struggles within Marshall were expertly conveyed, I just can’t wrap my head or heart around the mindset.
Nicole Kidman, as always is brilliant. She sort of reminded me of a tamed down Tammy Faye Bakker. She portrayed Nancy as the typical southern Baptist Preacher’s Wife who stands by her man and her family. That said when she realizes the depth of her crimes and what she put Jared thru, Kidman kills it on showing her regret. When Nancy yells at Victor and then at herself, it hits hard. That’s the moment, I cared for Nancy. I was still angry for the way she handled the situation, but Kidman made certain to express the regret and with it earns forgiveness for Nancy.
Joel Edgerton who both wrote the screenplay and directed the film, also killed it as the anti-gay scumbag. Typically, I totally crush on him. When he was in THE GIFT (2015) portraying a psycho harassing Jason Bateman’s character, I was all over it. Here, I wanted to punch him in his face. I honestly thought he was portraying a different anti-gay conversion dude. I thought he was supposed to be that asshole Joseph Nicolosi (REST IN PIECES) as he had the same sort of style, but I was wrong. I guess all gay conversion scumbags just get their hair done at the same place and get their clothes at the same store. They should try different places.
Lastly, Lucas Hedges was fabulous. From moment one I was on Jared’s side and just wanted him safe and away from that hellhole. Hedges made certain we knew the inner conflict and turmoil Jared was feeling even when the words he said were contrary. Even as Jared would say he was doing well, the pain was crystal clear. This was no easy role, but Hedges perfected it.
I can’t suggest this one enough. It’s heavy, but it’s a must-see.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
