"Many Photos" - Boy Erased never feels preachy and chooses character over caricature

THIS week’s true story. Jared (Lucas Hedges) is the 19 year old son of a pastor in a narrow-minded and devoutly religious town, who after a brutal encounter, gets outed.

Without any seeming hesitation, they pack him off to undergo conversion therapy.

Hedges gives a wrenching performance as Jared, the 19-year-old gay son of a pastor in a narrow-minded town

Alamy

Once there, and under the watchful and overbearing command of leader Victor Sykes (played by it’s writer and director Joel Edgerton) the assembled “patients” are forced to undertake a routine of brutal, invasive talks, interrogations and physical education.

In one ridiculously sad scene, boys are taught to stand like men – swaggering with hands on hips – before being ordered to hit a baseball.

Lucas Hedges gives a performance that really wrenches you, especially when attempting to connect with the parents he dearly wants love from.

For their part, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe give fanatically understated and raw takes as parents torn between their faith and love for their child.

Kidman should have received more accolades for this rather than Destroyer.

A terrific, albeit brief cameo from the wonderful Cherry Jones – herself an advocate for Gay rights – really hits you smack between the eyes. I shouted at the screen.

Alamy

Nicole Kidman should have received more accolades for this rather than Destroyer[/caption]

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It could fall into cliche but swerves it, although much of the second act feels repetitive.

Thanks to an absolutely rabble-rabble-rousing final 20 minus and the sympathetic touches from Edgerton and it’s leading cast, ‘Boy Erased’ never feels (excuse the pun) preachy – choosing character over caricature.

A hilarious final screenshot of the “where are they now” nature, tells you everything you need to know about evangelists and homophobes.

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Boy Erased 115 mins (15A)

★★★★☆

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News Photo Boy Erased never feels preachy and chooses character over caricature
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