Boy Erased DVD 2019

     This film is based on a memoir by Garrard Conley published in 2016.  Marshall Eamons is a Baptist Preacher and he is married to Nancy.  They have son David and they are worried that he might be gay?  Jared seems well adjusted and happy but he has broken up with his girlfriend after starting college.  Marshall and Nancy send David to a church-supported gay conversion program called Love in Action.  They are hoping this program will “save” their son!!  The Chief therapist Victor Sykes tells the group of young men that their sexuality is a choice influenced by poor parenting?  They need to perform harsh “moral inventories” of themselves and their families.  All of the participants are warned not to tell anyone what is said and done during the therapy sessions.  Nancy has rented a room in a motel for them to stay during the assessment program.  Jared discovers that the therapy has no set end point and he may be required to forgo college and move into an on-campus home nearby.  This all depends on Jared convincing Sykes that he has become straight?

     Marshall and Nancy are very worried about Jared and his future!!  When Nancy learns that Jared wants to come home and that Sykes doesn’t want him to go, she becomes very angry.  As she begins to side with Jared, it causes friction between her and Marshall.  Many of the people involved as leaders of conversion therapy have no education or degrees on this subject.  Also, these psychological or spiritual intervention methods have been shown to be dangerous and they have become discredited practices.  Some of the shaming techniques have caused participants to commit suicide.  Sixteen states have banned conversion therapy but 34 states still allow this practice to continue.  I may have given this film a better review if it had not been so much like The Miseducation of Cameron Post 2018?  3* (This movie is OK) 

      

115 min, Bio, written and directed by Joel Edgerton with Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Madelyn Clilne, Victor McCay, David Joseph Craig, Troye, Sivan, Emily Hinkler, Devin Michael, Matt Burke, Lindsey Moser, Jesse LaTourette, Britton Sear, David Ditmore, William Ngo.

Note:  Imdb 7 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian3* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 69 out of 100 with 48 critics 7.1 out of 10 with 79 user scores, EmpireOnline 3*out of 5* Ben Travis, Independent 3* out of 5* Geoffrey Macnab, Washington Post 2 ½* out of 4* Mark Jenkins, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 260 reviews.

Special Note:  Three out of the four top-billed cast are Australian or Kiwi.  Five of the other cast members are Australian, two others are British and two are French or French-Canadian.  Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe have been long time friends and this is the first film with them working together.  Garrard Conley, the author,  appears as a staff member on Jared’s first day of therapy.  This film received primarily positive reviews and grossed over $11.4 million worldwide.