A F I L M I S A P E T R I F I E D F O U N T A I N O F T H O U G H T
Popular high-school athlete Tyler (an astonishing Kelvin Harrison Jr. who also shines in Luce) lives a seemingly privileged life. An all-star wrestler with a loving girlfriend and a supportive, affluent family, he spends his days training, and his nights partying. But beneath the fragile veneer of perfection, cracks are beginning to show. Under constant scrutiny from his overbearing father, ignoring the reality of a potentially serious shoulder injury and reeling from an unexpected development in his romantic relationship, Tyler's world looks set to implode. As the pressures around him steadily mount, a series of events are put in motion which threaten not only Tyler's happiness, but also the lives of the people he loves the most. To give too much away would risk spoiling the unforeseen complexities of this devastating family drama, which consistently surprises and astounds with its bold narrative ambition and bravura visual language. Once again, Shults continues to prove himself one of contemporary cinema's most distinctive filmmaking talents, crafting an intricate tale which is at once bracingly experimental yet always emotionally accessible. BFI.
With a supporting cast headed by a suave James Mason as the head of the spy ring, Martin Landau as his gay henchman and Jessie Royce Landis as the comic relief, playing Grant's wisecracking mother, it’s a witty, suspenseful, ride with a fabulous score by Bernard Herrmann, that will keep you on the edge of your seats from beginning to end. Steve Hayes