Tropic Sprockets / Boy Erased

By Ian Brockway

Garrard Conley‘s memoir of his terrifying experience in conversion therapy, Boy Erased, is adapted by Joel Edgerton in an affecting film of the same name. The narrative, as necessary as it is, unfolds like a horror film and will not be for all tastes.

Garrard (Lucas Hedges) is a teenager in a fundamentalist family. One day in college, he is outed to his speechless parents who get him to agree to a conversion camp with the intent to turn him straight.

At first, Garrard goes along with it. The camp is insidious, making all processes seem conversational and non-judgmental. The boy is told by Jon (Xavier Dolan) to keep to himself and that there is no set period of occupancy, while Gary (the singer Troye Sivan) tells him to do everything he is told, to expedite his release. Garrard is fascinated by the sensitive Cameron (wonderfully played by Britton Sear) who struggles to remain calm much like himself.

During a confrontation, Cameron refuses to expound upon his feelings and the head counselor Dr. Sikes (Joel Edgerton) becomes incensed. The group beats Cameron with thick bibles and he is humiliated.

The cinematography excellently highlights dim shadows and confined spaces. The neutral colors of white, gray and tan take on all of the anxious impact of a William Friedkin thriller. Never has the wardrobe choice of a white shirt and khakis seemed so scary.

Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as mom and dad respectively convey their torment well. While their roles could easily be caricatures, there are thankfully no cartoonish folks here and this only intensifies the Kafkaesque apprehension. Garrard is shut in and forcibly held through no fault of his own.

Conversion therapy, an outdated belief that spits in the face of science and reason, is allowed in 36 states.

This is an unflinching, eerie film that illustrates the terror of ignorance. The drama is not enjoyable for one second, but it should well be applauded for this.

“Boy Erased” has truth to tell and it offers events plainly and accurately without flair.

The hero is Garrald Conely who lives with his husband and according to my research, teaches English advancing LGBTQ groups in Bulgaria.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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