The first trailer for Eliza Hittman’s highly anticipated Beach Rats came out in June, and it did a damn fine job at enticing us to see the film. Then a Daily Beast feature hailed the movie as “the rare gay drama, and maybe the next wave of queer storytelling, that makes you feel uncomfortable.” And then you could call our interest very piqued indeed.
Set in Coney Island, the movie centers around Frankie (played by model-turned-actor Harris Dickinson), a closeted teen who compulsively cruises gay hookup sites. The performance, according to Daily Beast, was “one of the most grueling, sensual, and captivating star turns at Sundance. And certainly one of the most enticingly naked.”
In order to stoke more interest in the film, which hits select theaters Friday, three clips from Eliza Hittman’s film have been posted to YouTube, and they give us a better sense of what to expect from the story, which press materials describe thus:
How about we take this to the next level?
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“An aimless teenager, suffocating under the oppressive glare cast by his family and a toxic group of delinquent friends, struggles with his own identity.
Frankie begins to scour hookup sites for older men. When his chatting and webcamming intensify, he begins meeting men at a nearby cruising beach while simultaneously entering into a cautious relationship with a young woman.”
Watch:
h/t: Towleroad
WillParkinson
Yeah…. no.
Paco
So far, the trailers have done nothing to pique my interest. I’m not even sure what it is supposed to be about.
It’s only playing in one theater in my region. Not even in my area. Guess I will wait for Netflix.
JohnD
It’s extremely difficult for low budget independent gay films to get any theatrical distribution. The fact that this small well-made film is playing in your region is a good sign. So many deserving gay films get no theatrical play except for festivals and go directly to Netflix, Amazon, etc. And sadly, many fade away into obscurity. The description in the piece above is quite accurate. I hope you get a chance to see it and judge it for yourself.
WillParkinson
It’s another ‘bury the gays’ movie.
Terrycloth
Too dark…I mean hardly see picture..if these are the best clips I hate to see the worst…I’ll pass…watch something on Here Tv
JohnD
Saw this film at Outfest in July. It’s a bit gritty and tough to watch in places. Good acting. Good cast. Realistic. Very well done although, personally, I was not happy with the conclusion. Definitely worth seeing. I am a member of Outfest and do what I can to support gay cinema and LGBTQ filmmakers who, generally speaking, work with miniscule budgets. I think we should all support gay films that tell a variety of stories and not tear them down, sight unseen.
Herman75
I agree. I also saw it at OutFest.
A lot of good in this movie, and the lead is great. Surprised to learn a Brit played a sort of Brooklyn tough guy. So convincing and quite compelling. But yeah, the story is a bit hard to take. Still, I’d recommend it.
WillParkinson
Give me a movie with a decent ending, sure. But I think we’ve seen enough of the ‘bury the gays’ movies for a while.
MacAdvisor
Thanks to Moviepass, I will be checking this out when it arrives at the Tower here in Sacramento.
crowebobby
The guys just don’t look real to me. Somehow they all look homogenized. I try to watch it anyway at some point.
ProfessorMoriarty
Queerty, you have GOT to do something about your awful video content system. The damn thing hardly ever works on iOS (iPads and iPhones), and when it does there’s no option to view clips fullscreen.
If your intent is to keep people here on your site, your video provider is failing you miserably. I had to go to YouTube to watch these clips, and the only reason I came back here was to write this note. Come on, get it together!
(Oh and p.s., hard pass on the movie, judging from these clips and word of mouth.)
Giuseppe
Looks VERY interesting and my friend Kate is in it!!
Brody
Isn’t there a word for those who see minors as being “hyper-erotic”?
Tallskin
I wasn’t going to reply but your fatuous comment has annoyed me sufficiently to make me bother logging in.
Stupid comments like yours are so infuriating. The boys in this film are 16, 17 or 18. I don’t know what anally retentive culture you live in to call them minors! A minor to me would be a 12, 13 or 14 year old
Oh yes, but I forgot you’re a citizen of the USA. ?
Brody
Tallskin –
Okay, then . . .
Isn’t there a word for those who see 16- and 17-year-olds as “hyper-erotic”?
bma83
I would support this film if the actors were really gay. Since they are not I have no interest in seeing this.
JaredMacBride
bma83 – Most of the characters in the movie are straight; should they be played by gay people? And why does their sexual orientation matter anyway?
daisydave
So many pretentious snob comments. Take your noses out of the air and shove them into the sand!
It’s an art film, to be viewed as a work – someone’s vision and their canvas is film. OMFG this is not a main stream movie. Open your minds people! “Snap”