There's barely any music, or at least not very noticeable background music (with the exception of the song Revelation by Troye Sivan/Jonsi, which will likely vie for a nomination for best original song). Everything else is so stripped back and naturalistic. It achieves all this through plot and intimate performances. Just when I thought this movie couldn't get more uncomfortable it finds a new height. I was on the edge of my seat, deeply breathing, sighing, putting my hands to my face in awe and distress, the whole way through.
This is a tragic story of the real abuse of LGBT people happening in the US (and gay conversion therapy isn't explicitly banned everywhere in Aus either). The way it causes distress and breaks people is shown differently through the various side characters and none of it is good. The homophobia and control that the Love In Action conversion program enforces over the poor souls inducted into this brainwashing camp becomes increasingly extreme. Except for about 3 light moments scattered throughout the subject matter of conversion therapy and the environment our protagonist Jared is literally TRAPPED in is awful. Normally movies have a scene that shifts into the distressing/uncomfortable and you're like 'wow, what a great scene.' That's the whole movie.
Never have I been so uncomfortable so long a period of time.
