Ganymede

This film feels like something shot in the early 1980s, then put on a shelf and forgotten about until now.

Back then it might have been sort of edgy, but today it just feels dated and melodramatic. The characters are either creepy or corny (with the notable exception of Kyle's mother), and the relationship between Lee and Kyle feels very rushed. Letting the audience know that the now high school seniors met as freshmen was a very ineffective shortcut.

Overall, the subject matter was quite relevant, but the writing and execution lacked any real substance. Lastly, the laughable "horror" effects (costumes by Spirit Halloween?) should have been nixed completely. If you don't have the budget for effects, don't do them.

This all-too-familiar tale about nutty christian homophobes and gay conversion therapy is well on the way to being a great little movie when it all goes horribly, hysterically wrong. It's the story of "Little Lee" Fletcher who is gay, but afflicted with a bible-bashing, fundamentalist father (Big Lee) and a psycho God-fearing mother right out of "Carrie". The film deftly negotiates Lee's budding romance with out-and-proud Kyle and his struggle to break free of his suffocating family. And it's particularly good at using horror tropes to represent just how torturous and damaging religious oppression can be. And in that respect it's rather better than the rather bland, lacklustre Boy Erased. But everything goes off the rails when Lee embarks on conversion therapy with the demented Pastor Royer, who, unbelievably, conducts electro-convulsive therapy in his church office! Now, while gay christians were often subjected to ECT, it was most definitely NOT conducted by pastors in their churches, Ganymede then hurtles toward a wildly over-the-top dramatic denouement that is either camp or just plain silly, depending on your point of view. A shame really, becasuse the film's first tow acts are not half bad. But all is lost in the third.

Colby Holt and Sam Probst's compelling motion picture is a true queer horror story. About a handsome kindhearted high school wrestling champion named Lee Fletcher, impressively played by Jordan Doww, who is a closeted gay teenage and constantly battles with his own sexuality to such a degree that he is emotionally and physically tormenting by visions of a grotesque demonic creature menacing him. Lee's sexual urges are completely unacceptable to his deeply religious homophobic parents, Big Lee and Floy, superbly played by Joe Chrest and Robyn and Lively, who do nothing to help him. Things become worse when Lee meets and develops a crush on an openly gay student, Kyle Culper, wonderfully played by Pablo Castelbanco in an endearing performance, who soon falls in love with him. Once Lee's parents catch wind of the attraction he has towards Kyle, they turn towards the church for help and remedies to cure their's son homosexuality which are horrific and brutal. Lee is near the breaking point as he struggles with his strong feelings towards Kyle, and the monstrous demonic creature that keeps haunting him. Solid direction by Holt and Probst, and marvelously acted by the entire cast, with an engrossing script by Colby Holt. This fine film is a mixture of Gothic horror and coming of age story that is extremely well made.

I did not expect much when selecting this movie on Amazon prime but it really surprised me! "Ganymede" presents a compelling fusion of coming-of-age narrative with elements of mystery/horror. Jordan Doww delivers a powerful performance, effectively conveying the protagonist's internal conflict, complemented by a strong supporting role from Pablo Castelblanco. The directors demonstrate adept skill by using elements of horror to explore relevant social issues which are not widely known, notably motivated by religious extremism, next to the journey toward self-acceptance of the adolescences. Even though the movie is obviously fictional, I really liked that they explain at the end of the movie that gay conversion therapy is in fact a massive issue we face in today's society.

With its uninspired storyline, clichéd horror elements, and lackluster acting, "Ganymede" is a disappointingly mediocre and outdated addition to this year's LGBT film collection.

The film centers on Lee Fletcher, a sensitive high school athlete grappling with his conservative, Evangelical parents who impose traditional gender roles on him. Lee's poorly developed and rushed crush on his openly gay classmate, Kyle, is depicted through the bizarre and uninspired appearance of a literal gay demon. This attempt at incorporating "creepy" horror elements into an otherwise dull coming-of-age drama occasionally resembles a low-budget, cheesy Christian film. The predictable plot, shallow characterization, and awkward dialogue make the movie more cringeworthy than campy.

While films like Sam H. Freeman's intense gay thriller "Femme (2023)" suggest that higher standards for homoerotic cinema are emerging, "Ganymede" stands as a regrettable and, despite its surprisingly favorable reviews, overrated step backward.

One would think that with releases like Sam H. Freeman's harrowing gay thriller "Femme- (2023)", directors have sought to set a higher standard for homoerotic movies, but this film proves to be an unfortunate, and based on its suspiciously well-received reviews, an overrated setback.