Rites of Passage

It's a pity that RITE OF PASSAGE is not more widely available and never received the praise it deserves. This is a complex film - an unusual mix of thriller and family drama. Queer cinema fans will like this one because of the matter of fact presentation of the sexuality of the leading character Cambell (intelligently played by Jason Behr.) Although this is Behr's film, he's in terrific company throughout, especially with veteran Dean Stockwell as his tough-as-nails dad. Watching these two come to terms (as well as Cam's brother), is the film's main dramatic thrust. The thriller elements are far from ignored, however. There are plot twists and turns a-plenty (only one of which seemed a bit contrived) and the story is a virtual roller-coaster of emotions. If you can get it on DVD, Behr and Salva provide an insightful commentary track and give you a glimpse of some more plot devices (and some super performances) left on the cutting room floor.

a family crisis. two strangers. the past as start point for intense confrontation. one of films who could be only a nice try for define the impact of difficulties to assume family values. and only a strange pressure saves the situation. it is one of films who propose characters more than a story. and the characters are only senders of words, accusation, victims of the circle of personal interests. each actor does a decent work and the effort of Victor Salva to give a coherent picture of fight,force of danger,the sentimental derive, confession and the expected verdict is OK. and the basic virtue is the reassembles with a Tchekov play. same need of truth, vulnerabilities, wrong options and the flavor of end. same game of words for protect fragile position. so, a decent drama.

This is basically a character-driven thriller exploring some routine familial issues between a middle-class father and his two sons. I say routine, because the conflicts are reasonably familiar: the father's having a mid-life, extra-marital fling; one son's gay; and the other son's bogged down in his own suburban mediocrity; not to mention that the whole drama takes place overnight in the woods, an almost absurd setting for all the abounding macho bonding. In spite of this theatrical, TV-movie veneer, RITES OF PASSAGE is still a satisfying low-budget feature thanks to a very appealing cast and the mature, sure-handed direction of Victor Salva (POWDER). It's an involving little ensemble drama with an amazing amount of tension and truth. No small mention should be made of Jason Behr, a WB-TV pretty-boy type who really carries the picture with a surprisingly inspired performance; although a lot of sympathy for his character is still a result of his physical appeal, he does a very good job here alongside excellent performers like Dean Stockwell and James Remar. Still, I doubt if a lot of the enthusiasm for this film would be there without Behr's good looks. In spite of what I've read in a few of the other reviews, the little bit of violence and profanity in this picture are of the PG-13 variety; as a matter of fact, it could have been a bit more aggressive with it's sexuality and brutality in order to intensify the motivations culminating in this one-night, boys-to-men catharsis. I'll tell you, though, it's too bad family crises aren't this easily resolved by a boy's night out in the woods.

This movie was an A+ as well as a very good suspenseful thriller. I recommend thins movie to anyone ! I feel that all of the actors were perfect for the parts. The deleted scenes on the dvd filled in some of the missing parts that might have made more sense to the plot when watching the movie.

( Mild Spoilers) Trying not to give away any important plot-lines in the movie "Rites of Passage" the one thing that impressed me most about Camp Farrady, Jason Behr, was how meek in the biblical sense of the word, and un-violent he was throughout the entire film. Even though Camp was the most hurt abused and betrayed person in it and had every reason to express his painful feeling with combativeness actions. Yet somehow refused to give into them even to the point when his life was at stake.

Growing up gay in a straight All-America family Camp's life was a living hell when as a young boy. He tried to conform when his strict father Del Farrady, Dean Stockwell, tried to "straighten" him out and later when Camp reach early adulthood his dad brutally beat up and chased out of his life Billy, Camp's best and gay friend, when he caught him and Camp embracing outside the family cabin on Christmas eve. Billy was so despondent over the forced break-up of him and Camp that it led to get himself infected with AIDS and later die of that disease.

One afternoon Camp's older brother D.J, Robert Glen Kline, who's a lawyer on a case in Washington State, was about to register at a Tacoma hotel and was told that he's been signed in already by the hotel clerk. D.J realizing that the person signed is really his father Del sees him in the lobby with a woman who he's obviously having an illicit affair with. Del embarrassed at being spotted and D.J shocked at what he saw agree to go to the family cabin in the woods to talk thing out the next day. Unknown to both of them Camp was there too not expecting them to show up.

Camp while he was looking for Billy got in touch with a prison pen-pal Frank, James Ramar, who knew about Billy who was also a pen-pal of his and from Frank he found out that Billy was gone. Frank noticed the address of the letters that Camp sent him and it was where he buried some $500,000.00 in stolen drug money and was using Camp's hurt feelings and emotions to get him to find the loot and take off with it and then leave Camp behind dead.

Frank who broke out of prison with a fellow convict Red, Jalmz Woolvett, who Camp didn't know or expect but in the end found out that he was the one who wrote him those letters that were attributed to Frank that impressed and touched Camp so much. Frank Prearranging to meet Camp at the cabin that he expected to be deserted and then take off, or so Camp thought, with him to Canada to live together as a gay couple. With the unexpected appearance of Del & D.J made things deadly and complicated but at the same time in the end brought both father and son together even though it took a night of horrors to do it.

Unusual film that treats relationships between gays and their parents and siblings with both touching sympathy as well as brutal realism. With Jason Behr really outdoing himself as the tormented but courageous Camp who despite all the abuse he takes in the movie from his father and Frank refuses to lose his humanity and in the end comes out as the most positive as well as tragic person in the film. The final scene in "Rites of Passage" when Camp reluctantly at first embraces his forgiving father and then accepts him is one of the most powerful and emotional scenes I've ever seen in a movie and it's done without a single word of dialog.

Every one in the movie has a story to tell but it's Camp who's story ties them all together and makes "Rites of Passage" the emotional experience of a film that it is.