Joel Edgerton is probably best known for his acting career, with major roles in films like “Warrior” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” But back in 2015, the actor turned into an acclaimed filmmaker with “The Gift,” a thriller he wrote, directed, and starred in. That film led many to take notice of Edgerton not just as a go-to tough guy in films, but as one of the best up-and-coming directors around. And with “Boy Erased,” the filmmaker has taken a bit of a left-turn with his next project, but it appears he’s only gotten better behind the camera.
In the latest trailer for “Boy Erased,” viewers get more into the story of a young teen who comes out as gay to his preacher father and conservative mother. Based on a true story, the young Jared is sent to a conversion therapy center that will help him “choose” to be straight once again. As you might expect, Jared can’t just stop being who he is, which leads to conflict at the conversion therapy center and forces his parents to make tough choices about whether or not they accept their son as he is.
Interestingly enough, the trailer, while it does promote the film, ends on a somber note, showing a truly alarming statistic — 77,000 people are currently behind held in conversion therapy centers. It appears that Edgerton is not only attempting to tell the heartbreaking and emotional story of a young man discovering himself but also about an epidemic that seems to have only gotten worse over the years.
“Boy Erased” stars Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Cherry Jones, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Xavier Dolan, and singer Troye Sivan (who also contributes an original song to the film).
“Boy Erased” hits select theaters on November 2, and will expand nationwide in the weeks to follow.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Boy Erased” tells the courageous story of Jared Eamons (Hedges), the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, who must overcome the fallout of being outed to his parents (Kidman and Crowe). His parents struggle with reconciling their love for their son with their beliefs. Fearing a loss of family, friends, and community, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program. While there, Jared comes into conflict with its leader (Edgerton) and begins his journey to finding his own voice and accepting his true self.