Review of Boys in the Trees

I enjoyed most of the running time of 'Boys in the trees' but most probably this movie wasn't aimed at me or my generation. Set in the late 90's the narrative is concerned with one young man on the precipices of change and facing his young adulthood. Holding some traumatic experiences and feelings from when he was a child, 'Corey' played convincingly by Toby Wallace is part of a gang of skating dudes with lots of attitude but he doesn't fully commit to their behaviours or sensibilities. He shares a secret with another boy played quixotically by Gulliver McGrath who is carving out quite the career both in Australia and around the world. Most of the film's luxuriant running time is a 'journey home' series of set pieces where the two lads are faced with real and imagined demons: both from within and out.

There is a stylish and inventive use of the medium here, but I did find some of the stream of consciousness elements a little obscure and self referential. The performances are mostly fine, and for folks now thirty somethings and younger will most probably get something out of the ideas and excellent production design from the earlier era. It has alternately a dreamy/nightmarish quality to the execution and for Halloween freaks and lovers of different cinema, this is for you. But sadly not for me. Still a solid 7 out of 10 for distinctive approach and new voice in local cinema. Writer director Nicholas Verso will undoubtedly make his mark with 'Boys in the trees'