Out this weekend at theaters, the movie Backspot features an energetic film with excellent cinematography and choreography. The actors are role perfect with very good acting that provides a compelling drama. The coming of age storyline fits right into today’s unsettling impact of teen angst when it comes to sports and personal life in today’s America.
Graduating to the Thunder Hawks top cheer squad, Riley (Devery Jacobs) and Amanda (Kudakwashe Rutendo) are thrilled with the honors it brings. Especially Riley who was an underdog to get one of the most sought after positions on the team. With not a lot of time to hone the squad before the upcoming national cheer off, the pressure gets extreme for the teen. Add to this a love relationship that starts to crumble and Eileen McNamara (Evan Rachel Woods) a dominant winning coach that will not tolerate errors, it’s a barometer popping challenge that Riley never expected.
The film is D.J. Waterson’s first major feature film and it comes with a deep dig into a personal bag of music video experience. It provides an awesome soundtrack performed partly by Waterson and nicely directed at the target audience. Taking advantage of this freewheeling social climate, the film Backspot makes a play for self-awareness. Holding nothing back, the script calls for same-sex deep affection by the main stars’ characters and it delivers. Nicely played out without a lot of pandering, the scenes add an edge that plays a strong part in the plot.
Jacobs and Rutendo deliver nice performances as the two main characters, but Evan Rachel Woods as the domineering coach steals the show. As Eileen McNamara, she turns up her A game with a mesmerizing display of tough coaching. She moves the team along putting pressure on the two new players. It causes a mind-bending “game” between her two newest plebes. It’s a chancy plot point, but Woods comes through with flying colors.
A tip of the hat to the excellent job by the actual cheer teems that perform their intricate acrobatics. Information about whether Jacobs and Rutendo did all their own stunts and gymnastics was not available at press time. Eight of the songs on the soundtrack were performed and written by D.W. Waterson, including the number in the credits.
The film has not been rated by the MPAA, but does contain underage drinking, some drug use, language and some very steamy scenes. The film’s target audience is teens to twenties females, but still plays well to mature high school males.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Woods, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Shannyn Sossamon, Wendy Crewson
Directed and co-written by: D.W. Waterson
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, but contains underage drinking, some language and lesbian sensuality
Running Time: 1 hr. 33 min.
Opening Date: May 31, 2024
Distributed by: XYZ Films
Released in: Theaters, VOD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
