Boy Erased

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Boy Erased is available in the US on Netflix right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Lucas Hedges sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Boy Erased is worth clearing space for. Boy Erased takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Jared, the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, is outed to his parents at age 19. Jared is faced with an ultimatum: attend a gay conversion therapy program – or be permanently exiled and shunned by his family, friends, and faith. Lucas Hedges and Nicole Kidman lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. What elevates Boy Erased is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Boy Erased delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Lucas Hedges carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.