Dream Boy Details

Haunting and Beautiful Portrayal of Teenage Love

Dream Boy is a coming of age drama about first love between two adolescent boys in the American Deep South. The story is intertwined with issues of sexual abuse and small town repression.

Nathan is the new boy in town, who has withdrawn into himself due to the ravages of sexual abuse by his father. Immediately he becomes aware of Roy his next door neighbour, a blonde and sensitive country boy. What follows is a warming portrayal of teenage love, shown to us from the initial furtive glances, to eventual sexual awakening.

Some critics have called this movie 'clumsy and cliched'. However, I found the movie to beautifully acted and very much worthy of watching. Of course it is far from perfect, notable by a somewhat off-balance ending that leaves you raising an eyebrow.

Also I found the score by Richard Buckner very overpowering, and maddening at times. In a style reminiscent of Brokeback Mountain, this weaving score is far less subtle. The score is persistent and invasive, to the point where it becomes very difficult to concentrate on the movie. Sometimes less is more.

Overall, Dream Boy is an enjoyable, heart warming tale and worth watching. Though its storyline and message walk a well trodden path, so it's far from ground breaking.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Almost ... but not quite

As other reviewers have stated, the problem is the ending. For the last twenty minutes or so, the film seems confused about which direction to go in and so the director appears to try to have his cake and eat it.

Acting was wonderful from the two young leads and they really brought out the emotional struggle. Full marks to them.

Their relationship was always going to be discovered, but the big moment here lacks any narrative drive and simply resorts to melodrama, at which point the film loses its way somewhat.