Ganymede review.
A coming-of-age story that places the horror exactly where it belongs.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Ganymede
Directed by Colby Holt and Sam Probst
Written by Colby Holt
Starring Jordan Doww, Pablo Castelblanco, Joe Chrest, Robin Lively, David Koechner, Marissa Reyes and Sofia Yepes
Ganymede Review
Horror has often been a metaphor for the real struggles people face growing up. Buffy the Vampire Slayer got a lot of mileage out of it. Ganymede doesn’t have the humor of that seminal tv show…but it understands how to expertly utilize that metaphor. The horror elements break through what is an otherwise engaging coming-of-age drama. It lends the movie a dark tone that perfectly reflects the world its main character is forced to navigate. Ganymede delivers a moving statement on real monsters vs. the things you shouldn’t be afraid of.
Lee Fletcher (Jordan Doww) struggles to live up to the expectations of his parents. His father, Big Lee (Joe Chrest), is a deeply religious County Commissioner. His mother Floy (Robin Lively) is strict about keeping Lee on a Christian path. When Lee discovers he has feelings for classmate Kyle (Pablo Castelblanco) he begins having visions of a monster. The real monsters in Lee’s life make matters much worse.
Ganymede begins with a very dark moment. A man (we learn who later in the story) jumps into a lake with bricks tied to himself. The opening scene is set in 1989. The rest of the story takes place in the modern day. The scene sets a strong tone for the movie. It’s just the first instance of Ganymede using horror imagery to add an extra layer to an already strong coming-of-age drama.
Ganymede turns Lee’s struggle with his sexuality into a personal horror story. His feelings are in direct conflict with his upbringing…and current pressures from both family and faith. The usage of a mental monster masks the true monsters from Lee’s vision. He believes there is something wrong with him. It is clear through their conduct…things are wrong with the people around him.
David Koechner plays the family’s pastor. It’s a dark role for the naturally funny and likable actor. He is downright terrifying here. His charms are put to good use as the smiling face masking the evil within. When the family discovers Lee getting closer to Kyle…they turn to the pastor for help. He isn’t the only monster in the movie…but he is the most hands-on one. He feeds on Lee’s trauma and tortures him psychologically and physically. But he never blames him.
The blame laid out in Ganymede has to do with the title of the movie itself. The pastor explains that a Ganymede is an unrepentant homosexual man. A demon that Lee has allowed in due to his growing bond with Kyle. As an out youth in a deeply religious town…Kyle is a constant target. An altercation with local bullies is what ends up bringing Lee and Kyle closer together in the first place. Despite his upbringing and continued beratement…Lee is a good, caring person. Something that his family sees as a weakness. While Big Lee approves of Lee’s use of violence against the bullies…Floy worries about who her son is spending time with in the first place.
The family dynamic is clearly broken. While Kyle has a loving mother to turn to…Lee is greeted with only the mean-spirited nature of ignorance and hatred. All masked in the guise of faith, of course. The more that Lee comes to believe his feelings are the cause of his haunting…the more we understand it is the outdated pressures around him. He can’t see the monsters in front of him…he’s too afraid of the monster they tell him is inside.
It isn’t all horror and misery. There are beautiful moments in Ganymede too. A caring counselor, Kyle’s relationship with his mother, Lee telling Kyle how he feels…there are positive moments that refuse to be drowned out by the evil that surround them. It’s a strong metaphor through and through.
The biggest strength in Ganymede is that it would work without any of the horror elements in brings into the story. There is a strong coming-of-age drama underneath all the metaphor. A strong base to build an even stronger movie upon. Lee must discover the real monsters for himself…and face off with the one he’s been told he carries with him. He isn’t the only character who needs to discover inner truths and acknowledge outer monsters. A subplot that ties the opening scene directly to the story emerges as Lee’s treatment begins to hit its lowest point.
Ganymede boasts a strong cast of capable performers. Doww shines as the tortured (in every possible meaning) lead. He’s supported by a cast that delivers whether portraying a caring ally or a horrible obstacle. Koechner has the showiest role. He makes a meal out of his monster. Castelblanco imbues Kyle with an obvious understanding of what Lee is going through. He portrays a confidence in helping him that even his supporters don’t quite understand. They haven’t gone through what Lee is. Kyle has…and Castelblanco plays that aspect beautifully.
Ganymede is a story about what feels right, what is wrong, and how to tell the difference. Lee goes through hell. Mostly from the people he doesn’t recognize as wrong. They tell him what’s inside of him isn’t right. His journey is not an easy one…but Ganymede makes it one well worth taking.
Scare Value
Using horror to relate to the real fears and struggles of growing up is not a new concept. Ganymede does it as well as anyone has. There’s weight and meaning behind everything here. It shows you what monsters really look like. Excellent performances and a perfect use of horror concepts make Ganymede a coming-of-age story worth experiencing.
4/5
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