Shadows on the Wall

The Line

dir Ethan Berger
scr Alex Russek, Ethan Berger
prd Alexandre Dauman, Jack Parker, Adam Paulsen, Lije Sarki
with Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Bo Mitchell, Angus Cloud, Graham Patrick Martin, Will Ropp, John Malkovich, Denise Richards, Cheri Oteri, Scoot McNairy
release US 18.Oct.24
23/US 1h41

Is it streaming?

A serious drama about frat-house antics, this film feels familiar as it depicts a rather limited range of raucous events. Director-cowriter Ethan Berger vividly evokes the intense atmosphere, although there's little nuance in the situations, which leaves the film feeling very predictable. A solid cast helps create more intriguing interaction amid a sea of rampant macho postering. But there's very little emotional resonance to be found anywhere on-screen.

In 2014, intelligent stoner Tom (Wolff) is moving out of his mother's (Oteri) house to live at his fraternity, which has a rich history of creating top businessmen and politicians. As a leader at Kappa Nu Alpha alongside president Todd (Pullman), Tom's first item of business is hazing the new intake of nervous pledges, including the defiant Gettys (Abrams). But tensions arise between Tom and his childhood pal Mitch (Mitchell), a slovenly loser who is barely keeping himself together and doesn't have many other friends. Meanwhile, Tom pursues a relationship with cool girl Annabelle (Bailey).

For these boys, university is about hard partying rather than studying, and yet they all hope to somehow become important pillars of society. They're all so entitled that it's unsurprising to see their egos clash, although this is so ugly that it's not very entertaining to watch. Watching the tension develop, it's very clear where this is headed, and there isn't really anyone to root for.

Wolff has strong presence at the centre of the film, providing some perspective for the audience even if Tom has very little perspective on what is going on around him. He's far too shifty to be likeable, even if others behave far more badly than he does. All of them are also played with unflinching nastiness, from Pullman's controlled Todd to Mitchell's unstable Mitch. Thankfully, there's some fun to be had with veterans like Malkovich, Richards and Oteri as parents, and McNairy as a furious detective.

Laced with intentional irony, the plot unfolds in ways that are increasingly dark and disturbing as it provocatively positions these arrogant young men as the future of America. Of course they never even consider that their excessive behaviour might undermine these plans, which leaves them all looking like elite idiots taking top university places from more deserving students. At least the social injustice on display gives the film a sinister kick.

themes, language, violence 15.Oct.24

R E A D E R R E V I E W S

Still waiting for your comments ... don't be shy.