‘Bruiser’: Coming-of-age movie opens on an unsettling note and delivers hard-hitting drama
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Bruiser', Miles Warren's debut directorial, is a careful exploration of a highly relevant theme. It features two men who, constrained by the bounds of hypermasculinity, fail to connect or seek the respect, approval, and affection they so deeply want. Instead, they battle for control, a quest rife with undertones of abuse that impedes each of their distinct journeys. Warren deftly tries to illustrate the harm that violence brings to people and their communities.
Following its TIFF premiere, the movie, created by Warren and Ben Medina, was also screened at the AFI Fest. It starts out as a contemplative look at 14-year-old Darious' tense relationships with his family, friends, and community.
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What happens in the movie 'Bruiser'?
Darious (Jalyn Hall), a 14-year-old boy, arrives home from his new boarding school as the film opens. In order to learn how to defend himself after getting into a fight with a friend and struggling to adjust, he turns to Porter (Trevante Rhodes), a stranger he meets in the woods. We eventually discover that Porter grew up with Malcolm (Shamier Anderson) and Monica (Shinelle Azoroh), who are Darious's parents, and that as a result, Porter and Darious have a complex history. On paper, the revelation about this man of the woods sounds more fabricated than it does in the movie, which is supported by an often striking score and solid work from its actors, notably the debutant Hall.
A haunting opening
In the opening scene, Darious would rather put in his headphones than listen to his mother grill him about his high school crush or the stereo blasting 'Cigarettes and Coffee' by Otis Redding throughout the drive home. (The song turns into a musical motif throughout the movie). The teen's moodiness initially comes off as unsettling, but Hall's performance, which is characterized by slightly bent shoulders, an avoidant look, and a lilting voice, gradually reveals that the meanness is a reflection of a complex and tense interior.
Like most people his age, Darious finds it difficult to recognize and communicate his feelings. He tries to keep quiet (as when driving with his mom), and when he doesn't, his irrational outbursts remind the viewer of the uncomfortable dynamics of adolescence. The short scene marks the beginning of what will be a huge turning point in the teenager's life. It's also testament to how real 'Bruiser' stays throughout. This is a movie that doesn't demand a suspension of your disbelief, as it's told firsthand, almost like you're experiencing it yourself.
