Boys in the Trees

A kind of coming of age flick set around Halloween in Southern Australia. A kid on the cusp of leaving town for college and better things and leaving behind his friends, family and everything he was. Over the course of a single night he reflects on his past through a meaningful encounter with an old childhood friend he left behind for his new cool group of mates.

This is a bildungsroman that goes through some familiar motions. It's about the ways in which we adapt during high school to survive. It's about the kids who don't and get left behind. It's about choosing what kind of person you grow up to be. It's all approached in a humane and thoughtful way. There aren't caricatures in this film - types and tropes perhaps but still flesh and blood. You might know where this film is going but still that doesn't prepare you for the journey.

There is a great middle segment involving a local girl who also dreams of leaving town for the big city. She's a smart and driven, though clearly taken for granted. She gives the eponymous "boys heads are in the trees" speech that helps prevent the movie from becoming overly serious about its own themes and hang-ups. There's surprising emotion to be found, including an end scene between two characters who have become opposites but still share a mutual love for each other.

There are scenes of mystery, wonder, darkness and humor. A day of the dead festival sequence with a cover of Live's "Lightning Crashes" mesmerizes. The soundtrack and the cinematography are top notch - slow motion kids on bikes set to "The Beautiful People", the color of fireworks as they pop in the night and a giant light-limned tree growing up out of the vast dark. This is a confident and tonally assured work that deserves to find a bigger audience.

I was made to believe this was a horror, and despite having horror elements, it can't be classes as such, indeed I don't think you'd be able to classify this under any particular category, and that I think is where the strength is.

It's moving, engaging, sad, and utterly surprising, it takes you on a totally unexpected journey, taking you to places you won't be expecting.

The scene I enjoyed most of all, was the one in the library, where Corey sees life through Jonah's eyes, being the bulleyed, instead of the bully.

The acting is excellent, they all impressed, but most of all, it was the writing that I enjoyed most, such genuine originality.

Very satisfying. 8/10

It's a rare movie that makes you feel as though it was created just for you - but Boys In The trees hits the mark so perfectly on what it was like to be a teen in the Australian 90s that my level of empathy for the characters was off the charts.

The soundtrack is incredible, the cinematography is pure and the young Aussie leads have taken hold of the ambitious script with both hands and delivered performances that are nothing short of star-making. Toby Wallace as Corey and Mitzi Ruhlmann as Romany are particularly strong. Justin Holborow as the bully Jango also plays his part with true grit.

This is the evolution of the traditional coming of age tale, with the Writer/Director Nicholas Verso creating such an ethereal landscape you feel moments of 'What Dreams May Come' style fantasy seamlessly anchored by the exquisitely curated 90s Adelaide suburbia.

I absolutely adored this movie. Anyone who loves fantasy will adore it. It's a must-see for everyone who loves movies that straddle the line between fantasy and reality.

I went into this film knowing nothing about it, just expecting a mild horror movie with no substance. This movie is not horror at all, but that shouldn't deter you from watching it. It's unlike most films and I don't really know what you would classify this as, all I know is something about it really touched me. This movie has a lot going on at times, but it focuses a bit on being true to yourself and standing up for what is right. It's also about not losing sight of your dreams, and facing your past and the mistakes you've made, especially when they affect other people. It's a coming of age tale set in the late nineties on Halloween so it's oozing with nostalgia. This movie will definitely not be for everyone but I personally enjoyed it and the cast. Toby Wallace does an incredible job portraying his character and the broad emotions he experiences. The surreal element took me by surprise but it added a level of magic to the story that I quite enjoyed. It's hard to rate this because I don't think it's one of the greatest movies I've ever seen but I can't get it out of my mind either. It was a journey that left me in tears. You just have to watch it and decide for yourself.

Boys in the Trees is a coming-of-age film, despite many streaming services mislabeling it as a horror. There's only one scare in the film; however, the real horror in this film is the fear of growing up, which is executed flawlessly through the performances of the actors, the 90s/Halloween setting, and the surreal tone of the film. The only thing bringing down this film is the ending, which is not only regrettably predictable, but it also renders some of the previous scenes nonsensical. Worth watching for the excellent performances and the perfect representation of a child/teen's view of growing up.