The cheerleading drama is one of the most different cheerleading films ever made and Devery Jacobs lights it up. Backspot is about two high school queer cheerleaders who make a championship squad that’s coached by a relentless perfectionist. There was this point when they went their separate ways after what seemed to be like glue has brought them together as friends became divisive and unhealthy. The film handles multiple complex themes in an energetic manner which resonates with the dedication required by an elite cheerleader. It is exciting seeing them even though there are questions on how acceptable the movie portrays love among girls in the same place. If you were to ask most parents, they would not want young couples staying overnight at their places.
At full tilt Riley (Jacobs) sprints and summersaults across a gym floor—this was no good, she can do better than that!? She’s their back-spot – the person who lifts, supports, and catches “flyer” during aerial stunts; responsible for protecting their head and neck from damage. After a good practice session, she kisses Amanda (Kudakwashe Rutendo). In the locker room, all of them laugh together. If you look closely, you will realize that while these girls are happy they are also envious…but then while passing another gym where Thunderhawks were still working hard Riley walked over another gym where Thunderhawks are still sweating it out.
While driving to her house Riley and Amanda sing in the car. Her mother Tracy (Shannyn Sossamon) frantically cleans her living room but barely takes time to say hello. That night Riley demonstrates similar behavior in her room as she nervously picks at her eyebrows while watching practice videos waiting for some improvement.
The next day brings something rather thrilling; tryouts for open spots being held by Thunderhawks Coach Eileen McNamara (Evan Rachel Wood) along with assistant Devon (Thomas Antony Olajide). On the gym floor, every girl would have a chance to show what they could do in tumbling. As Amanda sails through her audition, Riley claps. Her turn was disastrous. She falls but refuses to give up. Riley goes again and nails the routine in front of pitch silence.
Eileen brings Riley to her office for a dressing down; she had been told once that every girl gets one more shot? Trembling with fear, this is why she pleads after being abruptly dismissed by Eileen. There’s no comfort in Amanda’s solace. Alone, she has an incapacitating panic attack. Then another practice offers Riley and Amanda something spectacular: invitation into Thunderhawks!
D.W. Waterson as both director/co-writer comes out like a cannon on fire with her feature debut and it is fantastic. The energetic opening scene of Backspot reveals the fierce personality of Riley (Jacobs) which sets the tone of the entire film. Cheerleading makes up her whole sense of existence—she cannot but examine any points that may seem vulnerable to failure very closely at all times. This woman knows nothing about defeat! She inherited it from her mother, Tanya who also displays similar symptoms when she never stops cleaning and plucks out eyebrows disturbingly: neither can let go of what drives them away.
Amanda is the only person Riley loves other than cheerleading itself; she loves on her without hiding anything from people around them because they are doing this together for sure! However once Eileen becomes harsh towards Amanda things begin falling apart between them and they will not be victims’ abuse or accidental injuries might be caused by this thing happening. By all means cheerleading isn’t necessary like in case with Riley—her friend does not rely on it too much though—and consequently, this revelation destroys everything that used to bind these girls tightly together forever before it turns into a dangerous choice leading even deeper into insanity for Riley.
The exploration of Coach Eileen’s influence on gullible young people is well written in Backspot, this movie seems to be Whiplash for cheerleaders. Eileen, however, is not prepared to understand this. She looks up to a lady who she should have regarded as her perfect guide. Eileen has become an older lesbian who has attained the top heights of cheerleading. However, instead of providing a caring and supportive environment for Riley’s growth, she bullies her into submission.
It does sadly sort of prove some points about why she treats them so harshly and is validly used as a counterpoint by her life story. Life after all does not look bright for Riley according to her. When it comes to Riley, Eileen wants her tough enough; after all, she had to be herself. Having gone through hell and back though, she believes that giving Riley the same experience will help prepare the teenager for future hardships.
A great scene shows one of her schoolmates trying to put down cheerleading by it ain’t no real sport but sideline eye candy for male athletics only – that won’t work because you are wrong and sexist against girls who play celling games blindly . Thus each one of those individuals should understand that basketballers or footballers are not superior than me at least in any way shape or form . Audiences will definitely cheer when she retorts, “Let me have my makeup and pom poms, b*tch!”
However, while I can appreciate Backspot’s attempt at focusing on LGBTQ+ acceptance among other things, it goes too far with its portrayal of parental freedom. No nudity or sexual content is shown in the film as I have said before without mincing words just take my word for that To clarify further there are no nudes or any kind of vulgar stuff in this movie This deeply implies they have a more walking relationship compared with anything else.
This film is principally concerned with a girl who has an unhealthy obsession for a great sport, not an LGBTQ+ story. With the exception of the parents’ somewhat nonchalant attitude in Backspot, everything is portrayed thoughtfully and accurately. Jacobs is absolutely sublime here.more-over she did all her stunts thereby making it more realistic as well as putting another feather to her cap.
The film is produced by Page Boy Productions (Elliott Page’s company), Night is Y, and Prospero Pictures. XYZ Films will release it simultaneously on May 31st in theaters and VOD. The trailer can be viewed below.
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