One of my all time favorites.

Not even bad in a good way

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

For all the hype around "Beach Rats" it should be noted that it owes a large debt of influence to the 1998 Australian film "Head On" . Watch this underrated film from 20 years ago that is just as insightful now as it was then , that didn't need to have a catharsis at the ending so that it would stick in our mind. "Beach Rats"is a bleak one dimensional character portrayal of being gay and closeted. It has more in common with the films of the 1970s where being gay was a tragedy in itself . It exists out of its time and relies on the cliche of a scenario that requires violence to underline the producers bleak view .

Beach Rats - Beautiful, Raw, Disgusting, Reality.Chipper F. Xavier, Esq. Beach Rats is the story of Frankie, who represents the lost, wayward youth of preaent day America, vis-a-vis Brooklyn, New York. Frankie and his crew of hip young thugs drift aimlessly through society with no real thoughts of their present situation other than the temporary solace of drugs and casual sex. But Frankie is different from his friends: His dad is dying, and Frankie is sexually attracted to older men.Beach Rats, when seen as a lens through which we view directionless youth, is spot-on in terms of its clarity and sophistication. Young people, who seem to have everything they could possibly need in this age of technological plenty, are starving for meaning and purpose. Director Eliza Hittman expertly utilizes British-born Harris Dickinson as Frankie to aim a laser-focused beam of intense scrutiny on societies everywhere; addressing important issues of connection, familial bonds and community involvement which are frequently found at the heart of adolescent misbehavior. As an attractive teen struggling with a variety of personal issues, Frankie finds himself at a crossroads with only his friends, sex and drugs available for instant relief. His mother and sister are present in the background, but cannot reach him. Beach Rats offers no easy answers, no quick fix, and no Hollywood ending. Several times during sexual encounters, Frankie tells his male partners: "I don't really know what I like." Similarly, whenever the subject of his youthful friends is brought up, Frankie's response is: "Those aren't my friends." Clearly, Frankie is untruthful regarding both statements. Perhaps the director is simply underscoring the power of denial. As a movie, Beach Rats succeeds in painting a realistic portrait of the dilemma many young unfortunates find themselves in. The sharp, colorful imagery and straightforward dialogue imbue this movie with a powerful essence of truth which is both intoxicating and disturbing. Although there is no real ending, the credits roll and we realize we have witnessed the director's vision of aimlessness and despair. Watch Beach Rats with an open mind - it's well-worth your time.

The movie quite accurately depicts what closeted boys do and go through.. Acceptability in society is kept above self and for good. Fear of rejection by friends is quite what the character depicts and chooses not to accept himself as he is. Even when in company of a gay man, fears what might happen if he accepts the truth.The ending however is a bit abrupt. Great concept but not so good execution..

This is a nice film if you like staring at a naked Brad Renfro lookalike for 98 minutes, but this LGBT film had nothing more. As a writer (with an award winning LGBT screenplay to my credit) it frustrates me when I see characters that are just there with no purpose, or plot twists that go nowhere.We see one of Frankie's friends, as an example, not take part in the swimming at the beach. He sits and watches. When they mug the gay man for his weed, he walks away and doesn't participate. Why? Is he gay and has feelings for Frankie? The gay man they're mugging?What happens to the gay man they mugged? Anyone get arrested? Frankie's mom sits at his computer. She asks later if he wants to discuss anything. Does she know and is coaxing him into coming out? Too many questions unanswered. It's as if they ran out of money and had to stop production at this point.So much confusion. I'm even more confused how this film won at Sundance and the producers who optioned my script, about a gay professional baseball player, couldn't even get funding.