Boys in the Trees

Boys in the Trees is a 2016 Australian drama film written and directed by Nicholas Verso. The movie tells the story of two former childhood friends, Corey (Toby Wallace) and Jonah (Gulliver McGrath), who reunite on Halloween night in their small Australian town. It's been years since they last saw each other, and as they wander through the eerie streets, they begin to reminisce about their past and the things that drove them apart.

As the night goes on, they encounter a group of girls, including Romany (Mitzi Ruhlmann), who used to be close friends with Corey before they drifted apart. The group of mischievous teens roam the town, playing prank after prank and generally causing trouble. However, as the night wears on, strange and inexplicable things begin to happen, and they all find themselves caught up in a haunting and mystical adventure that forces them to confront their past traumas.

One of the central themes of the movie is the idea of growing up and the pressures and difficulties that come with it. Both Corey and Jonah are struggling to find their place in the world, with Jonah struggling to fit in with the cool kids at school and Corey battling his own demons that often lead him to act out and lash out at those around him. Their reunion on Halloween night allows them to reconnect and to confront the things that pulled them apart in the first place.

Boys in the Trees is a visually stunning movie, with director Nicholas Verso using a wide range of cinematic techniques to create a dreamy, otherworldly atmosphere. The film is filled with lush shots of the Australian landscape, as well as eerie, haunting imagery that serves to heighten the eerie nature of the story.

The performances in Boys in the Trees are uniformly excellent, with Toby Wallace and Gulliver McGrath both delivering nuanced and powerful turns as two boys struggling to find their way in the world. Mitzi Ruhlmann is also fantastic as Romany, a complicated and often enigmatic figure who serves as a catalyst for much of the story's action.

At its core, Boys in the Trees is a meditation on the nature of friendship, memory, and growing up. It's a powerful film that manages to be both deeply moving and tremendously fun at the same time. The film is an exploration of the ways in which we let our past traumas define us, and how we can break free from those self-imposed limitations to become the people we truly want to be.

Overall, Boys in the Trees is a haunting and mesmerizing movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll. It's a film that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with the complexities of growing up, and it's a powerful testament to the power of friendship and the human spirit.