Ranchlands

I have always been fascinated with stories about dysfunctional families. Something about messed up people is always interesting and fun to watch. This film could have been so much better, it had potential but eventually the makers were so much into their head of making an arthouse circuit film that a whole lot of things in this film just didn't land properly. Having said that , its from the director of Longhorns and Rock Haven, my expectations were not too high anyway. We will talk about all this in details in a bit.

Tyler returns back home to visit when he hears the news of his brother having been diagnosed with cancer. It soon becomes obvious that Tyler has estranged relations with his mother and they do not see eye to eye, most likely because of Tyler being gay. There is always tension in the air. There he meets Noah, a god fearing, church going young man who helps his family in the ranch and son enough they find getting attracted to one another. But Tyler is dealing with his demons. It turns out that when Tyler was younger, his father caught him with another boy, who even tally committed suicide. Tyler was savagely beaten almost to death by his father while his mother just stood in silence leading to all this hatred in Tyler's head. When the mother finds out about Noah and Tyler, she blames Tyler of seducing the young man. A huge argument happens between mother and son in which some other family secrets are revealed out of nowhere. Movie takes on year leap. Noah and Tyler are now together and accepted by family.

The story was interesting, but he whole execution of the film was below average at best. This film has got be the worst editing I have ever seen. It felt like the scenes have randomly been stitched together. There were so many scenes that would come out of nowhere and then just go. As if they were added as fillers as an after thought. The continuity was sorely missing in the film. Even the confrontations, the romance build up and the reasons were all too hard to digest for. There is no back story of any character. Sure, the family was god fearing religious people, but that cannot be the only reason. Then there is no build up of love between Noah and Tyler. It was more like, well we are the only two gay men here, so lets be together. This film has the leads coming together in the most bizarre manner. There is absolutely no chemistry. Even Tyler's brother just occasionally shows up out of the blue, gives his opinion on thins and then we don't see him for scenes galore. The big secret reveal by the mother of her abuse was so random. Just for a shock value, but that has absolutely no bearing or reason for her to treat her son they way she did. The dialogues were all super average as if they have been taken from many other films and said just because they are good. Whether they sound fitting in a scene or not is purely coincidental. Coming to acting, Noah, in his small role is the only decent actor here. Tyler and his mother were both odd. I mean, their pain never connected with me. Tyler, who is supposed to be carrying this whole baggage within, never once connected to me as audience. Bad screenplay, awful direction and just lazy editing and dialogues have spolied a concept which could have been so much better. (4/10)