When you have the chance to get to the top, you need to decide if it’s worth the cost.
In Backspot, Riley (Devery Jacobs) is an up-and-coming cheerleader who dreams of being selected for The Thunderhawks, an elite cheer squad led by the fearless Eileen McNamara (Evan Rachel Wood). When she and her girlfriend finally make the cut, the two discover very quickly that life is different in the big leagues. As the pressures begin to mount, Riley must decide what’s most important to her and whether or not she’s willing to pay the price.
Directed by D.W. Waterson, Backspot is a furious exploration of youth in the modern world. Using the competitive world of gymnastics as a catalyst, the film taps into the pressures of growing up in a world of high expectations. Conversations surrounding the nature of identity, self-harm and mental health all bubble to the surface as Riley pushes herself beyond her limits and tries to balance her personal life with her dreams.
Performances in the film are solid all around yet the strongest work by far comes from Woods and the young Jacobs. As McNamara, Woods carries herself with severity. Uninterested in connecting with her protégé on a personal level, all that matters to her is excellence. She lords over her team with an icy glare yet still feels like she’s holding back her own inner pain.
This performance is held in juxtaposition to an absolutely amazing Jacobs who walks a balance between obsession and compassion. As a competitive young woman, Riley is determined to prove her ability. Yet, at the same time, we understand that that determination is also matched with a fixation to proving her worth, especially to her coach.
But Waterson truly drives home the tension of these moment during scenes on the mat. Keeping the camera in close, Waterson never allows the viewer to forget the potential life-or-death circumstances involved with every routine, driving the stakes even higher. With every twist or catch, Riley holds the fate of her teammates in her hands.
We know that accidents can happen. But McNamara demands that they never do.
In this way, Backspot feels like a distant cousin to Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. For example, both films involve a youth consumed with greatness while being trained by an obsessive perfectionist as their coach. Even so, whereas Whiplash left the viewer feeling emotionally exhausted, Backspot sticks the landing with a far more hopeful message.
This is a story that understands the pressures of life and the toll that it can take upon our mental health. To be clear, Backspot never softens its call to do better and push to be the best. But it also leans into the question of what it means to do better in the first place. Without giving any spoilers, the film taps into the struggles of today’s youth while still pushing them to succeed. This isn’t High School Musical… but it isn’t Black Swan either. Instead, Backspot manages to carve its own unique path to success, challenging the viewer to understand themselves in order to succeed at the highest level.
It’s that level of care that elevates Backspot to something special. This isn’t only a film about winning. It’s also a story about what it means to step up into true greatness.
Backspot is available in theatres on Friday, May 31st, 2024.
