Boy Erased

The film opens with childhood footage showcasing a sweet and innocent boy, transitioning into a teenage Jared. He is seated in church, listening to his father, Marshall, deliver a sermon about humanity's flaws while glancing at a young woman across the aisle, hinting at his budding interests.

Jared is driven by his mother, Nancy, to a facility. During the ride, he playfully extends his arm out the window, but Nancy warns him with a cautionary tale, forcing him to roll up the window and setting a tone of concern for his safety and well-being.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Jared is made to surrender all his personal belongings. He is greeted by a staff member named Michael, who orders him to delete certain contacts from his phone, a sign of the strict and intrusive environment he is about to enter.

Jared learns that he is part of a controversial gay conversion program named Love in Action. During orientation, he and the other participants read aloud the clinic's stringent rules that seek to suppress their natural identities and interactions.

Victor Sykes, the program director, delivers a thought-provoking sermon using a crumpled dollar bill as a metaphor. He insists that their perceived 'sins' are choices that can be reformed, establishing the clinic's underlying ideology.

During his time at the clinic, Jared meets other participants like Gary and Jon, who each grapple with their own struggles. This camaraderie begins to form as they share their experiences, though the environment remains oppressive with their identities under scrutiny.

The sessions at the clinic intensify, focusing on uncovering familial traumas that they must attribute to their feelings of homosexuality. Jared's relatively stable family background makes him a target for Victor's scrutiny, who sees this as problematic.

The narrative reveals flashbacks of Jared's seemingly perfect high school life, including basketball games, a girlfriend, and family moments. These glimpses underscore the internal struggle he faces and the façade he maintains in his personal life.

As days progress at the clinic, harsh psychological exercises are enacted to confront the identities perceived as weaknesses. Jared's discomfort grows as he witnesses the damaging effects of these methods on himself and his peers.

The clinic's enforcement of rigid masculinity standards distorts individual identities, prompting Jared to experience heightened anguish. The environment becomes increasingly hostile, with participants being humiliated in therapy sessions that prioritize aggression.

Jared faces a traumatic incident involving Henry, leading to feelings of betrayal and shame. This experience deepens his internal conflict regarding his sexual identity and the extreme pressures exerted by the conversion therapy.

As Jared’s internal struggle heightens, familial strife emerges as his parents confront their beliefs and responsibilities. Their inability to fully support him brings further turmoil to Jared's already challenging journey of self-discovery.

The grim realities of the conversion therapy are highlighted when another participant, Cameron, succumbs to the program's pressure. This tragic event catalyzes Jared to question the effectiveness and morality of the treatment they are undergoing.

Realizing the emotional and psychological toll of the program, Jared makes a desperate decision to escape from the oppressive environment of Love in Action. This moment signifies his growing resolve to reclaim his identity.

In a transformative closing, Jared is shown living as his true self in New York as a writer. He reflects on his past while advocating against conversion therapy, highlighting the importance of compassion and understanding for those trapped in similar struggles.