*Ganymede* is a bit of a mixed bag, functioning primarily as a coming-of-age queer drama while intertwining elements of horror. With its underlying theme of religious homophobia, it’s a semi-horror film—not in a traditional scary way, but more through its subtle, unsettling subtext. The movie challenges us to confront the painful bigotry and abuse faced by the LGBTQ community, especially from right-wing religious perspectives. At its heart, the film attempts to send an important message to young people grappling with their sexual identity, particularly those who have to navigate problematic family dynamics.
Set in a small, modern-day town in the Bible Belt, the film follows Lee, a high school wrestling star and the only son of a staunchly religious local politician who runs his household with strict authority. Kyle, an openly gay student at the school, develops a crush on Lee. He learns that Lee volunteers to pick up trash around the school, so Kyle decides to join him. As they spend more time together, the growing friendship causes concern for Lee’s parents, while Lee himself is conflicted about his feelings. Throughout the film, Lee begins to experience disturbing hallucinations of evil demons, which are triggered by various events. Despite this, Kyle persists, encouraging Lee to accept that being gay is okay. However, things take a darker turn when Lee’s parents catch the two boys embracing after sharing a kiss. Lee’s father, in a desperate attempt to “cure” his son, enlists the local pastor, who believes that gay people are influenced by a demon named Ganymede. The pastor then conducts therapy sessions with Lee, using electric shocks in an attempt to rid him of the demon. As the sessions progress, Lee begins to see the demon Ganymede, and his mental and emotional state spirals out of control. Eventually, Lee reaches the point of self-harm, only to be saved in the nick of time by Kyle, whose intervention helps Lee’s mother come to the realization and accept her son for who he truly is.
*Ganymede* approaches horror from the angle of the emotional and psychological toll of being forced to stay in the closet. The production quality and acting, however, give the film a made-for-TV movie feel. The actors, particularly the actor portraying Lee, deliver commendable performances. The actor playing Lee skillfully navigates the subtleties of the character, making the audience empathize with him. Kyle also does a decent job, though his character feels underdeveloped. The film dedicates little time to the blossoming romance between the two boys, instead focusing more on the religious aspect of the narrative. That said, the film ultimately feels like it doesn’t have much new to say. We’ve seen this story before—an openly gay high school boy falls in love with a closeted one, and then all sorts of weird and supernatural things start happening. The horror elements feel recycled, and the subplots about conversion therapy, shock treatment, suicide, genetics, and other themes only seem to serve as distractions, adding unnecessary drama to what could have been a straightforward gay teen love story.
The character of the pastor is presented as the primary antagonist, but his role is less prominent than the film suggests. He barely appears in the film, and it would have made more sense to feature Lee and Kyle on the poster instead, as they are the true focal points of the narrative. It feels as though the filmmakers were unsure of what tone or message they wanted to convey. The subplot about Lee’s uncle being gay and supposedly passing on “the genes” also feels completely absurd.
In conclusion, *Ganymede* is an okay film. While it addresses some important themes, it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh or groundbreaking to the table. The execution could have been better, and the film feels somewhat confused in terms of its direction and narrative focus. Overall, it’s an interesting idea that struggles to live up to its potential.
