Jump to the good stuff: The Review | The Final Verdict
The Review:
Soft Lad is a gay drama about a young man having an affair with his sister’s husband.
Jonny Labey plays David, a young dancer who has been accepted into a prestigious dance company in London. This means he has to move away from his lover, Jules (Daniel Brocklebank), who is also his older sister’s husband. The situation is confusing and messy, especially since David is conflicted about his feelings for Jules and hurting his sister, Jane (Suzanne Collins).
Labey and Brocklebank have an undeniable chemistry that makes their relationship, and the situation, believable. And when David tries to discuss moving to London, Jules lures him away from the subject with a kiss that is ripe with sexual tension. The same scene also shows how Jules uses David’s emotions and sexual desire to control him.
Jules is a master manipulator who is suffering from internalized homophobia. He plays hot and cold with Jane and David. After not having sex with Jane for months, he suddenly ravishes her for no reason. When David tells him about being accepted into the dance company, he seems ambivalent at first and then shows him affection. This is textbook gaslighting, and it works.
As Jules, Brocklebank gives a reserved and chilling performance. And when Jules loses control of David and Jane, there’s an emotional edge that makes it unclear as to how far he would go to hide his sexuality.
Once David breaks it off with Jules, he goes out, meets Sam (Craig Stein), and they begin dating. Soft Lad does a good job showing David and Sam growing closer while Jules and Jane’s marriage unravels. And the drama builds up to the climactic scene where all is revealed. While the revelation could be a bit more dramatic, it doesn’t ruin the movie.
The Final Verdict:
Soft Lad is an enjoyable drama that will hold your interest. The acting is decent, as is the cinematography, and the story is compelling.
