Coming-of-Age Film With a Dark Twist

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MOVIE REVIEW
The Crusades
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Genre: Comedy, Drama
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director(s): Leo Milano
Writer(s): Leo Milano, Jack Hussar, Shaun Early
Cast: Rudy Pankow, Khalil Everage, Ryan Ashton, Indiana Massara, Anna Maiche, Ashley Nicole Williams, Blaine Maye, Peter Siewerth, Greg Davis Jr., Hope Quattrocki, Mike Starr, Nicholas Turturro
Where To Watch: premieres theatrically and on VOD & digital on July 7, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: THE CRUSADES hits the screen with a promise of another high school adventure film reminiscent of the late 90s and early 2000s. However, the flick takes an unexpected dive into the grittier aspects of teen angst. The looming joining of their school, Our Lady of the Crusades, with its competitor, St. Matthews, sets the stage for a farewell bash, which ultimately spirals into a frenzy against a menacing group.

Conjuring the spirit of their Midwestern, all-boys high school memories are the movie’s writers – Leo Milano, Shaun Early, and Jack Hussar. Their creative endeavor, however, twists the conventional high school shenanigans into a brooding display of reality, complete with raw fights and chaotic showdowns against rival groups. The narrative’s progression from playful tomfoolery to unbridled aggression paints an intense, murky picture that keeps you guessing about the protagonists’ destinies.

Even with all of this, the film has an energy that I can’t quite put my finger on, and part of this is thanks to the score/soundtrack constantly planted in your mind as you’re watching. Oddly enough, this feels out of place and softens the film’s potent exhibition of unfiltered masculinity. Confusing me even more, was it intentional, or just another miss?

THE CRUSADES stumbles against the reality that it’s trying to portray. Its attempt to sketch the tumultuous labyrinth of teenage anxieties and youthful defiance could be more robust, appearing contrived in places. It lacks the relatable charm of typical coming-of-age films, painting a discomforting tableau of adolescent tribulations rather than an endearing peek into teenage life. I feel like there may have been a struggle in the writer’s room, as the film didn’t know if it wanted to be AMERICAN PIE, WESTSIDE STORY, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, or BOOKSMART, instead creating a movie with good intentions but failed execution.

The film’s character design is a mixed bag. While essential to the plot, the characters must fully encapsulate the depth they can offer. I noticed this, but it stands out after seeing another reviewer talk about it. The female roles, disappointingly underdeveloped, function more as narrative devices than well-rounded individuals. Despite their daring adventures, the male protagonists miss the mark when evoking empathy or triggering hearty laughter. This feels like a film written twenty years ago and made today with no changes.

Zooming out to look at the bigger picture, THE CRUSADES positions itself as a break from the high school comedy genre norm. However, its overemphasis on violence and skewed presentation of adolescence take away more than it adds.

In summary, rather than offering a nostalgic stroll down high school corridors, THE CRUSADES serves up a bleak depiction of those formative years. Its potential to breathe fresh life into the coming-of-age narrative is sadly eclipsed by its unsettling and out-of-touch portrayal of violence, lack of nuance in modern times, and lackluster exploration of character arcs.

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[photo courtesy of VMI RELEASING]