D. W. Waterson’s “Backspot” follows a fairly conventional coming-of-age arc. It explores its protagonist’s emotional growth as she navigates her way through a new set of obstacles to fulfill her ambition. The protagonist, in this case, is a teenager who wants to showcase her skills at the upcoming cheerleading squad competition. However, the film avoids the underdog narrative contrivances to give us a fuller sense of its characters in the confusing stage of teenage years. For viewers expecting it to be just another female character-driven sports drama, it presents a delicately woven and maturely written coming-of-age tale.
“Backspot” primarily follows Riley’s (played by Devery Jacobs) journey after she gets selected for an all-star cheerleading squad with her girlfriend Amanda (played by Kudakwashe Rutendo) and their friend Rachel (played by Noa DiBerto). We witness Riley trying to juggle between her different responsibilities. She has a crippling anxiety that sneaks up on her when she’s under emotional pressure. While navigating her way through her relationship with Amanda, she tries to win over the trust and confidence of her new coach, Eileen McNamara (played by Evan Rachel Wood).
Riley, Amanda, and Rachel are used to motivating each other while they practice their athletic skills. However, Eileen is a strict disciplinarian who expects nothing but perfection. Occasionally, it ruffles some feathers in their squad. Still, Riley and Amanda look up to Eileen for what she represents to them as a no-nonsense lesbian coach. They find themselves caught up in feelings of admiration and affection with this new coach, which creates further complications.
Back home, Riley doesn’t have an open conversation with her parents. Her father remains absent from her life, while her mother remains mostly silent despite his unflattering treatment. Although the film doesn’t directly show any arguments between them, it makes their unstable family dynamic clear through the interactions, reactions, and the lack thereof. Riley’s anxiety seems to stem from the same dynamic that can result in a fear of expression. Unlike her, Amanda’s house is a much healthier place to grow up in. Her mother, Denie (played by Olynike Adeliyi), treats them with utmost love and appreciates their smallest victories.
The film delves into Riley’s tumultuous journey as she grapples with the chaotic emotions of adolescence. Yet, its beauty lies in the things that are deliberately left unsaid. At times, the absence of conversations makes their necessity even more immensely felt. In the context of its characters, the silences feel natural since not all of them express all their thoughts lucidly. So it doesn’t hinder the film from expressing its subtext.
The script specifies the individual communication patterns without letting them veer into archetypes. Eileen seems determined to defy any norms associated with a female professional, often communicates bluntly, and acts rather stoically. She expects the girls in her squad to be just as resilient. Riley projects confidence while struggling with psychological complications underneath. While her mother ignores her emotions and her coach doesn’t value their projection, she tries to understand their importance in her life. During this journey, she experiences a cocktail of emotions while trying to figure out her place as an adult and a woman.
The adults around Riley present different ways to lead lives, be it through a largely muted existence, an unapologetic curtness, or somewhere in between. So, her mind oscillates between embodying their traits and questioning their existence. The script aptly showcases the adults in their own eternal state of figuring out their lives. While following their coming-of-age journeys, “Backspot” also sheds light on differing perspectives on cheerleading. It allows the characters to understand the unfair nature of certain things that aren’t entirely in the teens’ control. It helps them develop their unique perspective that celebrates joy without sacrificing necessary discussions.
On top of its writing and directorial merit, “Backspot” boasts a set of strong performances, especially by Devery Jacobs right after her star-making stint in “Reservation Dogs.” She makes Riley’s sense of catharsis feel seen and heard. Besides her, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Evan Rachel Wood, Noa DiBerto, and Thomas Antony Olajide deliver impressive performances. They become catalysts in the central character’s complex journey.
