Beach Rats (2017)

👉Full movie at end of the post

Beach Rats is a gritty and emotionally raw coming-of-age drama that follows Frankie, a restless Brooklyn teenager navigating a summer of identity, desire, and inner conflict. Caught between the expectations of his traditional family, the pressure of his hyper-masculine friends, and his own sexual confusion, Frankie drifts through life with uncertainty. By day, he flirts with girls and hangs out aimlessly on the boardwalk; by night, he explores anonymous hookups with older men online.

The film carefully portrays Frankie’s double life with a quiet intensity. He begins dating a local girl, Simone, attempting to fit into the image expected of him, but his growing discomfort and detachment reveal his inner struggle. Meanwhile, he secretly meets with men he finds online, pushing further into a world he doesn’t fully understand or accept. The tension between what he presents publicly and what he hides privately drives the story forward with quiet, mounting pressure.

Director Eliza Hittman crafts a deeply atmospheric experience, using natural lighting, intimate close-ups, and long silences to mirror Frankie’s emotional isolation. There’s a poetic beauty in the film’s realism—whether it's a hazy sunset on Coney Island or the flicker of a screen in the dark. The cinematography captures not just a place but a mood: lost youth caught between freedom and fear.

What sets Beach Rats apart is its unflinching honesty. It doesn’t offer easy answers or dramatic revelations. Instead, it immerses the viewer in the confusion and contradictions of a young man who doesn’t yet know who he is. Frankie isn’t a hero or a villain—he’s simply human, navigating the complexities of sexuality, masculinity, and emotional disconnection in a world that doesn’t leave much room for vulnerability.

Ultimately, Beach Rats is a powerful and understated exploration of identity. It’s a portrait of youth in turmoil, where the waves of self-doubt and longing crash quietly beneath the surface. With a standout performance by Harris Dickinson, the film is a haunting, beautifully shot story about the fear of being seen—and the deeper fear of never fully knowing yourself.