Last night, the Cheer Daily Team was treated to an advanced screening of the highly anticipated movie, Backspot. As someone who has been deeply immersed in the cheerleading world and worked on various cheer films, including marketing for the Bring It On DVD releases, hosting red carpet interviews during filming at the Nfinity Champions League, and being promotional partners with the hit TV show Friday Night Lights, my expectations for any new cheer film are sky-high. So, when a new cheerleading movie hits the screens, I naturally hope for it to capture the thrilling essence of the sport. However, Backspot offers something quite different.
Release Date: May 31, 2024 | Nationwide
Rating: NR (USA) | PG (Canada)
Runtime: 1 hr 33m, Drama
Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival
🍅: 82%
⭐️: 6.8 / 10
Tickets & Showtimes via AMC
Tickets & Showtimes via Fandango
Tickets & Showtimes via Alamo Drafthouse
Available On Demand:
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Backspot is not the film you turn to for dazzling cheer skills or an in-depth portrayal of the sport. Instead, it’s a poignant coming-of-age story about a young woman’s journey as a cheerleader and the complexities of dating another girl on her team. Directed by D.W. Waterson and written by Joanne Sarazen, the film features standout performances by Devery Jacobs and Evan Rachel Wood. This film shines a spotlight on LGBTQ+ relationships, presenting a love story that feels authentic and not the stereotypical portrayals often seen in mainstream media. While the narrative acknowledges the progress society has made towards accepting love in all its forms, it falls short of capturing the high-stakes intensity of competitive cheerleading.
This movie is not for the younger preteen audience. The best comparison would be a cheerleading-themed Call Me By Your Name. It delves into the life of a determined, ambitious cheerleader who is striving for acceptance, love, and the kind of relationship every 17-18-year-old yearns for. As a gay man, I found myself wishing I had grown up in the world depicted in Backspot. The film resonates deeply with anyone who has faced the anxieties and challenges of navigating relationships within the cheer community while grappling with their own identity.
Cheerleading has always been a sport with immense diversity, and Backspot underscores this aspect beautifully. For me, cheerleading was the perfect team sport to come to terms with my identity. It was my outlet when I needed a family and didn’t know who I was. My team always had my back, offering support and camaraderie that helped me navigate my journey of self-discovery.
One of the most significant aspects of Backspot is how it highlights the crucial yet often overshadowed role of a backspot in cheerleading. Backspots are the unsung heroes who ensure the safety and stability of their flyers, often without the recognition they deserve. This film brings attention to this essential position, giving it the spotlight that leaves you wanting more. Still, the portrayal of cheer routines and practice scenes lacks the authenticity and intensity that fans of the sport might expect.
The film captures the universal struggle of making tough decisions and seeking acceptance, but from the unique perspective of an LGBTQ+ individual. It’s a story about self-discovery, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of love, something that anyone, regardless of their background, can relate to. Watching Backspot felt like revisiting the turbulent yet formative years of my own life, and it’s a testament to the film’s authenticity and emotional depth.
Backspot is rated NR (Not Rated) in the United States, rated PG in Canada, and there are some adult language and adult situations. One aspect of the film that I struggled with is the portrayal of the lesbian coach with characteristics unfitting to the role in most circumstances. It’s clear that Eileen, the coach, suffered from severe homophobia and the angst of growing up in a non-accepting society. This backstory adds depth to her character but also introduces a harshness that compounds Riley’s existing anxieties. As the protagonist already faces immense pressure and fear of failure, this additional tension might not sit well with all viewers.
Director D.W. Waterson’s vision for Backspot is deeply personal and inspired by their own experiences growing up in a sports-obsessed family. Waterson combines the elements of competitive cheerleading with the high-energy, punk aesthetic of their background as a DJ and music artist. Their collaboration with Cheer Fuzion All-Stars and co-producer Devery Jacobs over five years has resulted in a film that authentically portrays the challenges and triumphs of cheerleading, but it doesn’t quite capture the high-level intricacies of the sport.
In an exclusive interview with Devery Jacobs, who plays Riley and also serves as a producer on Backspot, she shared insights into her character and the film’s message. Jacobs described Riley as someone who “eats, sleeps, and breathes cheer.” As a backspot on her team, the Cheer Fuzion All Stars, Riley dreams of moving up to the Thunderhawks, which she eventually achieves in the film. Encountering her new coach, Eileen, played by the “ferocious Evan Rachel Wood,” Riley finds herself navigating a tough-love approach that forces her to reassess her relationships and her perfectionism.
