Pushing one’s body to the limit has been the subject of many a film, especially when it comes to sports. In this regard, queer co-writer/director D.W. Waterson’s Backspot probably will not deliver anything new for the majority of people. Yet, its bold depiction of one character’s utter commitment to her craft will mirror the experiences of many athletes. Forced to choose often between her developing romantic relationship with girlfriend Amanda (Kudakwashe Rutendo) and maintaining perfection for All Star cheer team the Thunderhawks, Riley (Devery Jacobs) is driven to the brink of her own sanity.
Beginning with a point of view displaying the intensity of cheer activity and workouts, the pressures already begin to mount. Riley will do whatever it takes to make the All Star team, and quickly enough, she gets her dream realized despite actively disregarding rules during the audition. Coach Eileen (Evan Rachel Wood) does not seem impressed with Riley, but perhaps she is just playing hardball. The new recruits are warned in advance to never sing or mention the song “Come on Eileen” in her presence, or there will be some serious consequences. Naturally, Backspot has to eventually give us a cheer routine set to that catchy tune.
Riley’s girlfriend, Amanda, makes the team as well, though her ambitions for cheer are not as immediately striking. Throughout the film, Riley drives herself to panic attacks. She bruises and beats her body to the breaking point, all in the name of pleasing Coach Eileen for a perfect cheer routine. Dour closeups of Riley’s anxiety tics—including plucking out her eyebrow one by one—are enough to drive home that this girl may not be well. Another painful moment where Rachel (Noa DiBerto) needs help doing a full split almost hurts to watch.
Perfecting a routine can take months to master, sometimes longer, but the pressure to make it perfect can be too heavy of a weight for anyone to handle. Injuries loom—conditioning one’s body for the long stretch may be the only way to make it through. D.W. Waterson and co-writer Joanne Sarazen visit with Riley and Amanda’s family sporadically along the treacherous route; neither of their mothers (Shannyn Sossamon, Olunike Adeliyi) seem to grasp the actual intensity of the sport their daughters play together.
The main takeaway comes directly from the mouth of Coach Eileen: “to survive in this world, you can’t be weak.” A strong message surely, but as any all-star athlete can tell you, a necessary one. Partying and getting plastered beyond belief can only numb the pain for so long. Backspot mostly works, frankly due to coming from a character study vantage point rather than a full dissection of either cheer as a sport, or a tragically haunted portrait of a cheerleader gone bad. Devery Jacobs excels, holding the movie together like glue. Punched up with more thriller aspects, Backspot may have soared even higher to the top. Still, it is a movie worth watching thanks to the successful bonds of female empowerment, and the harrowing portrayal of Riley.
Backspot screened at 2024’s SXSW Film and TV Festival.
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