Goat | Film review - Frat boy Ben Schnetzer goes through hazing hell

(Image credit: © Paramount Pictures 2016)

Left traumatised by a violent carjacking, US college student Brad (Ben Schnetzer from Pride , The Riot Club) attempts to put the experience behind him by joining the campus fraternity to which his brother Brett belongs, but the group's brutal initiation rituals prove an equally grim ordeal in Goat.

As depicted here, the barbaric practice of hazing, as these rites are known, turns out to be a toxic brew of sadomasochism and machismo, which makes this unflinching American indie drama at times tough to watch.

But Schnetzer does a fine job as the troubled hero and gets excellent support from pop star Nick Jonas, who plays his brooding, conflicted brother. James Franco delivers a brief but punchy cameo as a former frat-boy .

Certificate 15. Runtime 98 mins. Director Andrew Neel.

Goat debuts on Sky Cinema Premiere on Saturday 4 February.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS8pgKoibx0

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.