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Queer Cruising & Toxic Masculinity Clash in New Beach Rats Trailer
Eliza Hittman's gritty, sexual coming-of-age film already was a favorite at Sundance this year.
Watch out, Barry Jenkins, because there's another ocean-themed, queer coming-of-age film on the horizon. Far away from the sensual shores of Florida made famous in Moonlight, writer and director Eliza Hittman is heading to Brooklyn's Coney Island for the suitably titled Beach Rats. Earlier this year, a teaser trailer premiered that introduced viewers to Frankie, played by newcomer Harris Dickinson, as he engaged in an erotic shirtless selfie-taking moment.
Related | Selfie Game Strong in Gritty Beach Rats Teaser
Now, a full trailer has dropped and, from the nearly two-minute clip, it looks poised to live up to the hype it garnered when it won Hittman a directing award at Sundance. Sidestepping the usually batshit crazy scene you can find at Coney Island any time of the day or night (we recommend 3AM for optimal insanity though), her film follows Frankie as he spends time suffering through the toxic masculinity of his meathead friends, flirting with his new girlfriend, and navigating his sexual coming-of-age one hookup at a time.
The film is already making waves for the "hot gay sex" the star has throughout the film, but it looks to be a poignant, reflective take on the very real struggle of navigating homosexuality in a highly masculinized environment when it comes out in theaters on August 25.
