Julia Bailey I found this movie too complicated to be able to enjoy.It started out enjoyably but then so many characters were introduced I couldn't understand who they were and what relevance they had.Understood the troopers.Pity they didn't hang around a bit longer.Try as I might I cannot write any more.The whole movie became a mish mash of characters and blah blah.Such a pity - it seemed to start off quite well.But then maybe it is me who is too stupid to work it all out! Please accept my review.What more do you need from me to accept my review.Julia Bailey

sol ( Mild Spoilers) Trying not to give away any important plot-lines in the movie "Rites of Passage" the one thing that impressed me most about Camp Farrady, Jason Behr, was how meek in the biblical sense of the word, and un-violent he was throughout the entire film. Even though Camp was the most hurt abused and betrayed person in it and had every reason to express his painful feeling with combativeness actions. Yet somehow refused to give into them even to the point when his life was at stake.Growing up gay in a straight All-America family Camp's life was a living hell when as a young boy. He tried to conform when his strict father Del Farrady, Dean Stockwell, tried to "straighten" him out and later when Camp reach early adulthood his dad brutally beat up and chased out of his life Billy, Camp's best and gay friend, when he caught him and Camp embracing outside the family cabin on Christmas eve. Billy was so despondent over the forced break-up of him and Camp that it led to get himself infected with AIDS and later die of that disease. One afternoon Camp's older brother D.J, Robert Glen Kline, who's a lawyer on a case in Washington State, was about to register at a Tacoma hotel and was told that he's been signed in already by the hotel clerk. D.J realizing that the person signed is really his father Del sees him in the lobby with a woman who he's obviously having an illicit affair with. Del embarrassed at being spotted and D.J shocked at what he saw agree to go to the family cabin in the woods to talk thing out the next day. Unknown to both of them Camp was there too not expecting them to show up. Camp while he was looking for Billy got in touch with a prison pen-pal Frank, James Ramar, who knew about Billy who was also a pen-pal of his and from Frank he found out that Billy was gone. Frank noticed the address of the letters that Camp sent him and it was where he buried some $500,000.00 in stolen drug money and was using Camp's hurt feelings and emotions to get him to find the loot and take off with it and then leave Camp behind dead.Frank who broke out of prison with a fellow convict Red, Jalmz Woolvett, who Camp didn't know or expect but in the end found out that he was the one who wrote him those letters that were attributed to Frank that impressed and touched Camp so much. Frank Prearranging to meet Camp at the cabin that he expected to be deserted and then take off, or so Camp thought, with him to Canada to live together as a gay couple. With the unexpected appearance of Del & D.J made things deadly and complicated but at the same time in the end brought both father and son together even though it took a night of horrors to do it.Unusual film that treats relationships between gays and their parents and siblings with both touching sympathy as well as brutal realism. With Jason Behr really outdoing himself as the tormented but courageous Camp who despite all the abuse he takes in the movie from his father and Frank refuses to lose his humanity and in the end comes out as the most positive as well as tragic person in the film. The final scene in "Rites of Passage" when Camp reluctantly at first embraces his forgiving father and then accepts him is one of the most powerful and emotional scenes I've ever seen in a movie and it's done without a single word of dialog. Every one in the movie has a story to tell but it's Camp who's story ties them all together and makes "Rites of Passage" the emotional experience of a film that it is.

noangel104 This was a very good film. The characters are very well developed and you also feel a certain emotion for each one. My particular favorite was the lead character, Campbell Faraday (Jason Behr). This film holds a lot of tension and there are quite a bit of twists also.If you are in the mood for a good thrill ride, go rent this movie.**** out of **** stars.Also recommended: The River Wild

Cyndy When I first heard about this movie all I knew was that it's about a dysfunctional family and escaped prisoners in an isolated cabin. It sounded like a big waste of my time, but as I learned more about the story I felt I had to see it. It took some time to track down a copy to rent, but it was worth it. The story is very moving and I could not stop thinking about it for days. The acting is outstanding all around, but Jason Behr is phenomenal. This is a great movie, but I must admit that I was not thrilled with the last nighttime scenes, but that's my own personal opinion. Watch the movie and judge for yourselves. It's worth the time and effort.