In the new film 'Backspot,' competitive cheerleading gets a queer twist
In filmmaker and musician D.W. Waterson’s debut feature, “Backspot,” an overachieving teen, played by Devery Jacobs, enters the world of competitive cheerleading.
In filmmaker and musician D.W. Waterson’s debut feature, “Backspot,” an overachieving teen enters the world of competitive cheerleading. However, she finds the hurdles she faces — including the sport’s physical demands, her desire to appease her assertive coach and her attempts at keeping her relationship stable — are affecting her mind, body and soul.
Through the character of Riley, played by Devery Jacobs of “Reservation Dogs” fame, “Backspot” highlights cheerleading’s intense and laborious nature, where one little slip can shatter someone’s bones and spirit; the infrequently discussed mental health struggles athletes face; and the intergenerational friction between queer millennials and their Generation Z counterparts.
While Waterson, who uses they/them pronouns, did not have prior personal experience as a cheerleader, they lived the cheer dream by wearing a cheerleading uniform when DJing and playing drums in the underground Toronto music scene.
“That was my odd way into the cheer world,” they told NBC News.
Waterson said the sport first caught their eye after they saw a viral video of a cheerleader rigorously trying to perfect a split.
Rating: 5