Themes: Hostage Situations, Sibling Relationships, Fathers and Sons
Main Cast: Dean Stockwell, Jason Behr, Robert Glen Keith, Jaimz Woolvett, James Remar
Release Year: 1999
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
Two brothers and their father attempt to sort out their issues regarding family and masculinity in the drama Rites Of Passage. A young lawyer, D.J. (Robert Keith), is in a hotel when he spots his father, Del (Dean Stockwell) -- who happens to be with his mistress. D.J. is very upset, and Del suggests they go somewhere else to talk about this matter. They drive to the family's cabin in the mountains, where they discover Campbell (Jason Behr), D.J.'s brother, who has been out of touch with the family for the past two years; Campbell got into a violent arguments with Del regarding Campbell's male lover, and they haven't spoken since. The three sit down to air their differences when a pair of strangers, Frank (James Remar) and Red (Jaimz Woolvett), arrive at the door, claiming to need help with their car. The mood soon turns confrontational between Frank and Del, threatening to erupt into violence at any moment, especially when it becomes clear that Frank and Campbell have met before. Rites Of Passage was directed by Victor Salva and was screened as part of the 1999 San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Dean Stockwell - Associate Producer, Craig Davis Roth - Associate Producer, Ed Cathell III - Co-producer, Jana Stern - Costume Designer, Jewels Sutterfield - First Assistant Director, Victor Salva - Director, Ed Marx - Editor, John Davis - Executive Producer, Larry Gershman - Executive Producer, Anita Gershman - Executive Producer, Bennett Salvay - Composer (Music Score), William Perretti - Production Designer, Don E. Fauntleroy - Cinematographer, Pierre David - Producer, J. Todd Harris - Producer, Benjamin Patrick - Sound/Sound Designer, Victor Salva - Screenwriter
The film begins with two recently escaped convicts — Frank (James Remar) and Red (Jaimz Woolvett) — approach a group of campers. The elder of the pair shoots and kills the campers with single rapidfire shots to the head.
D.J. Farraday (Robert Glen Keith) discovers that his father, Del (Stockwell), has been having an affair. D.J. asks Del to meet him at the family's cabin by the lake, where D.J. intends to confront him about his adultery. When the two arrive at the summer house, they find the younger son, Campbell "Cam" Farraday (Behr), already there. Eventually it is revealed that Del had found Cam and his boyfriend, Billy, embracing there at the cabin. Del brutally beat Billy, and father and son have not spoken since. Cam seems determined to leave the confrontational situation. While D.J. is trying to convince Cam to stay and attempt a reconciliation, Cam reveals to him that Billy is dead, and the clear implication is that Cam blames his father for the loss.
A short while later, the two escaped convicts show up at the cabin and ask to use the phone, claiming that their car has broken down. Red, who is introduced as Frank's adult son, makes a point of taking up the hospitality offered, using that excuse to remain in the house (over Frank's objection.) As the evening progresses Frank seems to be forcing Del into a challenge. Tensions are high, as Frank makes his play for Alpha of the house. At one point, D.J. (Del Junior) goes so far as to suggest that "we all just whip 'em out and get this over with."
The police show up looking for the two escaped convicts, and things get tense very quickly. It soon becomes clear that Cam knew the convicts and has had some sort of entanglement with them. From there, the twists and turns begin to thicken, and the onionskin layers of this tale are revealed. The family must reconcile and put aside their issues with each other to deal with the menacing force of Frank.
Production and releases
This was the first film from Salva since the controversy surrounding his film, Powder. Salva based much of the dialogue between Del, D.J. and Cam on tense conversations he and his own father had while Salva was growing up. The production took 18 days to film. Co-star Jason Behr received the script only two weeks before shooting began.
Two versions of the film have been released. A director's cut of the film with commentary by Salva and Behr was released by Bell Canyon Entertainment on May 2, 2000. This version of the film features several deleted scenes which further explain the relationships between the major characters. A theatrical release version was released by Wolfe Video on August 30, 2000. This edition contains no commentaries.
References
Harvey, Dennis. "'Rites of Passage' (review)." Variety. June 28, 1999.
