Written and directed by Benjamin Howard, Riley is a beautiful coming-of-age tale set in contemporary, suburban Southern California.

Life appears good for middle-class high-school football athlete Dakota Riley (Jake Holley). Under the watchful eye of his ambitious, ex-league player, coach/father, Carson (Rib Hillis), he’s successful, has a large group of friends, a close family, and a girlfriend, and is doing well in his senior year at high school. He’s in control of all areas of his life except one, his sexuality. He’s gay but tries his best to deny it to himself. He maintains a façade with his girlfriend and his friends, and teammates in the locker room, but his youthful raging hormones get in the way, especially when surrounded by his ripped team-mates wearing very little. We follow Riley as he navigates his way through the turmoil to try and live authentically and find peace with himself.

Howard’s feature-length drama is an impressive, authentic debut. Based on his own experiences as a high-school athlete who’s not out yet, Howard has been able to draw on all those angst-ridden situations we face as closeted teenagers. The cast are very strong. As well as an impressive Jake Holley as Riley, Colin McCalla plays Jayden, Riley’s sexy, macho roommate who’s straight but quite relaxed about mutual jerk-off sessions. Riley Quinn Scott plays Skylar, Riley’s girlfriend who slowly realizes that all may not be well with her relationship. Connor Storrie is excellent as Liam, a fiercely out and proud fellow student, and Rib Hillis shines as Riley’s pushy father. J B Waterman also gives a very strong performance as one of Riley’s Grindr hook-ups, a hook-up that cleverly gets revisited throughout the film as Riley’s angst increases. The cast are supported by a clever script, beautiful cinematography including many homoerotic shots, and a strong soundtrack. This would be good film viewing for all high school students – indeed all youth – either to let those who are gay know they are not alone or for those who are straight to realize what some of their friends might be going through. Highly recommended

PS RILEY will be screening next at Bend Film Festival then will be released on Oct 13 for full details check https://www.facebook.com/WindsorFilmCo

Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah