Far removed from the days of Animal House, Andrew Neel’s Goat takes a look at the initiation process to enter a fraternity (aka hazing) and the strength and limits of loyalty. Led by pop-star-turned-actor Nick Jonas and Ben Schnetzer, with a cameo by producer James Franco, as evidenced in a new NSFW trailer, the script is co-written by David Gordon Green.
We said in our review from Sundance this year: “Telling us little new about the horrors of hazing that Todd Phillips’ documentary Frat House didn’t already do at Sundance nearly two decades ago, Goat is a compelling watch, but in the end, its themes are a bit muddled, and certainly not unique.”
Check out the trailer and poster below for the film also starring Gus Halper, Danny Flaherty, Jake Picking, and Virginia Gardner.
Reeling from a terrifying assault over the summer 19-year-old Brad Land (Ben Schnetzer) starts college determined to get his life back to normal. His brother Brett (Nick Jonas) is already established on campus and with a fraternity that allures Brad with its promise of protection popularity and life-long friendships. Brad is desperate to belong but as he sets out to join the fraternity his brother exhibits reservations a sentiment that threatens to divide them. As the pledging ritual moves into hell week a rite that promises to usher these unproven boys into manhood the stakes violently increase with a series of torturous and humiliating events. What occurs in the name of ‘brotherhood’ tests both boys and their relationship in brutal ways.
Goat hits VOD as well as NY, LA, and select cities on September 23rd.