Sundance 2024

Ponyboi is a neon-soaked, noir-tinged crime thriller that follows the journey of its titular character, an intersex sex worker played by writer, director, and star River Gallo. The film, which pulls heavily from Gallo's personal experience, is most compelling when it focuses on Ponyboi's intersex identity and their sense of alienation and survival in a harsh, unwelcoming world.

The story kicks off with a chaotic incident—Ponyboi's client unexpectedly dies, throwing them into a frantic escape. Working out of a run-down laundromat under the watchful eye of their sleazy boss, Vinnie, played by a particularly grimy Dylan O'Brien, Ponyboi decides to swipe Vinnie's cash stash and hit the road. From there, the film weaves through seedy truck stops, motels, and desolate pharmacies across Jersey, painting a gritty picture of life on the run in a landscape that mirrors Ponyboi's isolation.

While the crime thriller aspect gives the film a narrative engine, it's also the area where the film stumbles. While initially intriguing, the tension of being on the run plays out in predictable beats. The film's noir-inspired structure—neon-lit streets and a thumping, atmospheric soundtrack—provides a mood. Still, the plot feels underdeveloped, lacking the complexity or stakes that might elevate it from standard genre fare.

Where the film shines, however, is in its exploration of Ponyboi's identity. Gallo's personal insight into the intersex experience lends the film a deeply authentic and poignant perspective. The film is at its best when it steps back from the crime elements and leans into Ponyboi's introspective moments—particularly in a b-storyline that sees Ponyboi dealing with the news that their estranged father is on his deathbed. Through fragmented flashbacks to Ponyboi's childhood, we witness fleeting, dreamlike moments of emotional tension as Ponyboi grapples with feelings of abandonment and the desire for connection. Yet, as affecting as these flashbacks are, they remain somewhat distant. The audience is left with only a hazy sense of Ponyboi's childhood trauma, never fully allowed to penetrate the emotional core of those memories. This vagueness creates a disconnect, making it harder to fully empathize with Ponyboi's struggle.

Despite these narrative shortcomings, Gallo's performance is powerful and raw, offering a captivating portrayal of a character who is constantly navigating a world that neither understands nor accepts them. Dylan O'Brien's hyper-sleazebag, Vinnie, is unlike any role I've seen him take on.

In the end, Ponyboi is a mixed bag—a film with a distinctive, personal voice that excels when it delves into the emotional and physical complexities of being intersex. The crime elements may be formulaic, but Gallo's creative vision still makes the film worth watching. It's a bold debut and certainly marks Gallo as a filmmaker to watch. Recommend.

— 3 / 5 ⭐