Summary
Backspotis a new cheerleading drama from director D.W. Waterson, written by Joanne Sarazen with a story by Waterson. The movie follows an ambitious cheerleader who is selected for an all-star cheer squad, only to face adversity in the competitive environment fomented by a demanding head coach.Backspotwas executive produced by Elliot Page, and premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Screen Rantis happy to debut a clip fromBackspotfeaturing the film’s stars Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs,Marvel’sEcho) as Riley and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) as Coach McNamera. The clip showcases Jacobs’ gymnastic abilities and hints at the drama at the heart of the movie. Take a look at the clip, above, and get ready to watchBackspotwhen it hits theaters on May 31.
Why Backspot Is An Overdue Movie Starring Role For Devery Jacobs
As seen in the clip above,Backspotputs Devery Jacobs’ dramatic abilities front and center in what could be a starring turn even bigger than the actor’s other projects. Jacobs’ introduction to many viewers was as a shining part of thecast ofReservation Dogs(a critically-acclaimed Hulu original series about a group of Indigenous teenagers growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma) butBackspotfocuses the lens on the actor in an even more direct way. Thanks in part to the participation of people like Elliot Page and Evan Rachel Wood, even more viewers may discover Jacobs’ talents in this new film.
WhenScreen Rantinterviewed Devery Jacobs aboutBackspot, the actor revealed she was also an award-winning gymnast. In that way, the role of Riley feels almost tailor-made to bring out a wide range of Jacobs’ talents. Her ability to perform gymnastics skills herself is also sure to make her performance feel more authentic overall, heightening the dramatic effect on the audience as well as showcasing her strengths.
As director D.W. Waterson also revealed in aScreen Rantinterview,Backspotpremiered at South By Southwest six years after the idea was conceived. Jacobs joined the film as a producer early on, making thegymnastics moviea long-burning passion project for the actor. Considering how long it took for audiences to see Jacobs’ strengths on display in the unique way thatBackspotallows, the movie is overdue indeed.
