THE WAR BOYS is a low budget, small film by first time director Ron Daniels and written by relative newcomers Naomi Wallace and Bruce McLeod that puts more conflicts before the audience than most hyped Hollywood movies. Where this little film succeeds is in its ability to present the bumps in the lives of young men struggling with the conflict of stepping out of the familial heritage into a world of unknowns. Populated by a very strong cast of young actors, THE WAR BOYS takes us to places other films have feared to go and does so very well.

The location of the film is a small town somewhere near the border between the US and Mexico. The War Boys is the name of a group of lads who in highschool worked their own kind of border patrol, finding illegals and chasing them. Among this triad are Hispanic but American born Grigorio (Victor Rasuk) who joins the action to escape the derision by his classmates as a 'beaner', David (Benjamin Walker) whose father Slater (David Gallagher) has money and has sent David off to Duke University to become a lawyer, and George (Brian J. Smith) an insecure lad whose father is a cab driver and whose mother is supportive (their family also includes a young Mexican girl named 'Cat' (Cheyenne Serano) who runs about the little town dressed as Zorro, acting tough but really in need of love from her new brother George. David is home from college on a spring break (he actually was suspended for stripping nude in one of his classes!) and rejoins George and Grigorio for mischief. David learns that his father brings contraband from Mexico into the US and with that surprising inside information the three plan a heist of what they believe to be a truckload of televisions: the escapade goes terribly wrong when the true contents of the absconded truck are discovered.

The stories that unfold about each of these boys are what make the film gel. Grigorio is a virgin and is infatuated with Marta (Micaela Nevárez), an older but beautiful owner of a doughnut shop: the interaction between these two needy people - the virgin Grigorio and Marta afraid to become involved with someone younger than she - speaks mountains about relationships versus infatuation and physical needs. David and George have a past history of acting out a physical attraction and this comes forth in a set of scenes that address young male sexual identity challenges in some of the most beautifully realized and subtle scenes on film. David and Slater have father/son relationship problems that come to a crisis with David's attraction to George: the surprise is how sensitively this conflict is worked out. George and Cat have never related but when George confides his sexual secrets to Cat she is the supportive bulwark of understanding - again in a very sensitive and subtle way.

Given these character developments and the many critical topics the film addresses (prejudice against illegals, taking advantage of the built in crime of the border towns, sexual identity challenges, etc) the ending of the film is intensely dramatic and leaves the audience with a profound message. An excellent young cast and a fine director make this a powerful little film that should not be missed. Grady Harp

It's hard to believe there aren't tons of reviews for this film! It handles numerous "taboo" subjects with aplomb, and gives the viewer a whole lot to think about.

The three youthful leads give outstanding performances all around, Peter Gallagher does a fine job in support, and Teresa Yengue ices the cake to perfection. Many other fine performances here, don't get me wrong.

Try on a "thinking" movie for a change. I think you'll find this most rewarding. Not sure whether this is out on video yet, but please don't give it a pass when it comes your way.

This is a courageous movie, full of stirring moments, sensuality, authentic emotions, love, hatred, ignorance, self-discovery. Had it been launched in Europe, in France perhaps, it would have had major success. In the US, the race discourse, commingled with Jesus talk, environmentalism, identity politics, etc., completely overshadows the genuine merits of plot and cinematography. Acting is not always great, but the roles are not as hard as they look. There is one love scene between two young men in which the tension and the mutual attraction are so well calibrated that anyone, straight or gay, is inevitably touched. Anyone, male or female, gay or straight, can identify with the daring, the fear, the unavoidable accumulation of desire that turns the adolescent into adult. I love how the scene cameos the way the whole movie stages fear and anger, the major emotions in the story, and shows how love can channel them into something positive and constructive. The two young men are perhaps only in lust with one another, at least in that specific scene, but as we know from the plot they also love one another. They have known each other since childhood. This is a powerful story, tragic and beautiful, and true, and perhaps it will earn viewers a sense of peace. Odd that it id not make a bigger splash. 9 out of 10 stars is the minimum.

This movie is a coming of age tale of 3 young men who are thee same but very different. Living in a border town does things to you and the acting in this movie portrays exactly what life in the desert is like from a modern perspective. The plot is rather ill defined and apparently some people are unable to find meaning in it. But for me, I understand the complex nature of this screenplay. The Director did a great job putting a time line on what has happened. My hat is off to the entire cast and staff for making this movie interesting and memorable. I enjoy a movie where I have to think and this one just presented the characters in a slice of time with little else to go on. Very Brave, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

i do not know why, but this film seems so calm and then such a nice romance and a strong story evolves.. i don't know, its like laying down on the couch and just going with the flow.. love the picture, the faces, the dialogues.. it's not flawless, but neither as life. all have their reason to be, dealing with many issues.. i thought 'the shelter' was my favourite gay-themed movie, but this 1 actually won my heart. please give it a try and let me know... don't expect any drugs, or trans or even anything else seen before in so many gay movies... this is not actually a gay movie, but rather a strong bond among 3 friends... LIFE PRESENTED INPERFECTLY PERFECT

I agree with the poster who said a 4-hour miniseries would have been better. There are several issues addressed in this film, but the runtime precludes developing and bringing each issue to culmination.

Having said that, there were indeed some great segments: of course, the boys discovering what was really in the stolen truck tops the list (actually, from that scene to the end of the movie). While the loss of virginity scenes (gay and non-gay) were excellent, for me the true highlight was elsewhere: the hands giving presents through the hole in the wall. Second would be George sitting on the stoop, talking to his sister. The father-son "fag" scene is another nice nugget.

Watch the movie. Just understand that too much is attempted in too small of a time.

This movie has a lofty goal: take on the subject of boundaries. Boundaries of race, of nationality, of sexuality, even generations. It pits father against son, American-born Mexican against an immigrant, an adopted sister against her older brother, and for one brief moment, a strong friendship versus romance.

What it doesn't do, is try to make anything of these juicy ingredients. This movie might have worked better as a 4-hour long TV drama with more characters, perhaps expending on the ambivalent wealthy white man, who both helps illegal immigrants and uses them; explain how two best friends become lovers with such ease, with no confusion or bafflement; why an older Mexican woman would break her own rules and succumb to the romantic approaches of a younger man?

None of those subjects is approached; instead, the movie hurls us forward with the speed of a stolen truck, hits us with great remorseless tragedy, and ends, as abruptly as it began.

If you have nothing better to do that afternoon, you could watch it, but I wouldn't make a special effort just on account of this movie.

This film has involved a few topics that intrigued me: border illegal immigration, struggle of 1st generation immigrants (Greg & Marta), law enforcement racial profiling (Greg), gay coming of age (David and George), adoption family (George), etc.

The story had a terrific beginning and background set up. But then there are so many signals and story lines that audience are watching a diary, a soap opera rather than a film. The plot of the film was so loose. The real issue or truck mystery keeps getting ignored until the last 15 minutes. It lacked the build-up of tensions and the opening of that trailer was just unprepared. Marta walked into that trailer full of what was unexpected (I don't know why she did, while the boys were doing nothing there). The camera work and cosmetics for that trailer scene was very very poor that it could not bring any emotion out of audience. I am so very disappointed.

I still give the film 6 out of 10 because I think the boys were good looking and good actors. They could've done so more with those intimate scenes. For god sake, tell one story well - not 10 stories poorly.

I am sorry but I thought this movie was a dud. The acting was poor, the direction was worse. I thought the storyline could have been better developed. I am actually surprised Peter Gallahger would participate in a movie with such low quality.

The positive was unknown Micaela Nevárez. Rather attractive. Sadly she was stuck in a role that was stagnant. However, I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. I fast forward through parts I felt irrelevant,or that I felt were pointless to the story... There were a lot of unfilled holes in this movie. It could have as couple different ways, they chose the wrong way.

Very strange film.Let me say that the title is deceptive as is the buzz on the internet about it.It's not a war film unless growing up is war,nor is it a gay film unless a man and woman kissing is forever to be called a heterosexual film.Its a weird mix of coming of age and aloofness set in the border between Mexico and the US.Usually these "where am I and what am I doing with my life",have been urban city films for the most part.There have be a few exceptions and this is the best of the lot in that respect.Here we have 3 guys who in HS called themselves"the war boys"because they chased"beaners"for fun and reported them to the border patrol.It's strange that one of them,Victor Rasuk as Greg,is Hispanics himself and admits he would do anything to "fit in" so he could "get out". Brian J. Smith as George is white trash with Hispanics"kid sister"he doesn't like because she's different,wonderfully played by Cheyenne Serano as Cat.Finally the third is Benjamin Walker as David,the son of a well off and not so much liked "business man" Peter Gallagher as Slater .The gay theme comes from a long hidden but final coming out between George and David. While this may seem shocking and "earth shaking"it's minor compared to what happens as a result of a boredom and "getting back at dad"scheme that goes horribly wrong. Other more familiar themes are older woman Micaela Nevárez as Marta,last chance for love with younger boy Greg.Stuff we've seen before but in different contexts and not with such catastrophic end results caused by their own indifference while coping with getting by because of the silly prank they pulled to get back at David's dad Slater.It's not a film for everyone and many might not even check it out because of preconceived notions.That would be YOUR mistake. The ending is haunting and will stay with you for quite a while.One of the independent films well worth the effort.Only short coming is the lack of real drug cartel dangers of todays world.

This great movie shows many problems people are facing everyday, whether in this country or around the world.

The setting of this story is across the U.S./Mexican border where The War boys, a male trio composed of 2 white males and a Mexican, hang around and chase immigrants. When David, the 1 of the members of the trio, comes home from College, the trio end up stealing a truck from David's father, which supposedly has stuff from the black market.

Throughout the story, you see two love interests reveal themselves. The first is with Greg and Marta, where he explains is because "he likes older women." The other is with David and George, the third member of the trio whom David had experiment with as a child. Both show common conflicts of people everywhere which makes this story easy to relate to.

Lastly, when the boys finally look in the stolen truck, they find the dead bodies of countless dead Hispanics, and when Davids father shows up to get rid David gets shot by border patrol who thinks he's going to kill his father. While the last part is hard to related too, it still brings out deep emotion in the viewer for this is where their true colors unfold.

This film was really good but who thought it was a good idea to end the movie so open ended???? American films always find it cool to leave the audience wondering.

Touching love stories, friendship, father/son tumultuous relationship but no one knows what happened with the maid and the gasoline, does David live or die?

The War Boys is really interesting movie with a lot of taboo themes still to discuss. The strength of the plot is slightly drowned by weak script, linkings and 'humanity' of the story-building. All seems little bit in a dreamy stage almost like unbelievable reality of last centuries soap operas. Besides that this movie has really deep idea and strongly build relations between characters - which feels really good and it can drawn you to to story like you would be living it. Another admonition for me was blind places in the story and sometimes slow (and on the contrary fast) development of the story.

Afterall I really enjoyed this movie full of nice romance - which could be developed more extensively, and difficult topics (rather problems) of modern society. I guess a longer movie with more details and stronger script would make it movie without any doubts.

Woof... This movie hit me right in the face.

I had it for some time but for some reasons I didn't get any further, on a couple of occasions, than 10 minutes.

Tonight, I was inspired, so it seems to be, and I watched it till the end.

I was very impressed. The relationships between people are so subtle and finely shown, every situation is built up slowly, and only at the end you understand, you "feel".

All the actors & actresses have done a wonderful job here. Also the writers & crew. I was very impressed.

I agree with the previous review who asked if we were watching the same movie. I kept waiting to witness the vigilante portion of the movie and must have yawned and missed it.

Outside of the final 10 minutes of the movie, you can go outside and do something more useful.

My guess is that the movie was supposed to show sympathy for those crossing the border illegally to enter the country but I never felt any sympathy.

The acting was acceptable but the storyline was anything but interesting. In case you missed my review... don't bother!

At the beginning of the film, I thought this film was gonna be like three guys lounging around and finding love. Then all of a sudden, it becomes extreme when that David fella and his mates decide to steal his father's truck in whatever fake company he works with. Was this revenge due to the fact his father wanted to be sending him back to school? This is the thing, this movie was too fast for me, I didn't know what was going completely on what the storyline involved!

The actors who played Marta and David did not give out proper emotions in this film. I thought Marta didn't seem to care like I can tell she wanted to get outta there. Including David, he just seem to be lost by always looking around him. During the sex scene's, I also felt that both characters weren't passionate enough to do it with the other actors.

Finally the ending, it wasn't great to be fair. I always think when the scene fades and the scene isn't solved then pretty much it's a crap movie. I am so disappointed that it is, no wonder there's not enough comments on here to be honest :/