The Misguided is a 2018 coming-of-age movie directed by Shannon Alexander. The movie revolves around four friends, who are all on a quest to find meaning in their lives. Caleb Galati stars as Levi, who is the lead protagonist of the movie. He has no clear direction in his life and spends his days smoking marijuana and tagging walls with graffiti. He is constantly getting into trouble, much to the chagrin of his mother and sister.
Steven J. Mihaljevich plays the role of Big Shirl, a local drug dealer, who is also the landlord of the house that Levi and his friends live in. Although Big Shirl is a criminal, he is also a mentor to the group of misfits, teaching them about money and life. Katherine Langford stars as Sophie, a girl who Levi is interested in. Sophie is part of a group of rich kids who hang out by the beach, and she seems to represent everything that Levi dislikes about their world. The movie follows Levi as he struggles to find his place in the world, while also dealing with the pressures of growing up.
The movie is set in the coastal town of Mandurah, Western Australia, and much of the film's atmosphere is influenced by this setting. The filmmakers do an excellent job of capturing the laid-back lifestyle of small-town Australia. The beach scenes are especially well-done, and the cinematography gives the movie a dreamlike quality that serves as a counterpoint to the chaotic lives of its characters.
The script is well-written and realistic, and the dialogue is natural and believable. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the relationships between them are portrayed with care and sensitivity. The Misguided does an excellent job of exploring the themes of identity, friendship, and the desire for purpose that are common to many young people.
Caleb Galati delivers a standout performance as Levi. He captures the character's vulnerability and restlessness with ease, and his interactions with the rest of the cast are authentic and engaging. Steven J. Mihaljevich is also excellent as Big Shirl. He manages to make the character both menacing and sympathetic, and his scenes with Galati are some of the movie's best.
Katherine Langford is charming as Sophie, and she brings a much-needed touch of lightness to the film. The rest of the cast, including Alex Andreas as Dewey and Jasmine Nibali as Thea, are also strong in their roles.
Overall, The Misguided is an impressive movie that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. The film's themes are universal, and its characters are easy to relate to. The cinematography and setting are a highlight, and the performances are uniformly excellent. Shannon Alexander has done an excellent job with this film, and it is certainly one that fans of Australian cinema should seek out.
The Misguided is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.