The Line Review: Fraternities Are Fully Deconstructed in Ethan Berger’s Visceral Debut Film

   January 13, 2025

The Line delivers a tense and chilling exploration of toxic masculinity and its deep entanglement with fraternity culture. Ethan Berger’s debut film thrives in its darkest moments, crafting a harrowing narrative that examines the destructive traditions and unchecked power dynamics of college fraternities. While its uneven script and underdeveloped subplots leave certain elements adrift, the movie’s gripping intensity and committed performances ensure it remains a compelling watch.

The Line (2024)
The Line (2024)

The story centers on Tom Backster (Alex Wolff), a rising figure in his fraternity who is tasked with overseeing the hazing of new pledges. Tom’s relative level-headedness contrasts sharply with the cruelty of his friends, Mitch (Bo Mitchell) and Bayne (Will Ropp), whose obsession with maintaining their fraternity’s “traditions” leads to horrifying consequences. The climactic moment, where Mitch fatally assaults a pledge named Gettys (Austin Abrams), is a brutally effective indictment of the unchecked brutality that defines this toxic environment.

Despite its strengths in tension and atmosphere, The Line struggles to balance its dual role as a thriller and a character study. While Tom’s relationships—particularly with his mother Jackie (Cheri Oteri) and fellow student Annabelle (Halle Bailey)—are explored to varying degrees, these threads feel underdeveloped and fail to add meaningful depth. Tom himself is a complicated protagonist, evoking some sympathy for his internal conflict but never quite earning the viewer’s trust or empathy, especially given his inability to reject the fraternity’s vile practices. Alex Wolff’s distracting, exaggerated accent further detracts from the believability of his character, though his performance remains largely effective.

The supporting cast helps elevate the film, with standout performances from Austin Abrams, Lewis Pullman (as the fraternity’s president), and Halle Bailey. Their portrayals ground the story in a believable, if grim, reality. Ethan Berger’s direction, while not groundbreaking, introduces enough stylistic flair to keep the narrative engaging. The hazing rituals, while familiar, are depicted with a visceral intensity that underlines the dehumanizing nature of these institutions.

Ultimately, The Line succeeds in its critique of fraternity culture, but it doesn’t break new ground. Its themes—fraternities as cesspools of aggression, cruelty, and outdated ideals—are well-trodden, and the film doesn’t add much to the conversation beyond reiterating these points. However, Berger’s approach and the committed performances bring enough tension and intrigue to make the film worthwhile. Watching Tom navigate the imploding world around him provides a fascinating, if unsettling, perspective on the toxic systems that persist in these environments.

Score: 6/10

The Line (2024)

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