Watch Goat

Goat is a 2016 drama film directed by Andrew Neel that follows the story of a college freshman Brad Land, played by Ben Schnetzer, who is assaulted and robbed by a group of strangers. The traumatic experience leaves him emotionally scarred, and he decides to pledge for his brother Brett's (Nick Jonas) fraternity house to find a sense of belonging and get over his fears.

Despite the initial hazing rituals being unbearable, Brad goes through with them, including being paddled repeatedly, forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, and other humiliating tasks. The fraternity brothers, including the charismatic but ruthless brothers Chance (Gus Halper) and Dixon (Jake Picking), regularly put him through physical and emotional trials. They want to strip away his identity so that he can become a "true" brother and experience the excessive party culture associated with Greek life.

As the initiation process goes on, Brad becomes increasingly disenchanted with the system and begins to question why he is putting himself through such an ordeal. Meanwhile, Brett, who is a member of the fraternity, is trying to deal with his own sense of accountability for what is happening to his brother.

The film explores the darker aspects of fraternity culture, including hazing, toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and the effects of group dynamics on individual behavior. It also delves into the complex relationship between brothers and how it transcends blood ties, leading to a powerful climax that forces the characters to face the consequences of their actions.

One of the standout performances in Goat is from Ben Schnetzer, who brings a vulnerable intensity to Brad's character as he struggles to find his place in the world. Nick Jonas also delivers a nuanced performance as Brett, the conflicted brother caught between loyalty to his fraternity and love for his brother. Gus Halper and Jake Picking also impress as the charismatic leaders of the fraternity.

Goat is a raw and uncompromising drama that shines a spotlight on the dark side of fraternity culture. It is a disturbing and thought-provoking film that challenges the audience to question their own beliefs and values about masculinity, violence, and group identity. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is an important one that makes a powerful statement about the dangers of toxic brotherhood.

Goat is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 64.