WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
When you see a low-budget movie on the docket that somehow ends up being an amazing film, you can guess that Bella Thorne bagged the leading role. We love to see it!
Thorne is known for pushing the boundaries and definitely has her own bad-girl image associated with that. In the past, Thorne has dated pretty erratically and is also pretty public about her relationships. Famously she dated Tana Mongeau, and has been vocal about her bisexuality as well. So it’s no surprise when you see Thorne head up a sapphic film, and Game of Love seems to play on that… but it’s not what you might think.
Thorne actually stars in this movie with her ex-husband, which is interesting to see now, knowing they are no longer together. The film itself is about their struggle to stay together as they go through major life changes, and spend time with his very serious ex-girlfriend, Anna. At first, it seems as though Thorne’s character is going to fall in love with Anna and the entire beginning of the film is all about their budding relationship. Then it comes out that Anna is the ex-girlfriend and any kind of sapphic energy is completely erased from the narrative, giving viewers lesbian whiplash.
While this does not seem like an intentional move on Thorne’s part, it’s borderline jarring. There are scenes sexualizing the women as they go skinny dipping together, romanticizing their relationship. There’s a buildup of sexual tension that cannot be mistaken for anything else. Then all of a sudden it’s revealed Anna is the ex, and suddenly they are both fighting for a man’s attention instead of being together. It feels like the writers wanted a lesbian storyline and then decided that it wouldn’t do well or be profitable, and sold out to the heteronormative rhetoric.
Disappointed, but not surprised.
The argument could also be raised that this film is the definition of bi-erasure, as it has a vocally proud bisexual woman as the lead character, throws her in a sapphic situation, only to rip her out of it to go back to a straight-passing relationship. Game of Love is even the title, making it seem like she’s playing a lesbian-cheating type of game. Nope. Instead, we are back to heterosexuality games. Thus, this is very disappointing to see but don’t fret – the movie is actually pretty good as it stands alone. Throne’s acting is great, as always, and she definitely captivates the audience. If you like a twisted love story, set in France, you will love it. However, it is worth holding accountable for it’s lesbian-baiting. Just saying.
You can watch Game of Love on Hulu.
