'Shithouse' is a coming of age story that follows Alex, a college freshman who is having a hard time adjusting to his new environment, far from home and with few friends.
The story picks up by introducing us to Alex as he tries to establish a connection with his room-mate Sam. The two arrange to go to a party at 'Shithuose' where Alex does his best to have a good time. There he meets a girl who pursues him, yet he is unwilling to go ahead with sleeping with her. As Alex returns to his dorm, his decides to spend the night in the hall common area, on the couch. There he is met by Maggie, a sophomore who invites him back to her room. There they talk, attempt to have sex and end up going on a journey to bury Maggie's recently deceased turtle, eventually spending the night together getting to know each other.
The following day, Alex is excited to spend more time with Maggie, but she is distant and pretends not to know him when they meet at a store. When the two attend a party that evening, they end up arguing about each others shortcomings and insulting each others character flaws.
After some time passes the two reconcile. The film concludes by skipping forward in time to Maggies' final year at college, where the two have now established a strong friendship. The pair decide to start a romantic relationship, with Alex specifying that he wants the two to be able to rely on each other and to create a partnership, as equals.
'Shithouse' is an extraordinary take on the coming of age story, where our main character is a young man struggling to cope at college. Alex is presented as a sensitive individual, trying to adjust to college life. He is shown 'conversing' with his stuffed toy, an intriguing and funny way through which we can explore his urge to try to fit in, and at the same time the reluctance and self-doubt that he feels in trying to adjust to those around him.
By going to 'Shithouse', a frat on the college campus for a party, we see that Alex is attempting to get into the swing of things - make new friends, party and have a good time. Later on however, we see him on the phone to his mother, with whom he is very close. He calls her in an attempt to just speak with her, lying about having come down with a cold. The misguided phone call reveals to us the pain and anxiety that Alex feels, as living far from home and his family has separated him from unconditional love and a welcoming environment. The struggle of trying to fit in is explored, as 'Shithouse' presents Alex as someone who misses his home and at times lacks the urge to even try to form a connection.
Later on however, we see Alex interacting with Maggie. As she is looking to hook up with someone, following a failed sexual encounter earlier that night, the two connect by spending an evening together discovering each others deepest fears and insecurities, and learning a lot about each other. The pair explore each others backgrounds, family situation, their insecurities and what they view college life to be like. With differences in opinion and a vastly varying states of emotional availability, the two spend the night together.
The following day reveals that Maggie and Alex have a very different approach to relationships, where she moves on to the next person, and remains distant from Alex. Alex however, for the first time having felt that he formed a genuine connection with someone is deeply hurt and dumbfounded by Maggie's attitude towards him.
The argument to follow that the two have plays out and shows both Alex and Maggie pointing out each others shortcomings, such as emotional unavailability and, conversely, emotional dependence. Through the vicious attacks on each others personality, they each show the depth of the connection that they have formed, displaying genuine hurt and disappointment towards each other whilst insulting each others most sensitive insecurities.
The film serves well to demonstrate the struggle that individuals go through in adjusting to a new place, the distance they feel from being separated from their families and the loneliness they can create by not making themselves available for others.
Cooper Raiff portrays Alex, the lonely college freshman, who makes his way forward by broadening his horizons and putting himself out there to make friends and have a pleasant college experience, even though he feels that trying to fit in can be exhausting and a false representation of himself. The journey that Alex goes on is not easy however, and Raiff showcases the range of pain, anxiety and tension Alex feels in trying to fit in with the crowd. Raiff's performance is visceral, in that the actor does not hold back on presenting his emotions, unfiltered and true to his core.
Dylan Gelula portrays Maggie, the sophomore who tries to find solace in pursuing one night stands with little regard for establishing lasting romantic relationships. Gelula presents Maggie as a headstrong yet somewhat hurt individual that has difficulty in being content with her current way of life. Together Raiff and Gelula create a very revealing and interesting exchange that, through the duration of the film, leads on a roller-coaster of emotion, from the first instance they meet, through the night they spend together, covering their argument and concluding with the two coming together. 'Shithouse' presents the college experience through Alex and Maggie and the variety of expectations and sentiments that individuals may feel towards their time in higher education. By portraying the different characters, the film delivers a well rounded and argued statement towards the college experience by representing opposing viewpoints through Alex and Maggie.
'Shithouse' is written and directed by Raiff in his feature directorial debut, and has managed to create a very personal and intimate retelling of a college experience. The film has a very real feel to it, showing the characters doing the usual college things - partying, hanging out with friends and living in dorms. Without undue exaggeration, 'Shithouse' illustrates the finer points of college living, and through the characters of Alex and Maggie, manages to accentuate the personal and intimate progression of the individuals, not shying away from the pain, fear and negativity that can surround the experience. By focusing on it's two main characters, 'Shithouse' creates a very real image of college life and establishes itself as an unforgettable experience, not unlike ones own time at college.
Score: 4/4
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