‘Ponyboi’ is a Gritty Odyssey of an Endearing Intersex Sex Worker

A lot can happen in a day and the coming-of-age drama “Ponyboi” tests that notion in the raw and thrilling story of Ponyboi. Extended from a 2019 short of the same name, “Ponyboi” was written and stars River Gallo as the titular character under the direction of Esteban Arango. Dylan O’Brien, Victoria Pedretti, Indya Moore, and Murray Bartlett make up the ensemble cast. *SPOILERS AHEAD*

Unfolding over the course of Valentine’s Day in New Jersey, Ponyboi, a young intersex sex worker, must run from the mob after a drug deal goes sideways, forcing him to confront his past. River Gallo uses the film as a tool to provide a conversation about intersex individuals and the challenges they face when understanding and embracing their identity. In the film viewers catch glimpses of Ponyboi’s traumatic upbringing and what led to the estranged relationship he has with his mother and dying father. In adulthood, the events from the past play a major role in how Ponyboi interacts with all the relationships around him like with his pregnant best friend Angel (Pedretti) and Angel’s boyfriend Vinny (O’Brien), a drug dealing pimp who uses a laundry mat as a front for his debauchery and is also sleeping with Ponyboi, along with a string of other sex workers. Sleeping with your best friend’s man does put Ponyboi in a moral dilemma we see unfold over the course of the film and encounters with Vinny further fuels his ideas about sexuality. The character of Ponyboi is complex with River delivering a captivating performance. In one instance the audience will feel betrayed by the actions Ponyboi takes but then will root for him to do what he has to in order to live a more fulfilling life.

Outside of Gallo, Dylan O’Brien had a standout performance. Very unrecognizable in his demeanor, O’Brien added both humor and horror to the progression of the film and had glimpses of his character Colin from the 2022 film “Not Okay,” but a turned up, drug fueled version in this movie. Murray Bartlett and Indya Moore being sprinkled in the film was bittersweet. While it was great to see them on screen at pivotal points in the movie I think they were underused. Granted this movie is a jam packed 24 hours and once the plot starts moving, it gets moving, but once the imminent danger is handled and Ponyboi can take a breather from the night the pacing slows as well and becomes lackluster. With both men – his dad and Vinny – who ruled Ponyboi’s identity wind up dead by the time the credits roll he can finally decide for himself who he wants to be.

Aesthetically the film is dark… literally and figuratively. There were some shots that were difficult to see and depicted slight graphic violence. “Ponyboi” gives 80’s stylistically with its muted coloring with grainy and choppy tracking shots but then would burst into neon technicolor when some of the lighter themes in the film happened.

There was an aspect of the film that left me wondering. Murray Bartlett’s character Bruce appears at the laundry mat during the night and comes off as a knight in shining armor for Ponyboi. You can sense the nerves on Ponyboi’s end as this is an immediate connection and natural bond he hasn’t probably ever felt for anyone, but later on in the film when Bruce appears to aid Ponyboi in his duress it made me think maybe Bruce was never there and could have been a figment of Ponyboi’s imagination. A guardian angel of sorts needed for a jolt courage to act on the life he always dreamed of for himself.

Overall “Ponyboi” is more than a gritty crime drama that delves into the underbelly of a sinister New Jersey but leans into the heart of the title character and their journey showing a unique perspective on queer identity and survival.

“Ponyboi” is now playing in select theaters.

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