The Inspection
A rejected young gay Black man enters Marine boot camp and fights to secure a future inside an institution determined to break him.
Overview
A young man's quest for acceptance leads him to the Marines, where he battles both external and internal conflicts.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- harrowing
- cathartic
- reflective viewing
- lgbtq+ cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the impressive feature debut for its emotionally forceful performances and nuanced depiction of homophobia, discrimination, and contradictions within the Marines.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ellis joins the Marines while navigating homophobia and the legacy of don't ask don't tell.
Ellis turns to Marine boot camp after rejection and limited prospects, treating enlistment as a chance to rebuild his life.
Ellis's estrangement from his mother Inez is central to his emotional struggle and motivation.
Ellis must endure military hierarchy and homophobia without abandoning his gay identity.
Films like The Inspection, and why
Full Metal Jacket
shared military training setting, institutional brutality, and psychologically intense drama
Moonlight
shared lgbtq+ identity, racial marginalization, family rejection, and intimate coming-of-age drama
Pariah
shared queer self-discovery, social exclusion, and emotionally direct contemporary drama
An Officer and a Gentleman
shared true-story military service, perseverance under institutional pressure, and earnest dramatic tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Elegance Bratton
- Release Date
- 2022-11-18
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (91)
Cast
- Jeremy Pope
- Gabrielle Union
- Bokeem Woodbine
- Raúl Castillo
- McCaul Lombardi
- Nicholas Logan
- Eman Esfandi
- Aaron Dominguez
- Aubrey Joseph
- Andrew Kai
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Inspection about?
- A rejected young gay Black man enters Marine boot camp and fights to secure a future inside an institution determined to break him.
- What is The Inspection like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Inspection as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Inspection violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Inspection as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Inspection?
- Critics broadly praised the impressive feature debut for its emotionally forceful performances and nuanced depiction of homophobia, discrimination, and contradictions within the Marines.
- Which films are like The Inspection?
- Films with a similar feel include Full Metal Jacket, Moonlight, Pariah, and An Officer and a Gentleman.
- How long is The Inspection?
- The Inspection runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Inspection?
- In United States, The Inspection is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
