Benji is left broken after the end of his relationship with Jake. In flashback we’re taken through Benji’s difficult journey with Jake in the painful and funny Departures.
Toxic Cycles
by Chris DrewDepartures
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
Beginning with an agonising breakup, as we meet Benji (Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, 3 in a Bed) he is still hurting after three months.
In a funny introduction to Benji’s life, his mother (Lorraine Stanley, Suffragette) says she wanted a “happy gay” and doorstep sales of ‘save the birds’ sponsorship with “bellend” Ryan (Tyler Conti, feature debut) are hilarious.
In voiceover Benji acknowledges his patterns of drinking and meaningless encounters “I drink, I fuck, I grindr”. Asserting, questionably, that the best way forward is to go back, we are taken back 18 months to the first airport meeting with Jake (David Tag, feature debut).
Both heading to Amsterdam, when Benji is “going through a fancy Ryanair independent travel phase”, he is attracted to Jake’s ‘big-dick energy’ straightaway.
On the plane, Jake jokes about being Benji’s carer so they can sit together. Asserting his dominance from the off, he says he’ll give Benji his name if they are still talking on the way home.
Initially Benji obsesses over whether Jake is ‘a bit gay’. He watches Jake have sex with a girl with Jake looking at him (Benji) throughout.
As soon as they do sleep together Jake’s nature is revealed, telling Benji “get off me, you faggot”. But the two start a pattern of trips to the same apartment in Amsterdam, with the agreement they won’t see each other in between.
Jake continually says he does not want anything serious, casually saying he has slept with ten birds between their meetings, but nonetheless Benji rapidly becomes besotted.
Jake’s toxic behaviour is evident straightaway; confirming that he is in charge, he will decide when they will see each other and telling Benji that he (Benji) has been very lucky to meet him.
In the present Benji goes back to Amsterdam in a misguided attempt to heal. In a genuinely harrowing scene when inebriated, he puts himself in considerable danger in a seedy drug den where he narrowly avoids being raped.
Departures is more effective when Benji is the focus or the two characters are together. An extended flashback to highlight Jake’s toxic backstory feels less successful, though Jake’s Aunt Jackie (Kerry Howard, I Give It a Year) while ‘the potential to be a gay icon’ is memorable.
Later Jake’s ‘other life’ with a long-term girlfriend Olivia (Saira Choudhry, We Live In Time) is revealed and there is an intense fight when Jake shows up, although confusingly Benji’s girlfriend appears not to see Benji when he arrives.
Benji is given some hope for the future with the third act entrance of Kieran (Liam Boyle, The Look of Love), a nice guy who has been through his own struggles. As Benji exclaims “No one wants a f**king sequel!”
Self-funded by LGBT+ Manchester filmmakers, writer and director Eyre-Morgan mines his own experiences and is excellent as Benji, given a performance full of pathos and humour. It can be a tough to watch to see Benji so addicted to Jake when he is treated terribly.
As Jake, Tag brings the necessary handsome rugby player looks to believably play the conflicted straight/closeted character but is slightly weaker in some of the more emotional moments.
Infused with humour throughout, Departures is a purposely rough and messy portrayal of destructive behaviour that will resonate with anyone who has had their heart broken.
Departures screened at the 2025 BFI Flare Festival.
