If there’s one thing I’ve been wanting, it’s good autistic representation in a film. In the past few years, autistic representation in film has been pretty awful, with the controversy behind Sia’s film “Music” being huge for misrepresenting people on the spectrum, and “The Unbreakable Boy" focusing on the parents rather than the autistic boy mentioned in the film’s title. I thought there would never be a day where I would have the chance to review a good film about autism. Then came my chance to review director Ryan Cunningham’s Lone Wolves, which is this year’s opening night film at ReelAbilities’ New York festival.

As soon as I read about the plot, it caught my attention. A story about former high school friends, one with autism, who decide to help each other out with having a child, seemed like an intriguing concept for a film. The fact that it isn’t all that easy made it even more interesting, making me wonder how these two will overcome these issues. With such a great set-up, I wondered how the film would turn out. I have to say that Hollywood wishes it could make a film about autism like this, because it worked in many aspects, such as how the characters are, the tone of the film, the music, and the emotions of the film.

The opening scene in the movie is one of the best parts. It shows us Ben’s journey to Toledo, and establishes the tone well. We get to know what Ben’s friend, Fran, wants him to do to help her. The use of imagery \tells us what Ben has to do: be a sperm donor. This carries through to Ben exploring the hotel room, as the video Fran made to explain everything plays in the background. This makes sure that the audience knows what this movie is about, and what Ben has to do.

I liked how normal the autistic character, Ben, feels. At first, you see Ben taking a trip without any indication he’s autistic, unlike most movies with autistic protagonists, which spell it out loudly at the beginning. Ben reminded me of some films with autistic-coded characters, or characters who aren’t canonically autistic but can be interpreted that way, but this time it’s an actually autistic character.One aspect of this that was shared with commonly autistic-coded characters in media is that some of Ben’s behaviors can be relatable at times, especially him pacing around the room, finishing paperwork extremely fast, being embarrassed about certain things, especially sexual subjects, and quoting or referencing media to tie it in to social situations. He also is seen by Fran as a very creative person, which some autistic people are. This makes Ben the best autistic character I’ve ever seen, even if he has a bit of quirky social awkwardness to his character with him sometimes stuttering, which could come off as stereotypical, but it isn’t as bad as in Hollywood films, and is actually fitting for the embarrassing situation he’s in. 

The character of Fran is also important to discuss, as she seems like a pretty good friend to Ben. She occasionally feels like a therapist to Ben as she tries to help Ben find solutions to his problems, even before he reveals his true self. It’s nice that she cares for him, even if she gets angry at times. Ben and Fran have some pretty great moments, especially the scenes where they uniquely destress, which are some of the most amusing moments of this film. We also learn that Fran has had a bad time with  romance and sex, especially how she didn’t accept Ben at the prom over some other guy who didn’t even like her, which makes Ben and Fran reconnecting seem like a second chance for them. Quite similarly, Ben only has been with one other girl

The tone of the movie is soothing at first, showing how serious this situation is.I liked that. It also is quite simple, taking place in the same locations throughout most of the movie, as this focuses on how the task at hand is also kind of simple –but not as simple as it seems initially. In fact, this film shows it can be complicated at times, as is shown with Fran’s frustrations to properly set up her side of her impregnation situation, while Ben is having trouble trying to produce sperm, but can’t tell the truth of why he can’t do it. This would be a perfect movie for autistic people to watch thanks to the tone of the film, as it’s not too loud, and not too flashy.

The music selections are great for an indie film. Though more popular songs are mentioned, less popular songs are used, and this gives the film a unique soundtrack compared to Hollywood films, especially during the “fake prom” scene. It adds to the gentle mood of the film by having mostly calming, upbeat music. This is a plus, as the soundtrack makes me want to listen to tsongs that were new to me from  the film. Even the original score tracks sound bubbly and unique, making it stand out from traditional Hollywood soundtracks.

The emotions of the film are another relatable aspect. We understand what the characters feel through their anecdotes about their time in high school, especially with their perspectives on the same night, the prom they attended. We also understand why Ben feels awkward and unwilling to be a sperm donor; he is upset about things that have happened throughout the past few years, especially with a loss in his life. Grief is a huge problem with some people who are autistic, and I can understand how people can process these feelings in bad ways, as I’ve dealt with these feelings.

This film also has a surprising piece of social commentary on how people see autism: Ben points out that on the internet, autistic people are either quirky TikTok influencers, or people use it as an excuse to act stupid. This is truthful, as people sometimes fake autism to gain more views, and people with autism are seen as “cringe” when they do stupid things, making those observations relevant. This is because people who do this ruin how autistic people see themselves. Eventually, we learn that autism is not really about how others see you, it’s about how those who care about you understand you.

Lone Wolves, as simple as it might seem at first, has a deeper meaning: it shows how we can help our suppressed emotions by actually doing something positive rather than shoving those emotions inside, even if we’re pressured to do good by others despite those negative feelings. This, combined with a relatable autistic protagonist and a unique feel, is the gold standard for what a film about autism should be like. People should watch this film, especially adults on the autism spectrum, as they will get something long sought after out of the experience – seeing someone on the spectrum who is treated as normal, not extraordinary.

This blog post was written by Ashley Tyrie, in partnership with YAI.

Ashley Tyrie is an aspiring film reviewer from West Islip, New York. Ever since she created accounts on sites like Tumblr to talk about the movies and TV shows she was interested in during her early college years, she’s wanted to apply that to a career she enjoys. She followed that dream by going to Saint Joseph’s University in Patchogue, New York, where she earned a Journalism and New Media studies degree with a minor in Film/Media. When not reviewing movies or focusing on her favorite fandoms, she is drawing or shopping.