One bad choice can make everything different in the world of college fraternities, where power, secrecy, and loyalty all mix. “The Line,“ an exciting 2023 drama directed by Ethan Berger, takes viewers into this dangerous place and looks at the bad things that happen when fraternity culture isn’t controlled. The movie is a warning about ambition, pressure, and morality. It stars Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Angus Cloud, and John Malkovich.
THE STORY OF “THE LINE”
As a sophomore, Tom Backster is excited to get back to his fraternity, Kappa Nu Alpha (KNA). Mitch, his best friend and roommate, is a rich and powerful troublemaker. One of the freshman pledges, Gettys O’Brien, quickly gets into a fight with Mitch. Todd, the president of the KNA, wants to accept Gettys, but Mitch is strongly against it.
Annabelle is a quiet classmate that Tom notices. They start dating, even though his friends make fun of her. At the same time, the new Dean warns Todd and Tom about bad behavior in the past and forbids hazing and retreats away from campus. But Mitch plans an illegal get-away at his family’s lake house and puts Tom in charge.
When the sophomores’ plans for fun don’t work out, they haze the pledges. Gettys doesn’t want to take part, which makes Mitch and the others angry. As things get worse, Mitch hits Gettys and kills him. In a panic, they throw his body into the lake and act like he fell off the boat.
Tom feels guilty and tells Annabelle what he did, but she pulls away. Tom stays quiet after being questioned by the police. In the end, every student involved is kicked out of school. After two years, Tom works as a bartender while going to community college. Mitch tries to get back in touch with Tom, acting sorry, but Tom refuses, closing the book on his past.
IS “THE LINE” BASED ON A TRUE STORY?
“The Line” is not based on a true story, even though it shows fraternity life in a realistic and intense way. The plot and characters of the movie are made up by writers Ethan Berger, Zack Purdo, and Alex Russek. Even though the movie wasn’t directly based on a real event, its themes are based on real problems that happen in college fraternities all over the country.
FRATERNITY CULTURE AND APPLICATIONS IN REAL LIFE
“The Line” is not based on a true story, but it is very close to the truth when it comes to hazing, toxic masculinity, and how power works in Greek culture. Fraternities have been criticized for a long time for keeping things secret, and some are known for the extreme hazing they do. Several real-life cases have come to light over the years in which hazing caused serious injuries or even deaths, leading to national discussions about fraternity culture.
Hazing incidents, like the tragic deaths of Timothy Piazza (Penn State University, 2017) and Maxwell Gruver (Louisiana State University, 2017), show how dangerous it is for fraternities to let their traditions run wild. These true stories have a lot in common with what happens in “The Line,” which makes the movie’s story seem disturbingly real.
Timothy Piazza, a 19-year-old sophomore at Penn State University, tragically died on February 4, 2017, due to fraternity hazing at Beta Theta Pi. On February 2, 2017, he participated in an initiation event called the “Gauntlet,” which involved heavy drinking. After consuming a dangerous amount of alcohol, he fell down a 15-foot flight of stairs into the fraternity’s basement. Despite showing clear signs of distress, fraternity brothers failed to call 911 for nearly 12 hours. Instead, they attempted to wake him, carried him to a couch, and even poured liquid on his face.
Surveillance footage later revealed that Piazza fell multiple times throughout the night, hitting his head repeatedly. By the time paramedics were finally called the next morning, he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, and a ruptured spleen. He was rushed to the hospital but died the following day. His death led to criminal charges against 26 fraternity members and the permanent banning of Beta Theta Pi from Penn State. In response, Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, increasing penalties for hazing-related offenses. His case remains a tragic example of the dangers of fraternity hazing and excessive drinking.
WHY “THE LINE” FEELS SO REAL
The movie feels real because it shows peer pressure and moral conflict in a real and unsettling way. It does a good job of showing how hard it is for young men to find acceptance in a high-pressure setting. Many students in similar situations have the same inner conflict that Tom does. He is torn between being loyal to his fraternity and following his own morals.
The acting in the movie, especially by Alex Wolff as Tom and Angus Cloud as Mitch, makes it seem even more real. The way they show friendships that aren’t working out and how power is shifting makes the story more interesting and makes it stick with people.
Even though it’s made up, “The Line” makes a strong point about the bad parts of fraternity life. It shows how the lines between friendship and coercion are often fuzzy, as well as the terrible results of behavior that isn’t controlled. By exploring these ideas, the movie starts a conversation about how college campuses need to change to stop tragedies like this from happening in real life.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “THE LINE”
“The Line” isn’t based on a real event or story, but its themes and events are based on real problems that fraternities face, which makes it feel very real. The movie is a cautionary tale about power, secrecy, and moral responsibility. Its gripping story, intense acting, and thought-provoking message will stay with you for a long time.
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