The film Departures centers on Benji, played by Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, who finds himself unraveling after the end of a clandestine romance with Jake, portrayed by David Tag. The premise opens with the pair’s meeting at an airport and the lingering traces of their relationship are traced through a series of hangovers, hookups and a bittersweet trip back to Amsterdam. An Exclusive clip published on 16/04/2026 highlighted a charged moment in which Jake asserts dominance over Benji, setting the tone for the film’s exploration of power and vulnerability. The story is anchored by a strong lead pairing and a voice that alternates between caustic humour and palpable hurt.
Plot and narrative approach
Departures unfolds in a deliberately fractured manner, using nonlinear editing to mirror the disorientation of a broken heart. Memories, flashbacks and present-day excesses blend so that past and present bleed together, creating a cinematic equivalent of a fogged memory. Critics noted this choice in a review published on 13/04/2026, praising the film’s energy while also flagging moments where an explanatory voiceover interrupts the visual storytelling. The voiceover serves as an internal monologue, guiding viewers through Benji’s psyche but occasionally over-explaining emotions that the imagery could otherwise convey.
Performances and character dynamics
Lloyd Eyre-Morgan not only co-wrote and co-directed the film with Neil Ely but also carries the central role of Benji with self-aware humour and vulnerability. Opposite him, David Tag brings a tactile, conflicted presence as Jake, a personal trainer with a hidden life that complicates intimacy. Their chemistry—both magnetic and bruising—forms the film’s emotional core. Supporting performances from Liam Boyle, Tyler Conti, Kerry Howard, Lorraine Stanley and Jacob Partali add texture to Benji’s social world. Themes like toxic masculinity, body image and family rejection are handled with a mix of sharpness and empathy, ensuring the characters feel lived-in rather than schematic.
Key cast and technical details
The film runs for 112 mins and is billed as a drama distributed by Peccadillo Pictures. The creative team leans into a pop-infused visual palette that frames even bleak moments with kinetic colour and editing rhythms. This stylistic choice turns the film into an experience where form and feeling are tightly interwoven, and where comedic beats relieve emotional pressure without undercutting the stakes. The leaning toward dark humour makes the material approachable while still honoring the seriousness of the subject matter.
Style, themes and technical choices
The film’s tone balances between laugh-out-loud moments and genuine poignancy, creating a texture best described as dark comedy with heart. Director choices—such as elliptical montage sequences and quick-cut recall—amplify the sense of memory being unreliable and emotionally charged. While many viewers will appreciate the energetic editing, some will feel the need for restraint when the narrative resorts to backstory dumps. Still, the visual language frequently succeeds in conveying what words cannot, and the use of music and cityscapes—notably Amsterdam—serves as both setting and emotional shorthand.
Critical reception and public screenings
Critics have largely applauded the film for its honesty and for showcasing regional filmmaking talent, with reviews highlighting both the leads’ rapport and the film’s willingness to interrogate queer relationships without sentimentality. The film was presented at screenings that included a Q&A session featuring directors Neil Ely and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, hosted by Danny Beard, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4, at FACT Liverpool. Promotional materials describe the story as “inspired by real heartbreak,” and marketing leans into the notion that Benji’s path forward may require revisiting the past.
Audience takeaway and final verdict
For viewers seeking a film that refuses tidy conclusions, Departures offers a compelling mix of laughter and sting. It is a showcase of strong central performances, confident visual styling and frank thematic inquiry into how men navigate desire, shame and belonging. While the heavy-handed use of explanatory voiceover occasionally stalls momentum, the film’s emotional honesty and stylistic bravado make it a memorable entry in contemporary British drama. Whether you come for the chemistry, the sharp dialogue or the inventive editing, Departures is likely to linger long after the credits roll.