Plot: Alike is a young black girl who knows she's a lesbian. She also knows her friends and family won't accept it. So she leads a double life, hiding her sexuality from the people who should know her best. When she finally finds a girlfriend, there's no more pretending, but not everyone will simply accept her coming out.
Watches
June 22, 2025
A nice enough coming-out story, but apart from being set in a black community, there isn't much that stands out here. The performances are strong, the presentation is fine, and the pacing is slick, but the story has been told so many times before that I wasn't that invested.
Adepero Oduye does everything right, and she makes sure that even while the film is a little too predictable, Pariah still has plenty of heart. The shorter runtime prevented unnecessary padding, and there aren't any lulls or ill-fitting scenes or moments. I just needed a bit more than a lesbian teen struggling with her surroundings.