Life in a Welsh fishing village for teacher Barry is disrupted when a student goes missing, leaving him battling to keep his private life secret in writer-director Rhys Marc Jones’ Black Church Bay.
Holding onto secrets
by Chris Drew
2 stars
First we see Barry (Tom Cullen, Weekend) enjoying a risky anonymous hookup. He is soon preparing for a weekend on his boat with the much-younger teenage Jasper (Joe Locke, Elsinore).
There is an uncertain chemistry between the pair: Barry is ill at ease and Jasper is a bit restless and unfulfilled. Barry makes it clear they cannot be recognised or use phones which creates a tension.
After sleeping together, Barry awakes to find Jasper no longer on the boat and his attempts to look for him in the dark are fruitless.
Back on land, the reveal that Barry teaches at the local school is followed by his calling out Jasper’s name on the form-group register, knowing all too well he will not respond.
Plot-wise the remainder of the film is a search for Jasper, but primarily Barry’s quest to keep his secret life hidden, as the truth gradually threatens to be revealed.
Another surprise is Barry’s alleged relationship with female teacher, Kelly (Marli Siu, Wicker), seemingly to keep up appearances.
There are tense scenes with both the police and headteacher Mrs Munro (Rakie Ayola, Bad Apples) raising questions and inching closer to the truth.
Jasper’s family raise suspicions when Barry arrives very quickly after unsubstantiated rumours of Jasper being found are first circulated.
Doubts properly move Barry’s way after a video is shared where Jasper is with an older man.
Morally, Barry is torn as he does not want to pin anything on Jasper’s on-off boyfriend Miles (Dylan Michael, feature debut) while wanting to save his own skin.
Barry is caught outside the exam hall checking Miles’ phone for content that may incriminate him.
After Rose, there is a second moment in a film at this year’s London Film Festival where a forced genital reveal is threatened, although instead Kelly is shown the video to see if she recognises Barry’s body.
While there are moments of genuine suspense, not using the fisherman who saw Barry and Jasper – thinking they were father and son – is a curious screenplay and plot decision.
Much is left unresolved and unexplained, both in terms of Jasper’s fate and what will happen to Barry which, when combined, is perhaps slightly unsatisfying. However, a panicked Barry being locked in the class cupboard works as an enjoyable screenplay choice on both literal and metaphorical levels.
It is nice to see Cullen back in a lead role and the Welsh actor plays Barry’s increasing nerves, while trying to stay calm on the surface, effectively. And, despite his actions, Cullen makes it possible to feel sympathy for the lead character.
Locke convinces, in a role with a harder edge than his Heartstopper character, despite being a little underused. It is a shame Jasper’s wider experiences are not shown with the actor in flashback.
The supporting cast are solid and writer-director Jones creates a believable community. Filmed in Anglesey, the Welsh coastline makes for a pleasing setting, and almost an additional character.
While Black Church Bay may not quite nail all the thriller elements, it is still an enjoyable entry in British LGBT cinema with Cullen as a compelling lead.
Black Church Bay screened at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.
