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The actors are engaging even when they ham up their performances. Correa plays Leo as a guy who's likeable and rather pathetic, living in an awkward fantasy that he's unwilling to do anything about. He's been chatting for over a year with this guy, yet has never said how he feels. Palazzini has a little more texture as a fun-loving drama queen who has some intriguingly serious edges, hiding from a nice guy (Pagac) he likes. The moment Donnie and Leo finally run out of patience with each other is well-played, even if it feels rather abrupt.

Oddly, the script is packed with little moral sermons about drug abuse, smoking and meaningless sex. Despite their youthful freedom, these guys eventually admit that they just want real relationships, both romantically and with friends they can rely on. Thankfully, Correa and Palazzini don't dwell on these messages, instead making a surprisingly pointed observation on the nature of friendship in the gay subculture, where connections are based on sexuality and little else. The film feels a little unfinished and disconnected, but does leave us thinking.

themes, language, drugs, sexuality

3.Sep.19

Dodds has an unusually strong role for a movie like this, a feisty woman who refuses to give up and continually out-thinks the brutes. So why Maddie ever thought she was timid is somewhat inexplicable. The other women are less defined, some strong, some terrified, each clearly destined to die in a staggeringly awful way. Male roles are so generic that the actors can play multiple roles in different masks. They don't have much to do but growl as they swing their axes and scythes.

Writer-director D'Aquino thankfully makes sure that the film never seems misogynistic, partly because the men are mere monsters and also due to a quirk in the game's rules. Action sequences are skilfully shot and edited with a gleeful willingness to cross into over-the-top bloodiness, which the camera watches unflinchingly. And underneath this is a rather freaky exploration of the nature of friendship and entertainment. Not that this is why anyone would watch the movie.

themes, language, violence

21.Aug.19

All four actors are adept at veering between lively comedy and quiet tenderness. As the film progresses, both of the couples go through some dark moments as well as times in which they connect deeply with each other. Each is excellent as he or she pushes and pulls against their partner, leading to some striking confrontations and unexpected story twists. It's difficult to pick a stand-out in the cast, although Barden and Hogg spark more complex fireworks between them than the intriguingly controlled May and Bolger.

The script spirals around a variety of issues, poking and prodding the audience rather than simply pushing a straightforward theme. This is a powerful exploration of the nature of love and relationships, most notably the way we know for sure that we're drawn to someone, even if it might not be a good idea. It's a vivid depiction of the power of attraction and the way we can desperately long for someone and want them to go away in the very same breath.

themes, language, sexuality

26.Aug.19