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Fabulous drag queen Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is brutally attacked one night after a show by a thug (George MacKay) out with his mates. Three months later, a very different Jules recognizes the thug in a gay sauna, leading to a cat-and-mouse game of identity, desire, shame and revenge. 2023 British erotic thriller is the debut from directors Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping, currently at 93/83 on Rotten Tomatoes. CW: violence, nail-biting suspense. Trailer. On Hulu and rentable elsewhere.
posted by mediareport on Aug 17, 2024 - 3 comments

Pre-Maude Rue McClanahan as a rich barfly surrounded by adoring men. Pre-Andy-from-WKRP Gary Sandy as a self-loathing male hustler. Pre-Buck Rogers Gil Gerard as a gay airline pilot in love. Warhol-era Candy Darling as a beautiful, forlorn trans woman. All part of this 1971 ensemble film following the regulars at a Greenwich Village gay bar for a few hours on Christmas Eve. It's a real time capsule so lots of slurs and stereotypes, and anti-trans brutality towards the end. On Fubo and MGM+ and free in a low-quality Youtube rip. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on Jun 8, 2024 - 6 comments

Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo's funny, charming and very queer story of Sabi, a gender non-conforming Pakistani-Canadian figuring out their life in Toronto, finishes up with eight 20-minute episodes in the final season. Note: the decision to end the series came from the creators. Changes come for Sabi, Aqsa, Wolf, 7ven and the rest of the crew. On HBO in the US. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on Mar 17, 2024 - 1 comment

Basil Dearden's landmark 1961 noir about gay men in London victimized by a blackmail ring is credited with helping shift British attitudes about homosexuality. Closeted actor Dirk Bogarde plays the guilt-ridden lawyer who decides to fight back. Surprisingly thrilling, and sympathetic to a range of gay characters who are presented with minimal stereotyping (for the time). Banned from wide release in the US because Dearden refused to make concessions. 100/87 at Rotten Tomatoes, on HBO and the Criterion Channel. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on Apr 8, 2023 - 2 comments

Bilal Baig and and Fab Filippo's comedy about Sabi, a nonbinary millennial in Toronto, their friends and their Pakistani immigrant family, deepens the characters as it brings Sabi's father back home from Dubai. Hilarious, heartfelt, sex-positive and very queer, with excellent writing and acting and great music. 8 short 20-minute episodes. (Season 1 post, Season 2 trailer.) On HBO.
posted by mediareport on Feb 12, 2023 - 3 comments

This psychological slasher and queer cult classic from 1982 tells the story of orphaned teen Billy (Jimmy McNichol) who becomes caught up in the twisted mind of his increasingly unhinged Aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell, really going for it). It's driven by a surprisingly upfront queer subplot involving a bigoted detective who suspects Billy is part of a gay love triangle that ended in murder, and features a positive portrayal of a gay high school basketball coach along with some campy, gorey thrills. (It also lingers an awful lot on Jimmy McNichol's topless chest and butt, and includes a young Bill Paxton as a homophobic teammate.) Available on Shudder. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on May 23, 2021 - 5 comments