Devil's Path

Pretty okay but I expected more actual horror in this. I still find it sad people have ever had to hook up in such an odd way though it's probably how I'd best hookup with someone in all honesty. Not what I was expecting but a good film.

I wanted to like this movie. The overall plot and synopsis sounded good, and the use of a setting popular with M2M hookups and anonymity was a good device. I would not really call it an LGBT+ movie, as much as a thriller that uses an LGBT+ setup.

That is the part that worked. Where the movie falters is in the actual direction and really odd script writing. It dragged when it should have been moving fast and became clumsy when it should have been cautious. The script didn't help. It needed to remember it was a thriller, but instead became loaded with too much unrealistic dialogue, corny scenes, and (UGH!) monologues.

Also, about a third of the way through, you can predict much of the mystery. Just enough to make you feel like it needs to end already. I fast forwarded through many parts of the movie. The third act also technically showed the big flaws in the directing.

There was a few twists towards the end, but it just made me think too much about mental health issues rather than insight or sympathy.

In short it felt like a college film project that was filmed in a weekend. Grade C-

An okay little thriller that is well shot, contains some pretty decent acting, and an interesting - if not totally original - plot.

Essentially a man with severe PTSD sets off into a popular cruising area in an attempt to find out what happened to his brother. There, he meets an asthmatic player who may have had something to do with the brother's disappearance.

The movie loses steam the closer it gets to the conclusion, which requires more suspension of disbelief than I'm able to give it. But the before part is far more interesting and entertaining than the resolution. It's almost as if the writer ran out of ideas for what to do with these two men, and simply decided to abruptly end it. Either that, or entire scenes were lost.

Even so, there is still a lot to like about the movie. The cinematography is interesting, the actors are better than you might expect (and do justice to two characters who are generally unlikable), and the dialogue rises above the popcorn you're used to seeing in movies like this.

I've complained for a long time that movies with gay themes are often bad. That tend to cover the same territory over and over again (HIV, coming out, homophobia, etc). So it's nice to see a film that tries something a little different, even when it doesn't always succeed.

Overall a decent thriller with some good plot twists. As some have said here, these are not always unexpected, but they are generally well handled. I didn't think the dialogue dragged the plot down giving it a slow pace, even if there is some unevenness here and there. Aspects of the ending are bleak, but there are surprises. As in many horror movies, monstrosity breeds monstrosity, whether it is recognized or not. The story could have been clearer in places, but generally worth watching for anyone who likes some darkness in lgbtq films.

A well made, well acted movie about dirty little secrets and a whole lot more. Great thriller.