Hooked

Just saw Hooked on iTunes and will keep this brief. It looks good, nicely shot but that's easier to achieve these days. The subject matter is honourable, LGBTI youth homelessness is an important issue. The central relationship is sweet and unique. The film's biggest flaw is some awkward acting, occasionally from the main couple but particularly from Terrance Murphy who plays the conflicted Ken - so wooden! Katie McClellan who plays his wife probably gives the most naturalistic performance in the film. There's certainly far worse queer cinema out there but there is better too.

In this his big screen directorial debut, Director/Writer Max Emerson (who is also an actor " Glee," " The Real O'Neals") unfortunately relishes in presenting exaggerated gay character stereotypes, fights ongoing sound issues, and can't reign in his main characters dialogue. This is too bad, because the story of hustler Jake (played nicely by attractive newcomer Conor Donnally) and his on-the-run boyfriend Tom (the shy Sean Ormond "50K" 2018) has the makings of an intriguing gay storyline. Set against a New York/South Beach backdrop, Jake hooks up with married closeted man Ken (the handsome Terrance Murphy "Burn Notice" TV), who whisks him off to Florida for the weekend, while his wife Jess (the terrific Katie McClellan "The Ultimate Legacy" 2015) sits at home with their baby. Seeing the excursion as a chance for him and Tom to leave their crowded NY hostel, Jake goes all in. When things don't turn out as planned, he picks up his craft in South Beach, coming face to face with psycho client Date-Rape-Dan (played superbly by Jay Alan Christianson "Black-ish" TV). Emerson has all the makings a plausible story, however, wearing too many hats, he was unable to see the excessive dialogue, nor help his actors who needed a little directorial assistance. You won't be "hooked" on "Hooked," but you also won't be disappointed.

This Movie has self-harm, sexual content, it also shows body parts. it has strong language, drug use, underage sex and smoking, attempted suicide, murder, rape and sexual abuse

I don't agree with the Ken and jack thing that was going on, I believe people should only date and stuff if they are the same age or 2 or 3 years apart at the most and ken is a lot older then jack, ken is like 50 or older then that and jack has only just turned 18 and its just wrong and anyway I see a person of 18 years as still a teenager and people say 19 is the last year of being a teenager, I would say a person of 21 is an adult but no one under that age

I liked jack and tom's relationship, they are the same age I believe and they were funny and cute together. tom is really smart and caring and that's why he is my fav charter

I like that the Movie covers borderline personality disorder, mental disorders are not talked about much and I keep hearing of borderline personality disorder and I would like to know more about it and after watching this Movie I want to look more into it.

When I was a young man just out of college I experimented with some gay escorting and I found it to be a fascinating life experience. Later I became a gay adult video producer/director, so I know that world from both sides of the table. For those reasons, I'm always drawn to movies that explore the male escort/client relationship and the hidden world in which they operate.

"Hooked" doesn't really offer any genuine insight nor unique perspective into that secretive world. Jack's interactions with his male clients are predictable and stereotypical, but at least somewhat realistic. However, the only scene with a female client - who forces him to wear diapers and talk like a baby - appears to be lifted straight from "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo". Ridiculous. I understand it was probably included as comic relief in an otherwise serious movie, but I believe it was a misstep that went too far.

I was very impressed with Conor Donnally as the lead character, Jack. Not credible as a 17/18 year old, but I'm willing to overlook that. Of course, he's exceptionally handsome and hunky, but more importantly he was clearly committed to each scene - even the superficial and weak ones. It's all about the spark in his eyes. He definitely has the "x factor" and I hope to see him in many more features to come. The other stand-out performance was by Jay Alan Christianson as Date-Rape Dan. (Apparently he's uncredited in the movie. I'd like to know why.) He was fantastic as a creepy, coked-up slimeball client. I don't think anyone could have delivered a stronger performance.

I try to support as many gay oriented films as I can, but I have to be honest. "Hooked" is just okay overall. Ultimately, it's superficial and it missed a golden opportunity to explore the serious dramatic potential of the gay escort/client dynamic. Speaking of missed opportunities -- Donnally is shown shirtless in many scenes, but only shirtless -- never more. Obviously, I didn't direct this movie! I'll remember "Hooked" for the beauty and spark of Donnally and the brilliantly menacing performance of Jay Alan Christianson.

What a waste of an attractive lead. The big failure was in making the protagonist so unlikable that you don't root for him. You just want him to go away.

I could write an essay on how terrible this movie was; but what I really came to mention was the insulting reference of Borderline Personality Disorder, where he (the character - though really the script writer) explains that this is the reason he stole an item from a store (!) and is "fcked up." Uh... no.