Wrecked

If this was a high school senior project it could be considered marginally good. The acting itself could be considered marginally OK depending upon which character is acting. As a story, guess what, it is again OK but poorly executed and poorly connected from scene to scene with some parts, like the acting tryouts a disaster. The premise could have worked but because of the writing, it didn't. Some viewers will find this a waste and some will find it tolerable for some scenes including the nudity. The director's commentary was confusing and contradictory at times. The directors seemed like they couldn't remember details of some scenes including the name of some actors.

Of all the gay-themed films screened during my Thanksgiving Day marathon, this was the biggest disappointment.

I don't look for reasons to dislike a film; I truly do my best to watch a movie on its own terms. But sometimes a movie comes along that fails on so many levels. Poorly shot, badly edited and incompetently directed, there is almost nothing to recommend about "Wrecked" (save for the decent performance by the lead).

I would have forgiven the film all these flaws had there been a good story, but there really wasn't one to speak of. Hell, I could even forgive the lack of story had the film been poetic and lyrical... but it wasn't.

Calling this film borderline pornography is, quite frankly, an insult to the pornographic film industry.

Come on people you can't call this a film! Nothing but a bunch of sex scenes tied together in the most childish, boring plot. I don't see how anyone with access to free porn would want to waste their time with this. The sex scenes themselves were nothing special and there wasn't even potential for a story let alone an actual plot. Someone making a movie and this guy goes to audition for it. Then we see that the main character's life is shitty especially because of his junkie boyfriend. And well, then we get the most trite plot related to drug addiction and the ending, yeah it was supposed to be freaking awesome right? But while the idea was good, how do you expect me to feel anything for an ending after such a crap film?

Since the early days of cinema, viewers have been taught about the misery of being gay. Loneliness, addiction, obsession, violence, pain, death, you name it.

In more recent years, as our society has advanced, and independent filmmaking has become more prominent, the script has a little more leeway. For instance, in Wrecked, the characters are miserable and doomed, but at least there's no direct indication that this is due to their being gay.

Hooray for progress.

The basic outline of Wrecked is that Ryan's (Theo Montgomery) life is ruined because of damaged druggie Daniel (Benji Crisnis). This is also the basic failure of the film.

Who is Ryan? What is his life? All we know is he wants to be an actor and apparently he's in college, or has friends in college. He's living in a nice, large home, all on his own, so clearly he's not hurting for money. He doesn't even worry about a job, considering his only interest is in a local theater production led by a perv who dresses like Mr. Furley from Three's Company.

Why does Daniel's presence destroy Ryan's life? As far as the movie tells us, Daniel tells some obvious lies that Ryan sees through. Daniel sleeps around, which bothers Ryan, but not enough to kick him out of bed. Daniel gives Ryan some pills, which doesn't seem to have any big effect on Ryan, aside from making him oversleep one day and miss part of one rehearsal. The movie undercuts Ryan at every turn, in terms of viewer sympathy - Ryan knows what Daniel is like. Daniel doesn't really do that much to Ryan. You can't even say that Daniel cost Ryan his dream theater role, because the pigtailed director tells Mr. Furley some time before the firing that she doesn't think Ryan is any good. Generally, Ryan is just kind of a lump on the screen - he sits around whining about his relationship that isn't a relationship, and he looks confused as Daniel initiates sex and pill-popping.

Ryan's downfall is rushed and is clearly designed for some shock value to tag onto the end of the film, for a message. As a result, it's totally unbelievable.

What does work about the film? Well, there's a scene right before Ryan's downward spiral where he is very lonely and seduces his somewhat reluctant friend, Rodney (Womack Daryl). This has an ache and is the most believable moment in the film.

The sex scenes can be an awkward blend of explicit and coy (erections and strokes, but never penetration). But most of them get the message across, with a particularly delirious, glow-in-the-dark erotic encounter between Daniel and rich boy dope-head Taylor (Forth Richards), leading to bath fun and oral gratification.

The best reason to watch Wrecked is Benji Crisnis as Daniel. He is very sexy and charismatic as a man who does not know or does not especially care what impact he has on the people around him, as long as he can get off and get high. When the character goes, the movie goes with him.

The film's message, presumably unintentional, rests with Daniel over Ryan - the strong survive.

I think the review by GayFilmViewer says it all, except that I disagree on one point, I would add, abysmal acting. Seen with the rest of the cast, I would grudgingly agree that the lead gives a decent performance. Comparing his acting to that in similar films, it is tepid. Story line, nil; acting, one (for the lead); photography and editing - at times, bizarre colouring and sound, nil; this film is fake, unengaging and unpleasant. This is gay cinema at a total low. (Review refers to DVD version; just seen.) A pity this was dragged out to over an hour; 15 minutes is long enough. In Afrikaans, there is a lovely expression: ".. vol strond"; Shakespeare's line from Macbeth more than suffices: "Full of (unpleasant, bizarre, inept scenes), signifying NOTHING.