Drown

The violence . It seems the only theme and easy to define it as pretext for a non story film, in which the punches, hate, vulnerability as root of terrible angry are the only pieces.

But Drown is about what lives under violence. Experiences, need of respect, appreciation and love, the friendship as refuge and the toxic but so familiar manner to define yourself as man. Sure, a significant aspect is homophobia , in many forms . But the great thing is just the fair performances of main actors and the realism created by discontinous telling.

A film about vulnerability and thirst of affection more than about violence itself.

Strong acting and good-looking shirtless lifeguards running around in speedos cannot redeem this sadistic mess of a film.

I didn't need to see this. No redemption, growth or meaningful message here. You already know there are sick people out there that take their personal issues out on others with cruelty and abuse ...but do you really need to see it? I found this similar to watching someone slowly torturing their adoring loyal dog.

If you want to see some hot guys and a quick penis shot; simply watch some internet porn instead! You won't feel so empty, upset and emotionally drained afterwards.

Australian films and TV series have always interested me. Such a far and isolated western society has brought us so many different point-of-view and awkward plots and directed novelties. From Priscilla, a Rainha do Deserto (1994) to Lonesome (2022), from Mad Max (1979) to Skinheads - A Força Branca (1992), there's always an unexpected editing or plot.

This movie is not at all to be put in this hall of fame. First, it took me like 29 minutes to understand what were flashbacks, what were fantasies, and even to be sure when I was really into the regular story. So if you're going to watch it, be aware that you'll need special attention to keep track. The editing is not good enough to show you where you're at. In addition to that, I kind of understood that the same scene is shown again with a different point of view near the end (I mean, I think so, not sure). Not everyone is as good as Gus Van Sant with Elefante (2003) doing that. It's almost ridiculous. Like an extremist art house terrorist movie directors competition, the one that make the audience the most lost, wins.

Not to spoil it, but to help, I'd just say that it's the story of one night. Everything else is flashbacks, or dreams, or fantasies (it took me a while to define this). And that night is cut with flashbacks of that same night !!! (Wow...). So let's redefine it again, it's the story of one end of the night.

Then I had to watch it in two parts. My mate made me shut it down at about the half of the movie, telling me, "that's again one of those movies made by straights about things they believe to know"- This happened at a useless disgusting scene with vomit, even given the fact that the actors were handsome. "He's a straight". I guess my friend meant that this actor whatever he's straight or not, didn't play well enough the forbidden attraction he's supposed to feel and to restrict towards his friends - this is not true in all the scenes, but a general feel. Meanwhile, he plays well a homophobic hater.

Plus, the sound editing is not good. Even equipped with a 5.1 home theater system, some dialogues were hard to decipher.

But all in all, I was interested to know what that closeted, self-hating and psychotic gay guy was going to become (or do), it kept me watching it until the end. So at least, the plot was somewhat not that bad. It should have been directed in a much better way, most of the time there aren't bad actors, but bad directing of them. I wouldn't watch this twice.

One of the worst films I've seen in a long time, gay themed or otherwise. There isn't one minute of this film that doesn't ring false. The relationships between the three characters is so far fetch that you spend every minute thinking that there is no way in hell these three would spend time together. If any one thinks this is an important gay film they must suffer from the same low self esteem and self loathing that the main character does. Are we really supposed to believe that someone who has a loving relationship with a seemingly very nice guy would give his antagonist the chance to repeatedly, and I mean repeatedly, torment and physically abuse him? Where is the logic in that? Any self respecting gay man would have had his tormentor throw in jail after the first scene and he could have saved us the torture that repeatedly followed. A total waste of time that is painful to watch.

The movie has hundreds of time jumps backwards and forwards, it is confusing.

The movie shows the last days of an homophobic and somewhat psychotic beach lifeguard and the huge fear to recognize his own homosexuality, despite he always seems to flirt with the idea. His best friend is the shy "hung" dude, who obeys all what the homophobic says.

There are many gay bashing scenes. The gay character is mostly employed as a punch-bag.

There is just one nudity scene where we can see someone's butt at a distance, and their hands hiding the genitals.

The final beach scene has many continuity errors.