Kiss Me, Kill Me

Watching Kiss Me Kill Me you would think that all of West Hollywood is one big gay party. However this film which starts with a party has several murders in it and the wrong guy fingered by the police for all of them.

Gale Harrold is a reality TV show host and quite a user of men and boys who are all eager for fame and fortune. Harrold is in the process of dumping Van Hansiss and taking up with Matthew Ludwinski. But before that happens, Harrold is killed in a liquor store holdup along with the clerk and Hansis is wounded and with no memory of the events.

This film was a decent effort to capture a certain amount of Hitchcockian type suspense in a gay context. The detectives investigating the homicides that are piling up in West Hollywood are played by Jai Rodriguez and Yolanda Ross. Ross is the only significant speaking role in the film and as most cops I've ever known once her mind is set nothing changes it. Truth be told it does look bad for Hansis.

A whole lot of mind games are being played by some very manipulative people. Not surprising since several cast members are in the mental health field. After the murderer is revealed, there's a coda to the climax showing how the murderer was also being manipulated.

Not a bad story and what a gay old place West Hollywood is.

Wow. What a terrible movie.

First, what is Gale Harold doing in this movie? You know the movie is D grade when Jai Rodriguez plays a police detective.

What made this movie so awful were the leaps in logic and the clichés.

Consider a scene near the end: A man pleasures himself and wipes it up with a shirt. I said wipe, as in the matter is wiped up and absorbed into the shirt - especially an hour later. And we are to believe a woman can get pregnant from the matter on the shirt? The clichés about the gay community are so 1980. We are so past all of this nonsense.

Worst of all, there were supposed to twists and it just added insult to injury.

If you are thinking about watching this movie, make it a hard pass.

Director/Writer/Actor/Producer Casper Andreas (Flatbush Luck, 2016) continues to provide the LGBTQ community with an array of films. Here, "Kiss Me, Kill Me" stars Gale Harold (Queer as Folk) as a horn-dog reality TV guru who's found dead after his latest lover Van Hansis (As the World Turns 2005-2010) threatens him, then blacks out. As with many of Andreas' films, he once again wears of too many hats and "toss everything at the storyline hoping something good will happen," and it doesn't! As a gay filmmaker, and actor in general, Andreas should know that the viewing audience (gay or straight) deserves more than the typical bitchy drag queen, bitter lesbians, corny murder suspect, over acting, the occasional shirtless guy and/or familiar gay male personalities (Jai Rodriquez - Queer Eye for the Straight Guy 2003- 2007), and a cheesy storyline. Sharing the blame here is the equally weak writing of David Michael Barrett (Such Good People 2014), who provides all the actors with little to work with and nothing to ground there characters in. Andreas can make a film, he's proving that. What he needs to make is films more widely appreciated is to surround himself with less "Yes" people and more creative types who will help him step away from his projects and look at the bigger picture. It "Killed" me to sit through the whole film.

"Kiss Me, Kill Me" is a murder mystery told at its best. It is a story that sends you in many directions guessing until the end. Just when I thought I had it figured out...I was wrong. It happened again...and then a third time. Credit screenwriter David Michael Barrett as the plot twists were plentiful in this edge- of-your-seat, didn't't't-see-that-coming, mystery. I was pulled in and never released until the final few minutes. I love a good thriller, and this film was quite adequate in keeping this seasoned viewer guessing. Bonus points for the very Hitchcock cameo from the talented director, Casper Andreas! This film was visually VERY VERY VERY stunning. It's use of color and composition was extremely beautiful. I enjoyed the pacing of this film as well. Edited in such a way that you stayed on your toes as you watched the film towards the end.

The opening credits montage, for example was reminiscent of mysteries that had a more comedic bent but this was effective & exciting as it played out. As the film progressed it moved from one crazy night to its crazy days of confusion and character play. It seemed obvious to the viewer that Dusty was not the killer but as the visuals unfolded that became a question again in everyone's mind. Adding to the movement visually and in the story line you have the development of the characters.

They hypnotist was one of the steady rocks throughout the film, everyone else seemed to add to the layered plot of whom killed whom. But the writer and director did an excellent job by giving the viewer just enough to keep us questioning every twist & turn that entered the picture. The utter believable and reality is important to any film & the casting of this film was well done. Especially the lead character Dusty. He had to experience so much as the film moved forward. I think the most emotional & most impact & intense scene was his final session being hypnotized when he was able to uncover the truth of what he had done,even if it were accidental.

This film was extremely well put together. From the visuals to the music straight through to the story line. Audiences may find similarities to other films but that can't be helped in any "Who done It?" mystery. What audiences will connect to are the characters, the occasional humor and the final twist in the end. Will there now be a spin off to tie it all together in another crazy way?

Unlike traditional film, THIS FILM portrays gay & transgender characters,& does so in a modern, nuanced way. The gay characters are not solely motivated by sex, they are driven by grief, love & loss of a spouse. The film also depicts the circle of gay & lesbian friends that is more than just a stereotypical depiction. Further, the film shows us a drag queen take off her makeup and show a male side, in an unselfish conscious way. This kind of scene is rare in cinema. Strong acting performances by ALL the main actors are also key in keeping it a serious genre film. Use of music, dark lighting and mood all work to strong effect. Van Hansis ROCKED IN THIS FILM!!!!!! :)

The film doesn't take itself too seriously either. For example, the crystal tiger that shows up in various scenes, and plays a key role in the denouement, evokes a 70's disco movie aesthetic. Also, the repeated jokes about lesbians throughout, and the coming out of the place detective at the end of the film show that this film has a sense of humor. Just the premise of a gay murder mystery, with a drag queen & baby-crazed woman as key supporting characters IS AWESOME. I recommend this film because it is suspenseful, has a sense of humor, portrays gay and trans-gendered characters in a realistic way, as it updates the film genre & re-imagines the traditional murder mystery for a new generation of viewer(s). Some murder mysteries take an age to get going, but what is particularly impressive about Kiss Me, Kill Me is that it hits the ground running from the outset, and doesn't slacken. Not once was I bored, or looking at my watch. For me, this was one of the unsung gems of the year. Highly recommended.

Right from the stylish opening credits (which reminded me of 1963's Charade), this is a stylish, compelling and ultimately very satisfying thriller. It certainly kept me entertained and guessing until the end, mainly because it works on so many levels. Largely, this is due to the quality of the script, which twists and turns brilliantly, without ever losing sight of characters to care about. But mention should also be made of the direction, which is so assured (the movie looks absolutely stunning) and the performances of the cast. Some murder mysteries take an age to get going, but what is particularly impressive about Kiss Me, Kill Me is that it hits the ground running from the outset, and doesn't slacken. Not once was I bored, or looking at my watch. For me, this was one of the unsung gems of the year. Highly recommended.