Gay? Definitely. Thelma and Louise? I didn't get that vibe. To me, "The Living End" seemed more like a stream-of-consciousness story. It also seemed to me that the movie should've had more, given what all they were putting into it. Not a bad movie, but it could've been more coherent.
Gregg Araki's dedication at the end was on the nose.
The Living End
1992
Action / Comedy / Drama
The Living End
1992
Action / Comedy / Drama
Keywords: road tripaidshivsex worker
Plot summary
Luke is a gay hustler. Jon is a movie critic. Both are HIV positive. They go on a hedonistic, dangerous journey, their motto "Fuck the world".
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
not what I interpreted
Araki's living hetrosexual masterpiece
Araki's first mainstream baby. I like to just say baby, meaning his first movie ever, but he made two before this. TLE rocks, as it's a totally courageous and brave, no holds barred, heterosexual journey to the world's end, for two young HIV positive gay guys/studs, one (Gilmore) a very much reserved film critic, his lover (Dytri),an opposite, wild, raucous, sociapathic, and homicidal, where we kind of have a Natural Born Killer's thing going, as these two newfound lovebirds, take off, due to Dytri's out and control and murderous tendencies (most violence here, implied) on a 90's road adventure. The film has such a great "F.ck you" attitude, and Araki's tight shots whether exterior or interior are so cool. If you notice, about half way through, the screen is minimalized some, where the screen becomes shaped as if we're watching home movies on a projector. This is something you're never see coming, but I do understand the point to this. There are some really out there moments, a comical one, involving some sick violence, when a girlfriend catches her lover in bed with Dytri, (a priceless line attached here) and stabs him, where their dog ends up, licking the blood off the now deceased, where Dytri's flies out of there, dog in tow. Another scene involves, legendary Corman actress, Woronov who's really good as one of two women who pick up Dytri, where these two unbalanced sorts, have a much shortened future planned for Dytri, after they of course, fu.k him. Again Dytri, scarcely gets away with his life. Gilmore was interested with a natural performance as Jon, while it was Dytri who was stealing his screen partner thunder, as the who I really liked character and performance. I wish Gilmore had acted in more stuff. One of his few friends in this, (Marta) as I think bi friend, was an interesting sort to complete the triangle, with a very understanding and engaging character, offbeat, who gets over emotional. Engaging is her performance too, (she's fantastic) where the gay bi woman, best friend has become something stereotypical, too the doctor, confronting patient with that terminal result, here down in an original comic way. This film is a complete, amongst some impressive Indie features, that featured in the good old year of 1993. Usually for a new up and coming, Indie filmmaker, the first is their best, and the one that's remembered. With this one, it's no exception. The film's grim if beautiful open end, plays out perfectly with the story. Tick around and take heed of Araki's little blunt message, after the end credits play. A profound gem of a film, of cult, every hetro should see.
A very mixed bag, but a powerful in the end
A film I enjoyed far more than I 'should' have, given how many individual moments I disliked.
Full of somewhat forced, wanna-be John Waters style humor that is sometimes funny, but often just over-arch and clunky. And some of the acting is weak, the rest only pretty good.
Yet underneath it all there is something moving, honest and raw in its punky rage at the world from an HIV positive point of view.
Sort of a gay, surrealist Thelma and Louise made on a shoestring. For all the moments I rolled my eyes, I feel like it will stick with me over time.