“Finding love is hard. Staying alive is harder.”
VIBE CHECK:
90s Neo-Noir / Dark Comedy / Generation X / Urban Disillusionment
THE PLOT:
David (Thomas Gibson) is a cynical, openly gay former child star turned cynical waiter who shares an apartment with his heterosexual best friend and ex-lover, Candy (Ruth Marshall). As they both navigate a messy gridlock of casual hookups, unrequited pining, and profound urban loneliness, their tight-knit circle of friends is destabilized by an existential threat: a vicious serial killer is terrorizing the city, and the clues point uncomfortably close to home.
THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE:
The Casual Queer Frontier: For 1993, the film was incredibly radical for treating David’s homosexuality as an absolute baseline rather than a plot point. He isn't tragic, he isn't a saint, and he isn't defined by a coming-out arc—he is allowed to be just as deeply flawed, witty, and fiercely protective as his straight peers.
Fluidity and Boundaries: The movie brilliantly explores the gray areas of sexuality and friendship. The intense, platonic-yet-deeply-intimate bond between David and Candy serves as a radical blueprint for queer-straight alliance and chosen family.
Deconstructing 90s Masculinity: Through characters like Kane, a confused teenager drawn to David, and Ben, a troubled bartender, the film sharply dissects the performative nature of traditional masculinity and the terror of vulnerability.
WHY IT KILLS:
Based on the acclaimed stage play Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love by Brad Fraser, the film crackles with stylized, theatrical dialogue that hits like a slap in the face. Directed by the legendary Denys Arcand, it pairs a moody, atmospheric aesthetic with an unforgettable 90s alternative soundtrack. Thomas Gibson delivers a career-best, fiercely charismatic performance anchored by a marvelous supporting cast (including Mia Kirshner as a dominatrix/psychic who dispenses wisdom). It is a time capsule of pre-millennial tension that still feels thrillingly sharp today.
APATHY SCORE: 9.3 / 10 🖤🌃
