User reviews

This is more of the type of newish humor that needs to be written. Like "Bros" it is a refreshing and more normal way to portray gay people in cinema.

Very clever writing good jokes, funny scenarios and quippy scenes without being too kitschy.

Hopefully this does well and they keep making more dark/black comedies like this.

Next I want to see a gay version of a satire Christopher Guest type movie, that would be cool.

Then they could do a murder mystery type, then a gay themed sci-fi one.

Not perfect, and that's ok, nothing in life, let alone cinema is a 10/10, just like no person is a 10.

Enjoyed the first half of this. A lot of fun, great chemistry, fun performances. Zachary Quinto's turn as a sexually repressed guy goes a little stale. Lukas Gage's character starts to feel a little one-note as well. Judith Light is wonderful as always. And a fun cameo by Simon Rex. Then it takes a darker turn that suddenly feels a lot less funny, if not disturbing. The movie had created a nice reality bubble that was fun to experience. Until, damn, it gets dark. Then suddenly we're out of that bubble into a world that features Audra McDonald, whose fierce realness feels completely at odds with the rest of the movie. I was totally willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride for the first half, but it asked too much at the end. From laughter to what the f-- in 90 minutes. Can't really recommend.

Unusual little thing, to put it mildly since it involves a divorced man who realizes he is gay and who in the space of one day has three men for hire over to his beautiful home. One is to give him a massage, one is for him to have sex with and one is another male prostitute who likes having sex with the deceased. In the midst of this is a visit from a neighbor (Judith Light) who is whacked out of her mind on medications and gets locked in the place. This starts off terribly primarily due to the ridiculous characterization of the massage guy, but it and he improve as it goes along. That character, played by Lucas Gage, eventually becomes more likable, but the film's saving grace is the performance of Zachary Quinto who is really rather good in this as a sad and troubled man. Parts of this black comedy work very well, some doesn't, and there is surprising humor popping up here and there. Unfortunately, much like the beginning the ending is a mess. There is also the required sex scene and given that it is performed by two gay actors, it is spectacularly unerotic. American films about gay men tend to be rather poor, so this is a bit of a surprise being as good as it is, though it does take some tolerance, but hey, it's a comedy even if it does end with someone committing a major crime that they don't seem to be aware of.

Movies are supposed to entertain you and this one did!! I usually get bored with something because they use the same old formula that's been around forever but no this one surprised me and most importantly made me laugh! I laughed so hard and was so glad watched this. I thought the whole thing was hilarious. I also loved the young and older bounce back and forth between these two. I was loving the relationship they were forming in one night! I actually thought he would leave the house to Cameron. I think the romance was there and I just loved it. Yes there is violence and they should have left that part out of the script but other than that I liked it. The whole beginning was realistic and then it became hilarious. I highly recommend.

With talent like Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage, Judith Light, and Audra. McDonald, I figured this film had to have something going for it. Plus the trailer was fun and the plot seemed promising (and the house in the movie's gorgeous). But, no. It's now clear why the movie went direct-to-video.

But why would such talented people agree to perform in such nonsense? Did they not read the script?

Almost every plot development and so much of the dialogue thumbs its nose at credibility. Totally cringe.

It's too bad. There are a few funny moment and snappy lines-even a few decent dramatic moments. And the cast has good chemistry.

Really, a talented screenwriter needed to extract the good stuff from this mess and totally rewrite it. And a much smarter director needed to take control. There really is some potential buried in there somewhere.

Sigh. What a bad film. And it stars Zachary Quinto of Star Trek and Margin Call fame. Why did he choose to be a part of such a bad project, I wonder. As a gay man, does he think it's his patriotic duty to act in every gay film he's offered? Why can't he be more choosy, like, say, Andrew Scott?

In this film, Quinto plays a 48 year old repressed gay gay man named Gary, who is introduced to the wild "gay life" by a masseur. This includes getting on a dating app and calling home some strange men and then getting high on crack and swimming naked in a lake. After this, Gary is seemingly transformed from a square to a proper gay man. Like Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady.

Fortunately gay men are no longer patriotically required to give such idiotic movies a high rating, as may have beeen the case when gay movies were few and far between. This movie has very little going for it and I feel really bad for it.

I had to write a review just to make a comment on the 10 stars reviews on this movie. They are so hardcore made using chap GPT. Sad.

I have one word for this film. Cringe.

I never give a 1 star review cause am a filmmaker and I know the astronomical work that comes into putting a film. Even a really bad one.

It makes me sad that films like this get the exposure they get just because they have names attached to them. Dear dying film industry. We don't care about celebrities or names. Give us something honest. Something that holds just a little bit of truth.

As for Lukas. Please don't write. Not all actors are writers and you're clearly not one.

One doesn't need a high budget to achieve. I started with low expectations due to the previous reviews (10, 2, 2, 10 etc) - in one word- you either hate it or love it type of movie. I was touched. It is layered in level of lecture, it is absurd, it is humorous, it is exaggerated and NOT pretending. Like life. Touches boundaries, shakes the middle class and cries along. It could have been a stage performance Eugene Ionesco style, refurbished anno now. It describes life. I am not gay neither a man. I was born after the boomer generation and before the millennials and I can say this film triggers something deep inside of me. So beautiful so absurd so genuine yet provocative and nevertheless serious. Just like reality but enhanced.

Gay man here so Just my opinion.

I gave this 2 stars for effort and that's about it. What a waste of talent. The script is terrible, and every single joke tries too hard to land. Ludicrous and over the top situations have very little if any follow through. It tries to shock in all the worst, most disrespectful ways. Insane situations that never seem to culminate and this movie is DATED as it feels like it should have been made 10 years ago if the streaming platforms/networks would have allowed it. I wish I had more positive things to add but unfortunately that's all I got. Good luck and don't waste your money like I did.

I was going to rate it 3 stars, then I saw the other reviews that gave this a10, and noticing how bias they are, guessing that someone payed for those I gave it my 3 stars. 1 for the acting + 1 for the cinematography + 1 for the only chuckle I got from this movie.

It tries to be a dark comedy with an edge, but it comes as disrespectful, cringy and ridiculous.

It's pointless and stupid, especially when trying so hard to make some "jokes" work.

Of course it brought back memories of classics like "In & Out" and "Weekend at Bernie", but that was a long time ago.

This one you'll forget right after you watch another movie.

Sorry for the waste of talents.

Boy was this refreshing. Everyone did such a good job and it's good to see some fresh faces. Zachary and Judith you did an amazing job, and this new guy Lukas is amazing. It was a little bit sick and twisted, but it was enjoyable and it was entertaining and it was fresh and it was original. There's so many boring scripts out there.

I wish there were more movies like this available. It deviates so much from the standard trope.

The acting was really impeccable. I'm not sure who the writer was, but they did a really good job, and the scenery was great, and I like the whole psychological element behind everything.

Good job, everyone.

Wow, what a disappointment this was. I usually like the actors in the cast and am dumbfounded as to what they were thinking when they signed on to this project.

The character played by Lukas Gage is supposed to be funny and charming but is so over the top obnoxious, clueless, and irritating that it's a wonder that Zachary Quinto's character didn't throw him out after five minutes.

This is a film by a gay writer and gay actors, yet it treats the gay characters with utter contempt. The scenes don't ring true and the characters reactions and dialogue don't work with the backdrop of the situation they find themselves in.

There is a scene at the end with Audra MacDonald who gives an excellent monologue that is finally grounded in reality only to have what happens after it negate the whole scene for an ubsurd and head scratching happy ending.

This could very well be the worst film of the year.

"Down Low" is an uproariously entertaining film that promises a wild ride from start to finish. With its unpredictable plot twists and turns, viewers are kept guessing at every corner, never quite knowing where the story will take them next. This rollercoaster of emotions seamlessly blends humor, joy, sorrow, and the downright bizarre, ensuring there's never a dull moment. The film is a treasure trove of pop culture references, paying homage to beloved TV shows and movies, adding an extra layer of fun for eagle-eyed viewers. From nods to classic sitcoms to clever movie Easter eggs, the references are cleverly woven into the narrative, enriching the viewing experience. With its myriad of unexpected surprises, "Down Low" delivers non-stop entertainment that will leave audiences thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. Whether you're laughing at the hilarious antics of the characters or gasping at the jaw-dropping plot twists, "Down Low" is a must-watch for anyone in search of a thrilling and immersive cinematic experience. Strap in and get ready for a wild ride that you won't soon forget.

I feel regretful for wasting my time on this film. Despite lovely main actors, the plot is too poor to be bored easily. I can't realize how the producer thought to invest on this scenario. Sometimes it get closed to drama, other time you contemplate it as a romantic story but abruptly you are reminded that it is only a cheap comedy. The epilogue, stealing the corpse, makes no sense. It is not rational or understandable because if it is the result of a huge sense of loving, why the Cameron had not been in touch with his sick lover for one month. It is exaggerating.

However, I genuinely loved the younger actor and his charming performance. The locations are beautiful and verdant. The music is considerable.

I can't believe it has such a low rating! Yes, it's not for everyone as any other movie. If you don't get it, it doesn't mean it's a bad.

Honestly, it's such a great and fresh indie take on old school dramedy, very rare genre nowadays.

You may like it or not but you will be definitely surprised but it's all twists. 100% must. At least I have reccomended it to all my friends.

I also wanted to mention that the whole casting from the main characters to not the lead ones is just brilliant.

Thank you so much for this almost 2 hours entertainment that distracted from this tough reality we are facing these days.

I wasn't expecting much from this movie after looking at the IMDB score so I was utterly surprised when I finished watching this breath of fresh air.

This a deeply dark comedy (pitch-black sometimes) with elements of pathos and bathos seamlessly sewn into the comedic narrative.

Yes of course it brings to light in vivid beautifully bright colours the gay quandries of modern gay life and at the same time illustrates the human condition that all human souls suffer.

The dialogue is pitch perfect and a lot of it is delivered with speed and throw away lines - a lot of the lines are written for a gay audience with references to "Flowers In The Attic" or "Beaches" that will resonate with gay and straight audiences alike.

Zachary Quinto and Lukas Gage are completely brilliant and deliver the dark humour with a real dose of realistic absurdity ; we look into episodes of that same absurdity in our own lives and suddenly that chaos can be all to real.

A special shout to Judith Light who eats up her lines with relish delivering a comic tour de force whilst imbuing it with such a sense of humanity and sympathy that only good actors can capture ; alas she appears on screen all too biefly.

For this viewer at least the movie had echoes of "Harold and Maude" and as it reaches its climax, I feel there was a nod at least to "The Graduate".

In conclusion: an updating of classic dark humour underlining the zeitgeist of today's youth and the standards and morals of an older generation - both startingly similar.

Do we really need the graphic content to make a good movie. The best movies of all time conveyed the message to the viewer without spelling it out. That's what made movies so funny and clever because we all knew what the message meant. Would you show a man fingering a woman to make the movie funny? So why do we need to see a man wanking off another man ? And going down on him? Really? Have we arrived at this point? Otherwise the movie was actually quite entertaining apart from the cringe moments. Please don't fall into the trap of vulgarity in desperation for a reaction from your viewers. Gay or straight, be clever and not in your face. The actors were brilliant otherwise so bravo to them. The end was funny and also touching.

I saw Down Low at Outfest 2023 and it was the highlight of this year's crop of LGBTQ films. Most indie films we come across are either too slow, or depressing, Down Low is neither thankfully.

I had high expectations going in as I love the leading actors' work. The movie is zany, over-the-top funny and both Lukas Gage and Zach Quinta gave exceptional fearless performances. Judith Light, Simon Rex and Audra MsDonald all had nice moment in the story. The art direction is great, with a shot near the end that is iconic.

If you are looking for an escapist and entertaining LGBTQ indie film, this is it. One of my favorite indie film in 2023. Highly recommended.

This movie is a raunchy, fast, insane, drug-fulled rollercoaster of fun, and I can't wait to see it again and again and again. It's also hard to talk about without giving away some of the main spoilers, so I won't write too much about the plot.

This movie was written, directed, and stars gay men. And although one of the plot points is a coming-out story, it is definitely NOT an "it's ok to be gay" movie. The audience is instantly dropped into a world where knowing when and how to use poppers, following Gindr Memes on Instagram, and attending at least one White Party is a prerequisite.

It is definitely a movie for adults. Not teens, but full-grown adults. I was shocked, delighted, and, despite my expectations, cried a little at the end.

A funny, dark comedy that doesn't try to be more than it is. Thoroughly enjoyed it as a gay movie that doesn't try to be groundbreaking and moving etc trying to win awards by showing the immense struggle of being a gay man and coming out.

The relationship between Cameron and Gary is incredibly endearing and provide some proper laughs.

A fresh take one what could be seen as an overdone premise, taking what would generally be a thriller and turning it into a light hearted dark comedy.

Absolutely added to my list of favourites for light watching, and will be giving this another viewing in a few months.

Zachary quinto and Lukas Cage both are amazing in this.

Deeply resonant and refreshingly authentic, 'The Down Low' navigates the complexities of sexuality and relationships with grace and honesty. This thought-provoking film delves into the journey of a man grappling with his identity amidst the backdrop of divorce and family dynamics. Simon Rex was a standout moment, infusing the narrative with a raw vulnerability that adds depth to an already stellar cast. Unlike some recent high-budget LGBTQ+ romcoms, 'The Down Low' avoids pretentiousness, opting instead for a genuine exploration of its characters' experiences. The humor is sharp, the emotions are palpable, and the story strikes a delicate balance between levity and poignancy. In an industry often dominated by stereotypes, this film is a breath of fresh air, offering representation without sacrificing authenticity. 'The Down Low' is a captivating cinematic experience that lingers in the mind and heart long after the credits roll.