Down Low (2023)
For some, there is a pressure to live life to its fullest as one never knows when their time on Earth will come to an end. While some can assume that the end is in a far away distance, one can never be sure. For the LGBTQ+ community, numerous stories have been heard of individuals not coming to terms with their own identities until later in life, causing an even larger sense of panic and desire to engage with who they really are. Screening as part of the 2023 Outfest Film Festival, Rightor Doyle's directorial debut, Down Low, introduces the character of Gary (Zachary Quinto) who is in this exact situation. After divorcing his wife, Gary wants to start embracing his repressed sexuality but struggles not just from self confidence issues, but also a terminal diagnosis that drastically limits the time he has left. While Gary seems ok to have a more meek approach for his journey, a sex-worker he hires named Cameron (Lukas Gage) has far different thoughts and launches the pair into a wild 24-hours of crime, dead bodies, and drugs.
Down Low is a film of two halves. The first sees the film stand tall as one of the funniest features of the year. With a brisk pace and endless references, Down Low joins the ranks alongside recent films such as Fire Island and Bros as being a standout queer comedy that will speak well to the LGBTQ+ community. The dialogue and pacing is only helped by the fantastic comedic ensemble within the film. Lukas Gage shows a new side of himself as a comedic powerhouse that constantly delivers a rapid energy of charisma and charm that makes his character instantly memorable and play incredible well against the more subdued performance presented by Quinto. In the supporting cast, Simon Rex and Judith Light also find strong comedic work with Rex especially delivering bold strokes as an intense necrophiliac who nearly steals the show when he is on screen. While the formulaic nature of the film's runtime might cause some of the comedic segments to feel noticeably contained, it is easy to imagine just how great of a viewing experience the film would be with a sold out crowd or group of friends.
The other side of the film is a more dramatic soul. This is the side of the film where both Quinto and Gage truly deliver career-best performances as the two open their souls to their own thoughts on life and how it should be lived. Quinto especially brings a harrowing sadness to the screen as he not only regrets the life behind him, but has to accept the incredibly short road he has left. It would also be a crime not to mention the dramatic performance given by Audra McDonald who brings a venom and intensity that shakes the film to its core despite her having only a single scene of dialogue. While tonal shifts are unavoidable with a film with these two sides, the film does a rather good job at making these two identities flow together.
The film also naturally builds the relationship between Gary and Cameron as they slowly begin to understand each-other more and more leading to a truly stunning final conclusion that is one of the most emotional climaxes of the year. In many ways, despite all their differences, Down Low shares a lot with The Daniel's Swiss Army Man in how the film is able to take innocence and use it as a connective tissue between absurd comedy and poignant reflections on the human experience. Even if the specifics of the situation are fantastical and crazy, there is a real heart to the film that speaks to something authentic. This is a task only achieved by having authentic voices both in front of, and behind the camera with Lukas Gage's impact on the film's screenplay being worthy of note.
As with Fire Island and Bros, it remains noteworthy to also praise the production value of the film. For years, LGBTQ+ content suffered from low budgets, a general lack of resources, and an overall reliance on camp. Down Low, however, sheds these issues and delivers a thoughtful film when it comes to cinematography (Nate Hurtsellers) and editing (David Moritz & Mike S. Smith). Mortiz's history working with Wes Anderson can especially be felt in some scenes where the framing is perfectly crafted to create a unique special identity. The film's soundtrack is also instantly iconic with well-placed songs from those like CupcakKe and VINCINT which help give the film a modern edge.
While Down Low might suffer from minor issues, the film is an easy recommendation. The feature is incredibly funny and heartfelt adding to the lexicon of strong and meaningful queer outings in modern cinema!
Down Low is a film of two halves. The first sees the film stand tall as one of the funniest features of the year. With a brisk pace and endless references, Down Low joins the ranks alongside recent films such as Fire Island and Bros as being a standout queer comedy that will speak well to the LGBTQ+ community. The dialogue and pacing is only helped by the fantastic comedic ensemble within the film. Lukas Gage shows a new side of himself as a comedic powerhouse that constantly delivers a rapid energy of charisma and charm that makes his character instantly memorable and play incredible well against the more subdued performance presented by Quinto. In the supporting cast, Simon Rex and Judith Light also find strong comedic work with Rex especially delivering bold strokes as an intense necrophiliac who nearly steals the show when he is on screen. While the formulaic nature of the film's runtime might cause some of the comedic segments to feel noticeably contained, it is easy to imagine just how great of a viewing experience the film would be with a sold out crowd or group of friends.
The other side of the film is a more dramatic soul. This is the side of the film where both Quinto and Gage truly deliver career-best performances as the two open their souls to their own thoughts on life and how it should be lived. Quinto especially brings a harrowing sadness to the screen as he not only regrets the life behind him, but has to accept the incredibly short road he has left. It would also be a crime not to mention the dramatic performance given by Audra McDonald who brings a venom and intensity that shakes the film to its core despite her having only a single scene of dialogue. While tonal shifts are unavoidable with a film with these two sides, the film does a rather good job at making these two identities flow together.
The film also naturally builds the relationship between Gary and Cameron as they slowly begin to understand each-other more and more leading to a truly stunning final conclusion that is one of the most emotional climaxes of the year. In many ways, despite all their differences, Down Low shares a lot with The Daniel's Swiss Army Man in how the film is able to take innocence and use it as a connective tissue between absurd comedy and poignant reflections on the human experience. Even if the specifics of the situation are fantastical and crazy, there is a real heart to the film that speaks to something authentic. This is a task only achieved by having authentic voices both in front of, and behind the camera with Lukas Gage's impact on the film's screenplay being worthy of note.
As with Fire Island and Bros, it remains noteworthy to also praise the production value of the film. For years, LGBTQ+ content suffered from low budgets, a general lack of resources, and an overall reliance on camp. Down Low, however, sheds these issues and delivers a thoughtful film when it comes to cinematography (Nate Hurtsellers) and editing (David Moritz & Mike S. Smith). Mortiz's history working with Wes Anderson can especially be felt in some scenes where the framing is perfectly crafted to create a unique special identity. The film's soundtrack is also instantly iconic with well-placed songs from those like CupcakKe and VINCINT which help give the film a modern edge.
While Down Low might suffer from minor issues, the film is an easy recommendation. The feature is incredibly funny and heartfelt adding to the lexicon of strong and meaningful queer outings in modern cinema!