The Queer Gaze

Conrad and Joe hit pause on 'Sex Work and Pornography' to discuss one of 2025's biggest queer films: Harry Lighton's Pillion (2025).It may surprise you to discover that we're ambivalent about the film! We don't entirely understand its reception as a romance, especially given how disaffecting (and possibly abusive) the central relationship is.Plus: adaptation changes from Adam Mars-Jones's novella Box Hill; fantastic lead performances; Conrad's theatrical experience; and the moments of comedy that workSeen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~23.5 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

The second to last entry in our 'Sex Work and Pornography' theme is Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano's Baby (2024) about a newly released convict who is introduced to a life of sex work by an older man.From cruising spots to the intersection of sex & drugs, this beautiful film features a great debut performance by João Pedro Mariano as the title character. But there are a few elements, such as the contrived last act conflict, that don't entirely work for us.Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~15 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

Conrad and Joe check out Sebastian, the sophomore effort of Mikko Mäkelä (see previous episode on A Moment in the Reeds) which concerns a writer, Max (Ruaridh Mollica), who uses his sex work as fodder for his "fiction" writing.It's an intriguing concept, though the film occasionally loses focus on what it wants to explore.Plus: Conrad's displeasure at the film's end, a third act tonal shift, and debate about how self-aware the film is about what a gay film can and can't focus on.Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~21 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

The next entry in our 'Sex Work and Pornography' theme is Gregg Araki's masterful 2005 adaptation of Scott Heim's devastating novel Mysterious Skin. Starring a grown-up Joseph Gordon Levitt and a pre-Oscar winning director Brady Corbet, the film examines two very different responses to childhood sexual abuse (C/W).Plus: praising Michelle Trachtenberg, the strategic way Araki worked with the child actors, and why Neil's storyline is more intriguing than Brian's.Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~36 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

It's a Conrad pick as our theme on 'Sex Work and Pornography' continues with Robin Campillo’s genre hybrid, Eastern Boys (2013).The film tackles several uncomfortable subjects, including a significant age gap between client and sex worker, an incredibly tense home invasion-style "party" and a challenging protagonist in Daniel (Olivier Rabourdin).Plus: shifting genres, a dialogue-free opening, and the moment Joe had to jump ahead because he couldn't stand the tension.Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for ~27 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

Conrad and Joe check out writer/director Moshe Rosenthal's exquisite 80s throwback, which played Sundance 2026.Featuring incredible performances across the board, this 5 star film about a tumultuous father/son relationship feels extremely Pedro Almodovar-coded. It's one to watch when it becomes available!Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for bonus content on our other titles.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

We're kicking off a new theme, 'Sex work and Pornography', with Justin Kelly's 2016 true crime adaptation, King Cobra (2016) which tells the story of underage porn star Brent Corrigan and the murder of Bryan Kocis (here named Stephen).Starring Christian Slater (superb) and James Franco (ick) as predatory older gay men, the film is stylish, but hollow.Bonus points for Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone, though!Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for 24 more minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com

For our final 'Cruising' entry, we've returned to France to discuss Alain Giraudie's Stranger By The Lake (2013).It's one of Joe's favourite contemporary texts, but what did Conrad think of his time watch?Plus: unsimulated sex, naturalistic sound design, Henri's separation, and the lake as a gay utopiaSeen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another ~23 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find usFollow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.Email us: thequeergazeshow@gmail.com