Down Low: A dark and quirky queer film

Look, we’re just going to say it, this film is one of the most unserious things we’ve watched in a very long time. If you’re looking for compelling queer storytelling that makes you feel alive, that makes you feel validated, and that makes you feel intellectually stimulated, then Down Low is not the film for you. However, this exceptional queer movie will leave your mouth wide open, make you scratch your head, and make you question all your life choices. 

It’s the story of Gary (Zachary Quinto), a closeted and terminally ill man who is just trying to get some life experiences in before he kicks the bucket. Recently divorced on account of all the gayness he’s been hiding, Gary solicits the services of Cameron (Lukas Gage) for a little bit of hanky panky in his home so he can say that he’s had at least one gay experience in his life before he died. You see, Gary is so firmly in the closet that he has never acted on his queerness with another human. 

When Cameron – young, spry, and cute – shows up at his house for a good time, it’s awkward to say the least. Then while Cameron is *ahem* servicing Gary, he learns that Gary is in the throws of his first gay sexual experience ever. 

And that’s the point of the film where things get w.e.i.r.d. 

If we’re trying to find a point and a purpose behind Down Low, we’re comfortable saying that the point of this story is to give Gary a very gay send-off into the next life. And that’s what he gets, but he also gets so much more than he bargained for. 

This is not your typical film, and in Down Low, the plot gets c.r.a.z.y. Cameron gets another sex worker to come to the house so the two of them can give Gary an exceptionally gay time. Cameron is determined to make sure that Gary leaves this earth completely debauched and sexually satisfied. 

The problem is, the sex worker that shows up also claims he isn’t gay (despite the fact that he replied to a gay advertisement for sex) and things get weird and awkward and the man winds up dead. Gary tries to call 911 but Cameron isn’t having it, and this is where the movie descends into just about the most unserious thing this office has watched in perhaps forever. 

Cameron organizes for a man to come and pick up the body instead. This guy has a thing for having sex with dead guys, but when he arrives Gary suddenly grows a moral conscience and doesn’t want to release the body to someone he considers to be way too freaky. 

There are drugs involved, hallucinogenics, major shenanigans and yep, the necrophile also ends up dead. We don’t want to give away the circumstances and ruin it for the folks who aren’t on board with spoilers, so that’s all we are going to say about that. But yikes fam, what the heck?

There is only one female in Down Low and she’s quite a character indeed. All the men in this story are completely messed up in some way or another and we found ourselves saying, on more than one occasion, ‘what the hell did I just watch?’

Despite the absolute absurdity that is Down Low, we couldn’t turn it off and we couldn’t turn away from the screen. It’s incredibly well shot and it’s artistic in a way that made us feel invested, even though there was absolutely nothing we could relate to in these characters at all. 

Spoiler alert: Gary dies at the end. That seems relatively on-brand though and is certainly not even on the list of shocking things that happen in this film. What Cameron does in the wake of Gary’s death might continue to weave the ribbon of perplexity though and we sat in front of the screen for a good full minute as the credits rolled and wondered what on earth had just happened. 

Down Low is quirky beyond belief, and we’re okay with that. Not everything has to be a prolific message about queer life and queer existence. This most certainly is not that. Queer people like weird stuff too sometimes and weird is definitely a great way to describe this movie. 

We just think y’all need to watch this one for yourself. We might still be a little shellshocked by the experience, but it really is a work of art. Watch it, and let us know what you think. 

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Down Low is available to rent or buy on Amazon and Sony Pictures now. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!