Title: Strapped
Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance
Length: 95 minutes
Distributer: TLA Releasing DVD (July 17th, 2010)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 7/10
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: A routine trick propels a tall, dark, cynical hustler (the strikingly handsome newcomer Ben Bonenfant) into a series of life-changing encounters in this stunningly photographed drama. But this amicable and sexually efficient rent boy begins to look at himself differently when he finds himself lost in a maze-like apartment building. On his journey through the building, he tricks with a variety of johns; sex is the commonality, but out of that commodity comes raw, unguarded emotions for all. Witty, sexy and touching, Strapped is an unforgettable look into one young man’s moving journey to understanding.
Watch via Amazon instant video: Rent through Amazon for $3.99, buy through Amazon as a digital download for $9.99 {you can also view the trailer via this link} http://www.amazon.com/Strapped-Ben-Bonenfant/dp/B004GWVVT2/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392605892&sr=1-2-catcorr
Review: The DVD cover reads, “Honest and Intelligent.” And this is so true.
The Hustler learns about life and love during a sex fuelled trip through an apartment building that is straight out of The Twilight Zone. I seriously thought at one point he’d wound up in purgatory. And one of his tricks actually asked him if he seriously thought the building was some kind of purgatory, to which I chuckled.
Back to the Hustler, whose name changes with each trick. He initially came to the building with the Russian, John, who is an inexperienced and closeted homosexual looking for someone to pop his cherry, so to speak. As H is leaving Johns he runs into a full on Queen and he is convinced that H is someone he knows. One thing leads to another and H after accompanying the Queen back to his apartment winds up blowing another guy in the bed room.
Next up, we have David, a supposed Good Samaritan that will show H his way out of the building. They wind up in the basement and first David asks for sex but then goes kind of psycho and punches H. Sam happens upon them and rescues H, taking him to the top of the building to his apartment where they ponder their meagre existences. Sam ends up bending H over his bar and they both have a very happy ending. Mind you he’s gotten paid for all these tricks, and he’s managed to make himself into what each and every guy seems to want or need. Almost like a chameleon. And he’s versatile. But he doesn’t kiss because THAT is too personal.
All throughout the movie there is this one sort of geeky cute guy that is eyeing H. Gary is scared and alone and all he wants is for someone to make him feel something, feel anything. So he pays H to kiss him, that’s all he wants is a kiss. The two have a very steamy and passionate make out session that ends with another twin set of happy endings. And supposedly this is the end of the line for H, who finally finds his way out of the building.
But there was something about Gary. The way he kissed him, touched him and looked at him that makes H question leaving. In the end the story really does pass itself off as some type of purgatory in my opinion. H has to make his way through each of these tricks, all different in what they want and who they are, in order to find that light at the end of the tunnel. Imagine his surprise when his light is the cute little geek.
The acting in this movie was far better than I’ve seen in many gay movies. The storyline was plausible and the reality of it kept me engaged all the way. There is also a happy ending, another thing we don’t often see in gay movies. It’s like there is a mandate on angst and misery in LGBT movies, well not this time! I loved this movie and I highly recommend you watch it. If you are a fan of slightly weird stories with a little bit of sexy and some pretty decent make out scenes and sex scenes for a movie that’s not classified as soft porn.