Down Low is a dark, adult comedy in the vein of The Hangover but with a queer twist. Written by co-star Gage (with co-writer Fisher), Down Low follows the course of a day where a formerly closeted gay man, now estranged from his family, is helped by a masseuse (yes that sort of masseuse) he hires into having his first same sex sexual experiences. Things go horribly wrong and the two find some connection while covering up crimes and disposing of bodies. It is as outrageous and funny as the best of this genre and suffers from some of the same problems that much of this genre suffers from. However there was something special in it that I feel a lot of reviewers are missing which made it stand out and perhaps offer something a bit more.
Quinto and Gage have great chemistry with the former playing full internalized homophobia and Gage clearly having a lot of fun with his gregarious open to anything character. The film quickly moves into its worst case scenario plot that is equal parts hilarious and silly and "should we be laughing at this" humour. It's a hard R style comedy that plays a bit fast and loose with realism...you know, the way straight comedies have for decades.
But something about Down Low hit on something most films don't have; Queer Joy. Down Low makes a case for how the closet is not a healthy place and how while outing someone is a harmful act in itself, coming out is liberation and brings meaning to life in ways that being closeted cannot. There are moments in Down Low that capture a joyful essence of open queerness that pushes back against heteronormativity and internalized shame in ways that much queer cinema (and mainstream cinema) misses. I was struck by the film's boldness. So even when the film wasn't completely working, it captured something that was inspiring. The film's name is a reference to this, a state of living in some of self-repression.
For me Down Low fumbled the ending. I liked what it was trying to do but it went a little too silly. But it wasn't enough to spoil was for me was a fun film that also celebrated queerness.
Down Low
Starring: Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage, Judith Light, Simon Rex, Audra McDonald
Director: Rightor Doyle
Writers: Lukas Gage, Phoebe Fisher
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