Gay Celluloid on Kiss Me, Kill Me

›› Kiss Me, Kill Me ‹‹

a film by Casper Andreas.

2015 | 101 mins | US.

a vibrant gay to the core murder mystery.

principal players: Van Hansis / Dusty, Gale Harold / Stephen, Brianna Brown / Amanda, Yolonda Ross / Detective Riley,
Craig Robert Young / Jeffrey, Jai Rodriguez / Detective Santos, Matthew Ludwinski / Craigery, Kit Williamson / Travis,
D.J. "Shangela" Pierce / Jasmine, Jackie Monahan / Danielle, Allison Lane / Lori and Michael Maize as Albert.

cameo appearances by Deborah S. Craig, Katie Walder, Jonathan Lisecki as Kevin, the Retail Clerk and Casper Andreas as Dr. Winters.

Adapted Synopsis:

Seemingly unable to make up his mind between his current boyfriend Dusty and ex lover Craigery, things boil over for hot Hollywood producer Stephen when Dusty finds threes a crowd, making for a sharp exit by him to a nearby 24-hour store, with Stephen just a few steps behind. Only in confronting his unfaithful boyfriend Dusty blacks-out, a situation that finds him coming to with Stephen dead to the world - literally and the words "prime suspect" written all over his forehead. But did Dusty really do his man in?

Dave says:

With the obvious exception of the four Donald Strachey screen adaptations of the books by Richard Stevenson, not overlooking Rob Williams' sexy reworking of the whodunnit scenario that is Out to Kill, gay murder mysteries are in relative short supply, so this addition to the genre is more than welcome. Set in glamorous West Hollywood and played for all its worth by an inspired cast who delight in their varied roles, this is a film that frankly has a lot going for it, not least being the fine support from Queer as Folk's Gale Harold as Stephen; aka the to be OR not to be loving partner of the piece, even if his character is seen more in flashback, than present. Unlike ex lover Craigery who is determined to come between the two, a part that finds Matthew Ludwinski relishing every biting line of the piece, having previously starred in Andreas' damning indictment of life and love in the land of broken dreams, that is Going Down in LA LA LAND.

That said and whilst RuPaul's Drag Race star D.J. "Shangela" Pierce almost steals the show courtesy of his alter-ego Jasmine, this film belongs to Van Hansis, an actor who is undoubtedly known to many for his spirited work in Eastsiders, let alone his charming turn as gay boy Luke of the captivating As the World Turns romance that was Luke and Noah and who here plays his role to a narrative tee, alternating between grieving lover framed for a murder he did not commit, to a guilty as charged boyfriend crying crocodile tears all the way to his local gay club and some man-action in the Gents.

True, there was really no doubt that Dusty was anything but ... well, that would be saying. What can be said is that Andreas makes fine use of a luxurious apartment that would not be out of place in Hollywood Wives, filling it with and in true Agatha Christie style, an array of characters who naturally are far from telling the truth and if anything, have their own reasons for wanting Stephen dead. No surprise then that the script by David Michael Barrett is packed with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, even if personally I could have done with a bit more tension in the narrative and frankly the music department too. But then, that's probably just me, given clearly you were never meant to take this vibrant gay to the core murder mystery too seriously, thanks in the main to the comical asides from the double acts that are Detectives Riley and Santos and girls with attitude Danielle and Lori, aka Jackie Monahan and LA LA LAND Iris Prize winner Allison Lane. Never a dull moment goes without say, but then with Andreas in the directorial chair, that was guaranteed from the start. Need more be said?

Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - brief bare-arsed cheek.
Overall - file under ... 3+ stars.

nudity guide: Craig Robert Young delivers some bare-arsed cheek.

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archive reference #2016032

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