a short film by Nick Wauters 2008 | 14 mins | US ›› Neurotica a comical take on the thoughts of a bar's diverse patrons. If you've ever wandered in a gay bar / club by yourself and wondered "just what am I doing here?," then this droll delight is certain to bring a smile to your face. Multi-charactered, it tells the story of seasoned neurotic Brian who one night finds himself "standing alone like a loser" in a mixed bar in West Hollywood, only for his thoughts and those of others to be audible, as the viewer enjoys a voiceover styled eavesdrop into the hearts and minds of the bar's diverse patrons. Sure we've seen this type of comical take before. But that said, it's always an entertaining concept, as an array of characters are paraded in front of the camera; from the straight boy dragged inside by his girlfriend, only to discover that he's not the only one who likes girls, to the gay guy clearly bored with his "it's all about me" motor mouth of a blind date. Add in the nightclub poser who thinks he's so cool, a straight pretending to be gay in the hope of "picking up some chicks" and the requisite hot hunk who surely cannot be interested in you, plus a lot more besides and you get the picture. It's one that writer and director Nick Wauters of The Event and Ryan's Life fame clearly delights in, along the way poking fun at the set-up itself, before offering the boys a romantic payoff at the end. Hardly earth shattering, but it's well shot and played throughout and good all round fun. Need more be said? Gay Visibility - overt.  Nudity - strictly from the waist up.  Overall - file under ... 3 stars.  screened as part of the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2009 starring: Alex Pakzad / the Neurotic Guy, Michael Padula / the Sweet Guy, Kevin Cardenas / the Creepy Guy, Emily Coddington / the Other Straight Girl, Daniel Frank / the Tweaker, Todd Hunter / the Go Go Boy, Elliot London / the Bartender, Daryl Meyer / the Fake Gay Guy, Gina Moore / the Straight Girl, Noi / the Flower Girl, Brian Nolan / the Tweaker's Other Friend, Jorge Ortiz / Poser, Micah Peterson / the Tweaker's Friend, Ulrich Que / the Clueless Boyfriend, Leigh Rose / the Tough Lesbian, Angelia Russell / the Bi Girl and David Trachtenberg as the Annoying Guy. official website: www.areyouneurotic.com ›› many thanks to Alex for this reader review request; keep them coming ‹‹ Copyright 2011 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #417 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹