HOOKED

US, 2017, 92 minutes, Colour.

Conor Donnally, Sean Ormond, Terrance Murphy, Jared Sandler, Katie McClellan, Steve Hayes.

Directed by Max Emerson.

This is a gay-themed blend of comedy and serious drama. The central character is Jack, late teens, continually in touch with his mother by phone, but a hustler in New York City, boarding at a refuge, a partnership with a young man, Sean, who is sorting himself out as regards family and as regards his sexuality.

Conor Donnally is persuasive as Jack, sympathetic, but also sometimes the victim of his clients, especially at the beginning and, quite a deadly, literally, confrontation at the end. He has a sense of humour. He is cheeky, not afraid to taunt those he comes in contact with.

The main character he encounters is wealthy businessman, Ken (Terrance Murphy) who is seen buying some new clothes, is squirted with ketchup and mustard as Jack and Sean go on a mischievous spraying spree. It emerges that he is married, tension with his wife, but devoted to his baby son. He has or had problems as regards his sexual orientation and behaviour since he was young – there is a significant sequence in a park, talking to his priest friend who is supervising a group of youngsters playing, but who gives a listening ear, tries to be encouraging, positive, assuring Ken that he can make something of his marriage and overcome his gay proclivities.

Ken makes contact with Jack, a certain amount of tensions from the suspicious Jack, accompanies Ken to his comfortable condominium in Miami, is persuaded to inhale cocaine, go to clubs, some intimacy between them, Jack saying that he does not want to take money for this encounter. Rather, he urges Ken to pay for Sean’s fare to Miami and support them.

There are quite a number of sequences between Ken and his wife, her hardened attitudes towards him, hearing him on the phone, deciding to come to Miami and serve him divorce papers.

Things come to a dramatic head when Jack leaves Ken, out on his own, participates in a porn film, agrees to take on a client who is quite deranged – and some timing with Ken anxious about the divorce, going to the airport to meet Sean, worry about a phone call that Jack makes, Jack having a gun, a fight between the client and Jack, Sean actually shooting the client. Jack then suggests that he take the gun, fires it into the wall, phones the police and takes responsibility for the shooting.

The film leaves the audience to wonder where Jack’s life is leading him, the effect of these experiences, his relationship with Sean, and the role of Ken.

The impact of the film is stronger than might have been anticipated.