The One You Feed

Not a single person in this movie is given a proper name. It seems the creators intended to strip away labels to make sexuality appear normal, though I am at a loss as to what they actually hoped to achieve with that approach. The film functions as a quiet, low-budget suspense piece characterized by very little dialogue. In my opinion, the experience was a messy blend of a grim suspense flick and a queer romance blossoming under weird circumstances, which ultimately fell flat. Rather than building a proper foundation, they simply padded the runtime with long, drawn out moments that would have been better spent fleshing out the plot.
Haunted by memories of a former partner, a nameless guy leaves his house to camp out in the desert, which is how the plot begins. He is ambushed by an unseen force during the night, leading to his rescue by a man and a woman who tend to his injuries. However, their farm seems to exist completely outside the normal flow of time. It is immediately apparent that both hosts are interested in the newcomer, though the woman’s behavior fluctuates between being flirty and being outright creepy. While a mutual attraction develops between the two men, the woman maintains all the power; she becomes super angry when she realizes her gentle partner is falling for the helpless visitor. On separate occasions, the stranger has passionate encounters with both of them. As the story wraps up, the local guy helps him break free. Even though the traveler begs him to escape this bizarre setup together, the man says no and is ultimately murdered in the end.
Credit is due to the production team for attempting to subvert standard queer cinema tropes, especially since the two lead actors served as both producers and directors, but they overcorrected so much that I eventually just checked out. While a heavy sense of lust drives the story, that is essentially its only strength. Because the dialogue is so sparse and basic, the film relies on flashy camera work and quiet intervals to maintain momentum. A strange, unsettling dynamic develops among the main trio that manifests in various ways, yet I found myself constantly questioning the point of it all. To me, marketing this as a gay romance feels dishonest; there is no room for a bond to develop, nor is there any proper setup. The men share only one physical encounter, and the only hint of actual love is a single line in the traveler’s journal noting how the man reminds him of a past lover. You shouldn’t look for a standard romance between two men here, as the feelings between them feel distant and almost impossible, which actually lends more weight to their brief interactions. Conversely, the spooky thriller elements fail to land, and the resolution leaves the viewer hanging with far too many unanswered questions. I was left unsure if the host guy was truly the traveler’s old flame or if the duo had killed his former partner earlier. Although the three actors deliver solid performances and the two male leads are undeniably gorgeous with chiseled features and incredible bodies, looking at pretty people can only carry a film so far. Ultimately, calling this movie weird is the simplest summary. It loses its way early on, and the intentional emotional distance keeps you on the back foot, making the painfully long 85 minutes a total chore to sit through.
The experience is a total waste of time, as the film descends into a bizarre mess that loses its train of thought entirely and leaves you feeling completely confused. (3/10)