The Queer Gaze

The second entry of our 'Sports Gays' theme is super cute Irish friend-com Handsome Devil (2016). Featuring a great supporting role by Andrew Scott (before he was, you know, "Andrew Scott"). Plus: muddled messages about conformity, 90s vibes, and the cycles of queer issues. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Support the show on Patreon for bonus content on every episo...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on writer/director Nicholas Colia's feature directorial debut Griffin in Summer (2024) about a 14-year old playwright who develops a crush on the 25 year old burn-out fixing his pool over the summer. It's an exceedingly funny, but surprisingly deep film with a cast that includes Owen Teague, Melanie Lynskey, Kathyrn Newton and exceptional newcomer Everet...

We're kicking off a brand new theme on Sports Gays with In From The Side (2022), the feature film debut of Matt Carter. Co-written by Carter and his partner Adam Silver, this is an intriguing title that asks the audience to identify with an adulterous protagonist. Plus: finding community in sports, white gay issues, and how the film uses rugby. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help oth...

We're closing out our 'Family Drama' theme with Bruce LaBruce's 2020 'twincest' film, Saint-Narcisse . The truth is that this film is much more beautiful, self-aware, and interesting than LaBruce simply trying to court controversy. Plus: French vs English acting, ties to Saint Sebastian, and the film's shadow-banning by Amazon. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Suppo...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on James Krishna Floyd and Sally El Hosaini's Unicorns (2024), about an Essex bloke Luke (Ben Hardy) who falls for drag queen Aysha (Jason Patel). As a romantic drama, there's a lot to like here. But we found the film's refusal to unpack its characters decisions frustrating. Plus: C/W there's a really upsetting moment of violence that completel...

We're continuing our 'Family Drama' theme with a look at Barry Jenkins' Oscar winning film, Moonlight (2016) - a triptych dedicated to a specific queer, Black experience that is nonetheless undeniably universal. Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Support the show on Patreon for bonus content on every episode, including 26 minutes more about this film! Follow the show...

We're continuing our 'Family Drama' theme with a look at Quebec director Jean-Marc Vallée's 70s-set coming of age/coming out film, C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005). It's a visually stunning film, filled with needle drops, and a fantastic lead performance by Marc-André Grondin. Plus: Tupperware witches, baptism transitions, the Quiet Revolution and more! Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others fi...

We're kicking off a brand new theme on 'Family Drama' so what better (popular) text to begin with than Mike Nichols' 1996 film, The Birdcage ? The American remake of a French farce feels like a product of its time, particularly how it handles queer issues (which ultimately makes it feel made for straight audiences). Plus: Lane and Williams' iconic lead performances, bland children, and draaaaaag L...

Conrad and Joe continue our themed exploration of 'Doomed, Sexy Experimentation' with a look at Alfonso Cuarón's scintillating Mexican road trip movie, Y tu mamá también (2001). It's an incredibly hot film, and though the sex and nudity is a major talking point, the film is about so much more! Plus: Joe's coming out in part thanks to Gael García Bernal, Conrad's knowledge of Andor , and praise for...

Here's a special spoiler-free bonus episode on David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano's dark comedy I Don't Understand You (2025), about a gay couple (Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells) in Italy who find themselves in hot water following a series of miscommunications. Unfortunately this repetitive, often unfunny film didn't work for us. Listen to find out why and be sure to check out the spoiler-y, spicy...

We're kicking off a brand new themed pairing on 'Doomed, Sexy Experimentation' with a look at Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of Call Me By Your Name (2017). We're giving big props to the chemistry between the leads, tackling the film's controversies (Armie Hammer; the age gap), Timothée Chalamet's nuanced performance, and that cold winter ending. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe...

Our second entry in 'Secret Adolescent Love' is 2023's Monster . Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and written by Yuji Sakamoto, the film is a puzzle narrative in the form of a triptych that constantly asks audiences to re-evaluate their understanding of characters in order to answer the question: "who is the monster?" Plus: leading with empathy, fave quotes from school principal Fushimi, secret queer...

Conrad and Joe kick off a new theme on 'Secret Adolescent Love' with a look at Lukas Dhont's Close (2022). C/W: Self-harm. Devastating is the word of the episode as we unpack this "not actually queer" story about the intimate, but ultimately disastrous friendship of Léo and Rémi. There's a reason this movie was Belgium's nominee for Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars, but fair warning...be p...

Conrad and Joe tackle their first (but not last!) Bruce LaBruce film, The Visitor (2024). C/W: this remake of 1968's Teorema is sexually explicit! This movie is deliberately provocative and confronting, as many of LaBruce's films are, which essentially means the film is not for everyone. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for another 27...

We're continuing our 'One Night Stand' series with Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's 2016 erotic drama, Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo . Comparisons to the Before  trilogy are apt (albeit with a much  more hardcore opening) as our protagonists embark on an all-night odyssey through the Paris streets. Plus: candid conversations and ties to Agnes Varda  Seen the film or...

Who's ready for a funny and heartfelt gay romantic comedy? Enjoy this special spoiler-free bonus episode on Roshan Sethi's A Nice Indian Boy (2024) starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, which is out April 4, 2025. Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another 25 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion. Like the show? Rate, review and subscri...

We're talking about Andrew Haigh's breakout (sophomore) film, Weekend  (2011) which follows isolated gay man Russell and his weekend paramour Glenn. Up for discussion: long takes and improv, sex lists and one night stands, using and subverting romantic comedy conventions, and...more trains?! Want to hear more? Subscribe to our Patreon for an additional 27 minute discussion about the way sex a...

We're breaking down French gay director Alain Guiraudie's latest film, Misericordia  (2024). In this spoiler-free review, we discuss the film's surprising resemblance to Tom at the Farm , Patricia Highsmith's novels, and maybe even a touch of French farce? Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon for the full 37 minute conversation. Like the show? Rate, review and...

We're wrapping up our discussions of Internalized Rural Homophobia with a contemporary Canadian classic from Xavier Dolan: Tom at the Farm  (2013). This psychosexual thriller is all about doubles, performative gender, repression, and violence. We're pretty big fans! Like the show? Rate, review and subscribe to help others find us Follow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze. Email us:...

Conrad and Joe are back on the "Popular" side of our Internalized Rural Homophobia theme with a look at writer/director Francis Lee's God's Own Country   (2017). It's a film filled with beautiful sweaters, mud wrestling, and sad boys, which means we find it deeply romantic! Wanna hear more of our discussion? Sign up for our Patreon at patreon.com/thequeergaze for early access to Main Fee...

Conrad and Joe are hard at work on the summer cottage as we discuss Mikko Mäkelä's feature debut, A Moment In The Reeds   (2017) - our "lesser known" title in this pairing of Internalized Rural Homophobia texts. Up for discussion: unfair comparisons to God's Own Country  (2017), the film's abrupt ending, small scale intimacy, casting queer actors, and why Leevi's issues are shallow...

Conrad and Joe relaunch The Queer Gaze as a podcast with our first theme: Internalized Rural Homophobia. For our "Popular" pick, we're revisiting Ang Lee's 2005 adaptation of Brokeback Mountain , starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Up for discussion: aggressive make-outs, casting straight actors in gay roles, that iconic score, and the legacy of the film within queer cinema circles. Wanna h...

On Patreon, Conrad and Joe review the new Meta-Asian-Queer-Stoner-Coming-of-Age-Bromantic-Dramedy, Extremely Unique Dynamic  (2024). Wanna hear the episode? Support The Queer Gaze on Patreon at patreon.com/thequeergaze for early access to Main Feed episodes, exclusive content, and bonus episodes like this! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the show. Follow us on Insta and BlueSky at @t...

The Queer Gaze has rebranded itself as a podcast and Conrad and Joe are back! We're starting back Jan 30 on Patreon and Feb 6 with a look back at Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain (2005). Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/thequeergaze for 1 week early access, as well as special bonus content, including the infamous Chilli Pepper Award discussion (aka the sex stuff). Wanna connect with the show? Foll...