The second to last entry in our 'Sex Work and Pornography' theme is Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano's Baby (2024) about a newly released convict who is introduced to a life of sex work by an older man.

From cruising spots to the intersection of sex & drugs, this beautiful film features a great debut performance by João Pedro Mariano as the title character. But there are a few elements, such as the contrived last act conflict, that don't entirely work for us.

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Conrad and Joe check out Sebastian, the sophomore effort of Mikko Mäkelä (see previous episode on A Moment in the Reeds) which concerns a writer, Max (Ruaridh Mollica), who uses his sex work as fodder for his "fiction" writing.

It's an intriguing concept, though the film occasionally loses focus on what it wants to explore.

Plus: Conrad's displeasure at the film's end, a third act tonal shift, and debate about how self-aware the film is about what a gay film can and can't focus on.

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The next entry in our 'Sex Work and Pornography' theme is Gregg Araki's masterful 2005 adaptation of Scott Heim's devastating novel Mysterious Skin. 

Starring a grown-up Joseph Gordon Levitt and a pre-Oscar winning director Brady Corbet, the film examines two very different responses to childhood sexual abuse (C/W).

Plus: praising Michelle Trachtenberg, the strategic way Araki worked with the child actors, and why Neil's storyline is more intriguing than Brian's.

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It's a Conrad pick as our theme on 'Sex Work and Pornography' continues with Robin Campillo’s genre hybrid, Eastern Boys (2013).

The film tackles several uncomfortable subjects, including a significant age gap between client and sex worker, an incredibly tense home invasion-style "party" and a challenging protagonist in Daniel (Olivier Rabourdin).

Plus: shifting genres, a dialogue-free opening, and the moment Joe had to jump ahead because he couldn't stand the tension.

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Conrad and Joe check out writer/director Moshe Rosenthal's exquisite 80s throwback, which played Sundance 2026.

Featuring incredible performances across the board, this 5 star film about a tumultuous father/son relationship feels extremely Pedro Almodovar-coded. It's one to watch when it becomes available!

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We're kicking off a new theme, 'Sex work and Pornography', with Justin Kelly's 2016 true crime adaptation, King Cobra (2016) which tells the story of underage porn star Brent Corrigan and the murder of Bryan Kocis (here named Stephen).

Starring Christian Slater (superb) and James Franco (ick) as predatory older gay men, the film is stylish, but hollow.

Bonus points for Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone, though!

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Conrad and Joe are joined by Horror Queers' Trace Thurman to discuss Charlie Polinger's debut feature, The Plague (2025).

Expect plenty of discussion about pre-teen bullying, queer-coding, and body horror as we're collectively triggered by this story about hazing rituals gone awry at an all-boy water polo camp.

Plus: praising Kayo Martin as central antagonist Jake, Joel Edgerton's useless Coach, and debate about how rarely (or not!) this kind of story is told.

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For our final 'Cruising' entry, we've returned to France to discuss Alain Giraudie's Stranger By The Lake (2013).

It's one of Joe's favourite contemporary texts, but what did Conrad think of his time watch?

Plus: unsimulated sex, naturalistic sound design, Henri's separation, and the lake as a gay utopia

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Our second last 'Cruising' title arrives in the form of Nate Dushku's feature directorial debut, Birder (2023).

Prepare for innuendos abound courtesy of Amnon Lourie's screenplay, which is brought to life by charming chameleon Michael Emery in the lead role.

Plus: queer diversity, and why Conrad and Joe feel differently about David Sachs' father figure Miles

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Our 'Cruising' theme continues with Andrew Ahn's feature directorial debut, Spa Night (2016) which follows David, a second generation Korean-American living in Los Angeles, as he struggles to make a human connection.

This is a beautiful film, although David's near passivity could prove frustrating to some. Good thing Joe Seo is a captivating performer!

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