Starring: Dennis Garcia, James Physick, Keet Davis, Caitlin Mehner
Director: Dennis Shinners
Country: USA
UK Distributor: Peccadillo Pictures
Quique (Garcia) is a Puerto Rican barber living in Brooklyn still living with his family. While he keeps his nose clean, the community is dominated by his heavy-handed childhood friend, Cuz (Davis), who flexes control over both family and friends. When Quique meets Kevin (Physick), an Irish traveller to whom he is instantly attracted, Cuz takes immediate umbrage as he picks up on the chemistry brewing between them.
The feature debut from Dennis Shinners, which is also an adaptation of his short film of the same name, its star Garcia also resumes his role too. A stark depiction of toxic masculinity embedded within Nuyorican society, there is no doubt that Quique has to keep his sexuality a secret if he wants to continue a life in Brooklyn. Difference is simply not something Cuz will tolerate, especially when he won’t settle for anything less than absolute control.
There is certainly chemistry between its leads – and the camera is clearly in love with Quique too – but its edit is the film’s biggest hurdle, feeling clunky and actually unfinished. It also suffers from a touch of bad acting – the actor who plays Kevin isn’t actually Irish and you can totally tell – plus a final act that’s frankly anticlimactic. So while their brewing relationship gives us something to root for, the film’s execution isn’t quite up to scratch.
UK Release: 17th February 2025 on VOD, released by Peccadillo Pictures
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