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.

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze for a ~33 minute bonus spoiler-heavy discussion.

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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

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another ~23 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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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

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another ~25 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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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!

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another 23:03 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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We're venturing to rural India to discuss Rohan Kanawade's feature directorial debut, Cactus Pears / Sabar Bonda (2025).

This heartfelt romantic drama follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), an out gay man in Mumbai, as he returns home for the 10 day mourning ceremony following his father's death, reconnects with his hunky neighbour Balya (Suraaj Suman), and dodges invasive questions about his personal life from relatives.

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Hold onto your jockstrap because we're hunting a serial killer in the Big Apple with William Friedkin's Cruising (1980).

Starring a 39-year old Al Pacino as an ambitious young police officer going undercover in New York's leather scene, the film - which was picketed by the queer community at the time - has aged well thanks to its ambiguity.

Plus: debate about the success of Pacino's performance, the meaning of the end, inserting pornography into the murder sequences, and why you don't need to seek out James Franco's Interior.Leather.Bar

Seen the film or want to hear more details? Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/TheQueerGaze another ~22 minutes of spoiler-heavy discussion.

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Follow the show on Insta and BlueSky: @thequeergaze.

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Our final preview of coming attractions from TIFF 2025 hails from queer Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar as he tackles the infamous story of Don Quixote writer Miguel de Cervantes' time imprisoned in Algier.

Starring Disney Channel star Julio Peña in the lead, The Captive is an expensive period piece that follows Cervantes' efforts to develop his skills as a storyteller, execute a daring prison escape and (maybe?) fall in lust/love with The Bey, Hasán Bajá (Alessandro Borghi).

While we agree on the interesting way that religion (both Christianity and Islam) are portrayed in the narrative, Conrad and Joe differ in our readings of Cervantes' sexuality and the way the film ends.

Which way do you folks land?

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