Fans of the adult film industry and/or sensationalized crime are no doubt anticipating James Franco‘s latest foray into the depths of gay subculture, King Cobra, the retelling of the 2007 murder of gay porn studio Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis by two escorts, Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes.
But they may be slightly underwhelmed by this just-released clip, in which Christian Slater stares into a mirror as costar Garrett Clayton, playing a very believable Brent Corrigan, lies to his mom about his “film internship.”
Related: First Look At Disney Star Garrett Clayton As Brent Corrigan In James Franco’s Gay Biopic
OK, but the action must be coming any second now.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Slater applies a face mask, and Corrigan takes a shower, then tells Mom he got to “sit in the editing room for, like, 10 minutes today.” Is that what they’re calling it these days?
Any second now, we’re sure there’s going to be some tension, some suspense…anything?
Nope. Nada.
We’re just going to go out on a limb here and suggest there might be a better way of stirring up interest in this film.
Either way, watch below if you’re inclined:
Bob LaBlah
Some how I am not surprised that the guy they chose to play Sean/Brent would NOT look like a teenager throughout the entire movie. Why Hollywood has a taboo on teens playing teens is beyond me but it happens every time. I know there will be nude scenes but isn’t there where a body double could be used? They did it back in the 1980’s with the Last American Virgin.
I will wait for its cable tv debut. I am not paying to see a damn near thirty year old man trying to act as though he is a teen on screen. It never works and this looks like it won’t be the exception.
MarionPaige
Background For Clip:
After meeting Bryan Kocis and doing scenes for Kocis’ Cobra Video company, Brent Corrigan was invited by Kocis to spend the summer in Luzerne County at Kocis’ home. Corrigan had been living in San Diego, at times with his mother and at other times with a boyfriend. The Stay at Kocis’ house was cut short when Corrigan was cornered by a neighbor of Kocis’ who demanded to know Corrigan’s age.
THIS DETAIL was covered by The Rolling Stone article Death of a Porn King
“In 2004 Lockhart spent the summer at Midland Drive, drinking banana-flavored schnapps and having group sex. “Bryan would have boys come out, and we’d have threesomes,” Lockhart recalls. “He used me to attract these boys. There was always alcohol in the house. That summer I spent with him, I drank more than I ever have in my life.” …
Then one day in August 2004, a woman who lived next door to Kocis approached Lockhart, who was painting Bryan’s house. “How old are you?” she spat, denouncing Kocis as a pedophile and threatening to call the police. Afraid he would be arrested, Lockhart packed up his belongings and headed back to the San Diego suburb of Point Loma, where his mother was living with her latest boyfriend in a crummy one-bedroom apartment”…
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/death-of-a-porn-king-20070920?page=4
The movie King Cobra was shot in about two weeks with a budget about that of the movie “I Am Michael”. It was set to be released by Uwe Boll’s Eventfilm.us Distribution Company until Christian Slater won a Golden Globe.
Bob LaBlah
@MarionPaige: Thanks for posting that link.
crowebobby
“Where do you want me to stick it?’ and ‘When do I get my check?” Innocent young victim auditioning for unscrupulous porn producer . . . or hyena to jackal.
Stache
Sounds like an interesting story and the movie has such a great true life ending. What more can you ask then that.
Bob LaBlah
@Stache: “Sounds like an interesting story and the movie has such a great true life ending.”
Dear, that man, Kochis, was nearly decapitated for the sake of taking away one of his porn models. Not only that but the house was set ablaze, which the burning embers from that blaze could have set other houses on fire. If you are a home owner you would know what fear is when you see your next door neighbors house going up in flames and the fire department hasn’t arrived on the scene yet.
Kangol
James Franco again. Does the think gay people’s stories are his niche to exploit? Does anyone ever call him on this?
Bob LaBlah
@Kangol: This is one story that he would have been a fool to pass on. The only problem is with those of us who knew the types of models that Kochis used (teenagers) and the adults who are trying to pass themselves off as teens in the movie. It simply doesn’t work. Lockhart was seventeen years old when he made that phone call and that actor looks damn near double that age. That is what kills it (based on what I saw in this clip). I do hope I am proven wrong but as I said before I will wait for the cable television debut. No way am I paying to see it in the theatre.
Stache
@Bob LaBlah: Kind of reminds me of under the Candelabra. Scott Thorson was a teenager at the time and you have a 40 something Matt Damon playing him. On a side note I’d do Damon over Thorson any day.
Stache
@Kangol: Who cares. I like his in your face style.
MarionPaige
The funniest thing of all about The King Cobra Production to me is that,
while Director Justin Kelly “appears” motivated to present “The Bryan Kocis Character” as misunderstood (and / or human),
Bryan Kocis’ family not only does NOT appear to be involved in the movie but, it can even be argued that the production is afraid of lawsuits from Kocis’ family.
There is a King Cobra INC, a King Cobra LLC, there is the licensing of life rights from Lockhart and, most of all, there is the unnecessary licensing of a book on a true crime subject that is public domain, ALL SEEMINGLY designed to protect Kelly et al from lawsuits from Kocis’ Family.
If Kocis and his family are so misunderstood, why does the production appear to be afraid of them?
“There is a character in the movie clearly based on a Kocis relative” who appears to work at some $12.00 per hour clerical job.
MarionPaige
note: “the Bryan Kocis character” in King Cobra is named Stephen. I mean,
if you’re gonna spend millions on a propaganda piece presenting Bryan Kocis as human, at least have the balls to use his actual name.
Bob LaBlah
@Stache: I loved that movie but thought Damon was a bit too pudgy in it. Thorson was too but that was what made him cute at that time.
Bob LaBlah
@MarionPaige: The names were changed to protect the innocent, perhaps? It seems ironic that EVERY video that was selling for sixty dollars and pulled off of the shelf are online now free of charge. My, how times have changed. He (Lockhart) ran across some very evil people in his career, and not just Kochis. Not that I am saying that he was a saint either but at that age and in that business you sure as hell would grow up fast.
Daggerman
..James Franco is one of my fave actors! I like the work he gets involved with. But if he did come out as gay his female fan base will drop very considerably so his agent is no doubt saying ‘Ooh! Just keep everyone guessing darling??’ Or something like that!
DerekR
I spoke to Mr. Kocis twice about him wanting to potentially shoot scenes in my home and around the property. He was very smart, funny and genuine. What happened to him was horrible and those two losers (in lieu of death) are where they belong…
Bob LaBlah
@DerekR: “What happened to him was horrible and those two losers (in lieu of death) are where they belong…”
I couldn’t agree more with your comment but there is another way to look at the fate of those “two losers” responsible for this. I read the book The Cobra Killers. Those two were making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year from their very lucrative escort service but the problem was neither of them knew how to manage money. Harlowe, though cute, was what he was; that being nothing else but outright trash. At the sentencing his mother accused his lover of dragging her son down but personally, I think it was the other way around.
Many of Harlows video are on the internet free of charge. Again, I can’t take away his appeal but just like Corrigan, he was some thing to roll around the sheets with but after the climatic moment hand him his panties and tell him to get the fuck out of your house. Had I had the chance I would have went for it (that ass) but looked for small items to be sure they were still there after he was gone. Thats just how him and Corrigan always did come off to me.
Stache
@Bob LaBlah: Hey didn’t know that. Just watched his Redtube video. Yeah, a twink with a really hot ass. Hope someone made him their bitch for his protection.
That and the Pennsylvania Life thing. Wow but good. Personally I’d just prefer the death penalty but that’s just me. I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life behind bars.
Bob LaBlah
@Bob LaBlah: I forgot to add that both of them, for the rest of their lives, are going to wake up every morning reliving what they did and realize two horrific facts; what they did have and what they could have done with what they had built on their own without having to have ever crossed paths with the characters who ended up sealing their fate. Thats what greed does to people and they now know it.
In the state of Pennsylvania life behind bars mean just that. The rest of your LIFE will be spent BEHIND bars. No exceptions and NO parole.
Bob LaBlah
@Stache: I bet ol’ Harlowe feels the same way, night after night. Especially around pride day. No one has said STRONG things about him character wise other than he was a young, narcisstic asshole, which I am sure you picked that up in the video.
Bob LaBlah
@Stache: Just curious but do you agree the actors chosen for this film are too old to be portraying teenagers? Those guys in the pic with this article don’t even look like twinks. The casting is what’s going to kill this movie.
Stache
@Bob LaBlah: It’s all about economics. Hot up and coming actors sell more tickets. You’re right though. It does miss the story by playing it safe with adults instead of the reality of teenagers.
Like I said before. Thorson was 17 at the time. Not a 40 something Damon. Completely changed the situation making Liberate look like a messed up but decent guy. I still loved it for the great acting of Douglas though.
trusgold
THE STORY SHOULD EASILY CARRY THE MOVIE THIS IS NOT PORN
trusgold
@Bob LaBlah: YOU PROBABLY COMMIT SUICIDE BUT THEY STOP YOU JAIL SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME