SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA
$39.99 (DVD), $49.99 (Blu-ray), Starz
The illness (and eventual death) of Blood and Sand lead Andy Whitfield forced producers to create this six-episode prequel, in which Gannicus emerges as the first champion of Capua and the House of Batiatus comes to power. It’s got loads of barely clad beefcake and even a gay romance between gladiators Barca (Antonio Te Maioha) and Auctus (Josef Brown), who are as ferocious in bed as they are in the arena. And we love Lucy Lawless even more as Lucretia than as goody-goody warrior princess Xena.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2 & 3
$19.98 (Blu-ray), New Line
The second and third chapters of this 80s horror franchise, a.k.a Freddy’s Revenge and Dream Warriors, are finally being released on Blu-ray—and as a twofer, no less!
Freddy’s Revenge is best remembered as the most homoerotic horror movie of all time (even if the creators swear they didn’t know it at the time). When he’s not dancing in his room with his blouse undone or pining for his studly best friend, blond twink Jesse Walsh (gay actor Mark Patton) feels the spirit of Freddy Krueger growing inside him, leading him to have a murderous S&M dream about his sadistic gym teacher, ditch his cloying girlfriend at every turn and carve up his classmates with abandon. Required viewing for former tortured teens.
Dream Warriors ditches the homoeroticism for a superhero subtext, with original Krueger opponent Nancy Thompson returning as a sort of Professor X who helps a group of troubled teens unleash their dream powers and defeat Freddy. Keep your eyes peeled for future stars Patricia Arquette (as suicidal girl who can pull others into her dreams) and Laurence Fishburne (as a caring orderly).
NEXT: The Perfect Host
THE PERFECT HOST
$26.99 (DVD), $29.99 (Blu-ray), Magnolia
Out actor David Hyde Pierce plays an over-the-top fussbudget in this black comedy, where a bank robber/con artist (Clayne Crawford ) gets more than he bargains for when his “victim” turns the tables on him. There’s a surprising amount of suspense and the interplay between Pierce and Crawford is nice, even if the latter is a little out of his depth with the Tony and Emmy winner. Host isn’t overtly gay, but it could be read as cryptoqueer. Kinda like Frasier.
NEXT: L’Amour Fou
L’AMOUR FOU
$24.98, MPI Home Video
When he passed away in 2008, gay French designer Yyves Saint-Laurent was one the last surviving legends of the old guard—traditionally reared designers who strove for grace and elegance in their fashions, rather than shock value. But as we learn in L’Amour Fou, he was a complicated and troubled man, who battled depression and drug abuse but still built an empire (and a life) with his longtime lover/business partner, Pierre Berge. Neither a warts-and-all expose nor a hagiography, Pierre Thoretton’s directorial debut is a fitting tribute to the late genius.
NEXT: The Cost of Love
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THE COST OF LOVE
$24.99, Breaking Glass Pictures
The allure of this British queer indie is fairly prurient, with sexy but aging hustler Dale (Christopher Kelham) bounding from freaky client to freaky client while he nurses a crush on his doctor friend, Raj. The film feels oddly familiar—perhaps because it treads similar territory as Boy Culture, another gay flick about a vain hustler allegedly looking for love. The late Michael Joyce pumps some life into Love, as Dale’s drag queen friend, who nurses a crush of his own on the vapid escort.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Even at the age of 11, I knew there was something distinctly queer about NOES 2. Probably why I watched it a gazillion times. And NOES 3 was excellent. One of the best endings to a horror film.
Can’t wait to see the YSL film. I knew an investment banker who only wore his label, and he always looked impeccable. I always hoped when I had the money, I’d have a closet full of YSL suits. Unfortunately they’re more for the slim physique, rather than my thick ass.