Even today, with LGBTQ representation in media is at an all time high, it’s hard to imagine a movie like 1992’s The Living End getting made.
After a chance encounter, hunky drifter Luke (Mike Dytri) and shy film critic Jon (Craig Gilmore)—both HIV positive—go on the lam when Luke kills a homophobic cop. With no destination in mind, they adopt the motto “F*ck everything” and follow the road wherever it takes them, discussing their status, having plenty of sex, and even plotting to kill the President along the way. At the time, critics referred to it as “the gay Thelma and Louise.”
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From visionary queer director Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin, Kaboom), The Living End was born out of the ’90s indie film explosion, an early example of the decade’s New Queer Cinema movement. Like many of those films, this darkly comic roadtrip drama was a direct response to the AIDS epidemic that had been ravaging the community, and it’s fueled by an entire generation’s worth of fears and frustrations.
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Still, The Living End maintains a wry sense of humor throughout, and there’s a genuine, sexy spark between its stars, which keeps the mood arch and fun, even as Luke and Jon appear to be barreling toward oblivion.
On the eve of its 30th anniversary this summer, New Jersey’s QSpot LGBT Community Center will be hosting a repertory screening of The Living End for Pride Month on June 19, officially re-launching QFest, the state’s LGBTQ film festival. The event will commemorate three decades of New Queer Cinema, highlighting Araki as a crucial voice within the movement, and heralding The Living End as an important landmark in the canon of queer films.
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The Living End is currently streaming for free for subscribers of The Criterion Channel and Kanopy, or it can be rented through Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and AppleTV. For more information about QFest’s screening of The Living End in Asbury Park on June 19, head to the announcement post here.
You can watch The Living End‘s steamy, totally ’90s trailer below.
Diplomat
Looks tres sexy
PinkoOfTheGange
Saw it the first weekend , at the Ken most likely.
monty clift
It’s a good film, not as depressing as typical AIDS films from that era. The intimacy between Luke and Jon is what makes it so special.
Harley
Saw this film years ago. Definitely a product of its time.
FDS
I saw the Living End at a limited screening before it even played Frameline in San Francisco, then saw it again (a slightly more ‘finished’ cut) at Frameline, and then several months later – probably six or more months later, at a sold out show in the Castro theater. It was interesting since the audience at the first two screenings were more of an activist or indie/alternative film faction so the audience responses at different parts at those screenings and at the larger, broader audience at the Castro was really interesting.
I’m glad I saw the film more than once, I am not sure I would want to see it again today. Not many things from those days hold up – not songs I loved, and certainly not tv or theatrical experiences. I would strongly urge people – especially those with library access to Kanopy, to see this film (and most of Araki’s entire output is worth checking out, even if it can often be as disappointing as not).
rand503
It was the first real gay film I ever saw, and I was still deep deep in the closet. It was showing at an art house in Georgetown in DC, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was really amazing — openly gay men, having sex, having fun, and saying FU to the world.
I was very proud to see that it was carried in the local Blockbuster for several years.
Diplomat
I saw it yesterday and really liked it. Great hot actors and a good script. I’d definitely recommend this movie.