I'm honestly not sure why I keep watching these Signal 23 gay shows. I guess they're a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, and I usually tune in just hoping to see some hot Black guys or a few decent hookup scenes. The problem is that these series almost never have a real plot, and the acting and directing are always super amateur and just plain bad. Unfortunately, this one didn't even have the "eye candy" going for it, as most of the guys weren't even that attractive. The whole thing is really short, only six episodes, and each one lasts about 12 to 14 minutes. The main guy in the story is D, a young 16 year old Black guy who is basically at his sexual peak and spent his summer just looking for action. In the first episode, he meets a 19-year-old online for a hookup, but the kid’s dad walks in right in the middle of things and kicks D out. The rest of the show follows D hanging out with two of his buddies—one who is straight and one who is gay. They’re trying to...
Albert is an ageing and eccentric painter who lives by himself in a very old and dirty house. He is visited by his friend who asks him to help her troubled grandson because he seems very sad all the time. I guess Albert is also a psychiatrist. When Ben visits Albert, we find that he had a boyfriend Adam, who dumped him and thats why he is sad, lonely and depressed. Albert tries to help but also at some stage is afraid of being alone himself. He knows he is growing old and through Ben, he tries to hold on to his youth. Using unconventional methods, he tries to cheer Ben and actually make a friendship. Albert even forces himself to go with Ben to a nightclub to meet Adam. Its not very clear if Albert is interested in Ben sexually or he is using him to relive his youth. The ending is bit weird where a few guys from the club come back to Albert's place. They have an orgy while Albert watches in awe and then he tries to give Ben a chance of an Australian experience.
If the summary sounded weird, its because the film actually was. Only some of the banter between Albert and Ben is ok, but most of the times, it just made no sense at all. Its not very clear whey Ben is depressed and sad. It can't be just because of Adam. There has to be more reasons which I wish were explored. Similarly, its not really clear who Albert actually is and why does he keep doing those random long momologues. The two characters are an odd match and to be honest it’s baffling why Ben’s grandmother would even entertain the idea of getting Albert to help her grandson as he hardly seems capable of looking after himself.
The film is very artsy with a wafer thin plot and its films like these where I struggle to understand what's the kind of audience who like these kind of films. (3/10)
Comments