Little Gay Boy, chrisT is Dead (2012) User Reviews

Works from one perspective and one perspective only

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 15 March 2018]

"Little Gay Boy, chrisT is Dead" is a French half-hour live action short film from 2012 that is mostly in French too with parts in English. This one is the most known segment from a trilogy by writer and director Anthony Hickling. Well what can I say about it. It is a perfect example of what happens when ambition is gigantic and talent is minimal. This includes basically all the actors in here, but also and most of all the screen writer. God this was embarrassing. It already starts with the title that feels so random only to include the LGBT abbreviation. And honestly, the film could not have failed more in terms of making the connection between Jesus and the central character's suffering. It is really offensive to Jesus to be honest because of how poorly executed it it from really every perspective. As for lead actor Vettier, this can definitely be a negative deal breaker and I just cannot see him having a star career at some point with this in his body of work. It already starts with how he does not look necessarily gay to be honest, but gets discriminated against early on inside a train and when cleaning a toilet. Completely out of nowhere this felt. Later on more discrimination ensues by a black dominatrix, a fat white lady, a nasty photographer and many others. So if it was this bad, then why am I giving it a tolerable rating? The reason is simple. It is actually so bad that it is pretty funny on man occasions in my opinion, even if that clearly was not intended by the cast and crew here. But it is in my opinion. But the really negative aspect here is the way in homophobia is depicted, something that has absolutely nothing to do with reality and fake stuff like is what really keeps homophobia alive today sadly. By the way, with how graphic the movie is at times, I am kinda surprised it was picked up for Boys on Film as usually, the works included there are not as harsh to be honest. So yeah all in all, this was an amazing comedy at times, but in terms of what they actually intended here, it really is a complete failure and I don't recommend checking it out by any means.

It's three parts!

[adamjohns-42575 · 1/10 · 5 September 2021]

There's a lot of nudity, but it's not particularly exciting and it's a little bit creepy in some ways.

The dancer interspersed between scenes might make more sense if you've seen the previous instalment, but I don't know? And I'm not bothered enough to search out either that or the third part.

Without that third part I'm not sure it's worth that much at all. I feel I need closure from this piece alone. I believe that short films should have a resolution, even if they are part of something larger.

I also really hope that it isn't his mother that he lives with as described in the synopsis.

107.55/1000.

Gaetan Vettier is excellent

[jromanbaker · 3/10 · 12 January 2024]

The role that Gaetan Vettier has taken on in this film is one of the harshest and cruellest I have seen on film, and he acts superbly and should have a career ahead of him that will be equal to his risk taking talent. Felix Maritaud comes to mind and the film 'Sauvage' which I have rated very highly here. As for LGBT is Dead I think I see the point, given the fragmentation of homosexual and transgender existence at this phase in its history. Having given praise to the lead actor I feel that the film itself is confused, and in my humble interpretation of it the scenario seems homophobic, while I feel that was not the intention. A lot of young men do have masochistic urges, but to ally that with the suffering of Christ is too over the top for my taste. Some scenes are horrific to watch, especially towards the end when he finally meets or has fantasies over a group of men who abuse his naked body. I do think it should be seen and be discussed intelligently. What concerns me most is the portrayal of predatory homosexuals, and vitriolic heterosexuals. There seems to be no ray of hope in this film.

Okay Art Porn with a confused central message

[LeatherCajun · 7/10 · 2 June 2020]

This is one of the more ambitious and fairly good art porn films I have seen. The story quite closely resembles aspects of a very close friends life. I have known more than a few young cute lost boys who move through their 18-24 phase of life like this...BUT the film never quite makes clear what the ChrisT figures attitude is to what is happening in his life. The sexual encounters are all presented as abuse, but ChrisT does constantly put himself in those situations. Other than with his mother, where the abuse is clear, the audience is left not understanding his agency. Since his repeated abuse is the central action of the film, why does he keep going to situations where that happens. Including the bar with a sling and back room that provides his final sacrificial ending. Is he in fact a masochist? Just a victim? Just confused? Stupid?

The film overall succeeds as arty gay SM porn, but the confusion of the central theme is a major flaw. The ending is dumb, but once the director committed to the ChrisT allegory, I guess inevitably so.