Alex Karanis | West / 2022

some advice to the central character of this movie

by Douglas Messerli

 

Alex Karanis (screenwriter and director) West / 2022 [13 minutes]

 

Skinny boy Gabe (Morgan Clarke) has just moved out to the west coast of Canada—from where, we’re never told—with his girl friend Mary (Lin Flora). The move was evidently her idea, but she hasn’t yet found a job and Gabe, who seems to be working—although we haven’t a clue how he’s employed—is clearly dissatisfied with the way she continues to spend money which they don’t have.

    Writer/director Alex Karanis seems to be under the mistaken impression that if you’re unhappy with the way your girlfriend’s tossing off your weekly payroll that a perfect way to relieve the pressure is to become a gay boy and go on the prowl.

    I suspect we’re presumed to have enough sense to know that Gabe has not been sexually sure of himself for a while now, but that also isn’t really established in this terribly scripted, badly acted work. All we know is that Gabe goes out one night, and although he isn’t particularly good looking

nonetheless catches the eye of one of the best looking boys in Vancouver (Heath Yee Fung) who leads him off into an isolated alley where they intensely kiss.

    Meanwhile, Mary has gone off to the Mall where she’s discovered that her credit card is maxed out, and she’s hopping mad. According to Karanis, Gabe again turns to gay sex as a way to cope without realizing “that his actions will soon come with dire consequences and will potentially ruin his relationship.”

     This time he goes to the beach where almost immediately a hot muscleman, Kyle (Alexander Moonie) discovers that he can’t keep his eyes off the skinny kid. He lures him behind some rocks and they appear to get it on, apparently making a date for another meet-up at which point they do engage in sex and Gabe spends the night at Kyle’s place.

  What a shock when he returns home to find Mary a little mad at him, particularly since she’s found messages on his cellphone. He tells her outright that he’s fallen in love with someone else, without saying anything about the gender of who he’s fallen for. She’s pissed, but simply claims that he doesn’t know yet who he is.

    At least Gabe feels like a weight has been removed from his shoulders, that is until he sneaks back to Kyle’s place and watches his one new love kissing another gay boy off after evidently sharing a sexual adventure with him.

     Poor Gabe sits down on a boardwalk bench and truly wonders who he is?

    If there’s anything clear, Gabe needs some help. A better writer and director who has truly had any experience with gay life would be a good start. It appears Karanis is more than a little confused and is as innocent as his character. So I won’t bother with him.

    Gabe, this is to you: you’re gay, and there’s not much you can do about it. Mary and her inability to work and save has absolutely nothing to do with your sexual desires. And, let me you tell you, so far you’re been really lucky in love. But Gabe, one-night stands usually don’t signify long-term relationships. Dump Mary and don’t look back. You’re going to have to go back to work, and meet some new guys, while admitting you like boys instead of girls. Vancouver has some good gay bars and is a nice city of friendly folks.

    But still that doesn’t mean that this might have been a great movie. Gabe, you need a makeover—and so does this script and the entire plot. What are you trying to tell us? That coming out feels a little strange, and you’re not quite sure where you’re going? Welcome to the club. I hate to tell you, but you’re not the first to discover these facts and the film you’re in is one of thousands that have expressed the same thoughts—only far better.

    So whatever your line of work, don’t quit your day job. And Gabe this would have happened, I assure you, even if you hadn’t moved out west.

 

Los Angeles, December 4, 2025

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (December 2025).