[rating=4]
US: 101 min • Alarum Pictures, Parts and Labor, Tiny Dancer Films • November 2, 2012

Michael Langan finds this exploration of damage and addiction to be intelligent, difficult, grown-up, and thoughtful.

“Like Weekend and I Want Your Love, Keep the Lights On has a verité feel to it, though the production values are high – this feels like quality film-making without the commercialised glossiness of, say, A Single Man.”

[rating=4]
Cert:15 • Ireland: 87 min • Element Pictures • October 5, 2012

What Richard Did is a gripping and engaging film that looks at a tragedy from many angles and asks, ‘What would you do?’.

“What Richard Did explores the trappings of raw human emotion. It examines how we as people, no matter how civilised and rational we are, can find ourselves in situations in which we act out in ways we wouldn’t typically behave..”

[rating=3]
Cert:18 • USA: 70 min • Retro Slashers • March 23, 2012

The fourth instalment of the Sleepaway Camp series finally arrived this year, after it was started in 1992, and it’s a treat for serious horror fans.

“The completed film has been released on DVD through Retro Slashers, constructed from archived footage from previous Sleepaway Camp films and raw production footage from the original shoot of Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor. “

[rating=4]
Belgium: 96 min • Indeed Films • DVD • August 6, 2012

Polari‘s reviewer Michael Langan is charmed by the coming-of-age story North Sea Texas, and impressed by the assuredness of its young lead, Jelle Florizoone.

“North Sea Texas emphasizes the universality of love amidst the specificities of gay experience. Many of the same longings, desires, anxieties and disappointments that you might find in any teen-romance movie are explored here, while not compromising on depictions of gay teenage sexuality.”

[rating=5]
Cert: TBC • UK: 13.50 min • Urucumedia • May, 2012

When a teenager learns he is HIV+ that’s not all he discovers about himself.

“Mum’s boyfriend Stuart, a veritable ‘Mr. Robinson’ whose sexual proclivities would make Oedipus ruffle a newspaper and ask anyone if they wanted a cup of tea.”

[rating=4]
Cert:U • UK: 60 min • Metrodome Distribution • April 23, 2012

A work-out DVD of 60 second exercises, delivered as a series of 10 minute work-outs, that is manageable, and boasts trainers that are easy on the eye.

“If like me, you are prone to use the excuse that there is not enough time in the day to exercise or go to the gym, The 60 Second Promise is perfect. I genuinely enjoy the exercises (which of course may be a false state of being brought on by pheromones).”

[rating=4]
Cert:18 • UK: 150 min • Peccadillo Pictures • May 28, 2012

This collection of 10 short films from young UK talent is deftly curated.

“If these are the stories they want to tell and make, then I am confident that the future of British queer cinema is in very capable hands.”

A Documentary about Hole’s drummer, Patty Schemel

This documentary, which Little Bastard lapped up “like a thirsty puppy”, combines behind the scenes footage of when Patty Schemel was with Hole interspersed with up-to-date interview.

“The film is composed of home video footage shot by Patty and other people on her Hi-8 camera, interspersed with interviews with Hole’s other band members, Patty’s family and friends, and a host of talented female drummers. This is the sort of archive footage most music historians would kill for.”

[rating=4]
18:20 NFT2 • UK: 42 min • Pathetique Films • 2012

Polari‘s reviewer Michael Langan thinks that every Friday night should be Peter de Rome night.

“As for watching gay porn in a cinematic, communal environment, it felt excitingly liberating and much less sleazy than you might imagine.”

[rating=3]
Hong-Kong-China: 92 min • Heart Production • 2012

Simon Chung’s Speechless is interesting yet not quite successful, says Polari‘s reviewer Michael Langan.

“Speechless is a film of two halves, beginning as a slow-burning mystery-cum-romance before turning into a love-triangle thriller, but it doesn’t really manage to pull off making those parts into a cohesive whole.”