Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
gay geeks unite!, March 18, 2008
Tired of AIDS, coming of age, that first relationship, and campy fabulousness being the only subjects of queer cinema? Ready for a gay film where the sexual orientation of the characters is treated in a matter-of-fact manner and secondary to the actual storytelling? Do you like good ole fashioned sci-fi/horror genre entertainment? Then Socket is a movie you'll want to check out.
I managed to catch this at the LA G&L film festival last year, and I have to say it was a breath of fresh year. I'm gay, but I'm also a true blue geek who loves good sci-fi and horror movies. And let's face it, it's not like anyone is trampling over themselves to make movies for gay geeks. So to discover Socket, with it's quirky premise, solid writing, and great performances, that just also happened to have some super steamy sex scenes thrown in, was truly a nice surprise. I'm glad to see that the film secured a distributor so that more people will be able to see it - and I hope that it's a big success so that more movies like it will get made in the future.
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40 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Wonderful, February 11, 2008
"Socket"
Dark and Wonderful
Amos Lassen
"Socket" is an amazing film with something for everyone. It is sexual, it is science fiction, it is dark, and it has comedy (and naked men). It is absolutely, in my opinion THE gay film to see. Sean Abley who wrote and directed "Socket" has made a film that he can be very proud of.
Derek Long plays Bill Matthews, a surgeon, who after being struck by lightning on a beach, finds himself no longer in control of himself. He begins his recuperation in the same hospital where he works and there he meets Craig Murphy (who you may remember from Cinema Pride's screenings of "Long-Term Relationship" and "Back Soon"). Murphy is handsome and handsome who sees something in Matthews. It seems that he to has been struck by lightning and after telling Matthews about his own adventure, he adds that he has had some very odd desires since the occurrence. He then invites Matthews to a meeting of people like them.
Matthews finds himself drawn into the group meeting where he meets others who have been hit by lightning and all of whom have a craving for electric current. Murphy becomes Matthews' guide and watches his friend becoming immersed in the group and sees that a relationship is beginning between the two men. As Matthews recuperates from the lightning, his body has an increased appetite for electric shocks which seem to be drug like in nature. The two men and the other members of the group begin to "juice up" more frequently as time goes by.
Matthews discovers a way to place sockets and prongs into the wrists of members of the group and they become able to "mainline" current or plug into each other to form circuits. I am sure some of you are thinking what a bizarre film this must be but I am sure you recognize what electric current represents here and this is a major problem in our community.
When a random encounter with a mugger occurs and results in the death of the assailant (quite by accident but due to the electrical prongs in Matthew's wrist which were jammed into the man's skull. The electrical impulses that control the human body were downloaded into the surgeon's body and he realizes he has found a whole new level to his addiction. What happens next will have to wait until you see the movie.
Everything about "Socket" is a delight. The actors are great, the script is not only interesting but exciting, the sets are dark and relay the basic theme of the film and the direction is perfect. Granted the idea behind the film may seem to be a little far removed from reality, when you consider the extent that addiction of any kind plays in society, you realize that beneath what you see is a very strong message.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Socket to me, April 23, 2008
I enjoyed this movie. Even though it's not the best movie of any of the genres it crosses, it certainly is not "the worst gay movie ever", as touted in the hyperbolic reviews which trash it. SOCKET has a unique premise and carries it out well. Without over-analyzing the physics or having a degree in engineering, I was able to sit back and enjoy a fun ride with likable characters and a light presentation. I was a little disappointed because, I don't know why, I expected more gore. I guess when I learned of the concept of the movie, I thought it sounded very David Cronenberg... so I imagined there'd be more gore. One of the positive aspects of the movie is that it is a movie with gay characters that isn't about being gay. I think it has cross-over appeal for a hetero audience not afraid of seeing men naked as much as we see Sharon Stone naked in her "thrillers". Also, the nudity isn't as gratuitous as other reviwews here would have you believe. This isn't one of those movies that's all about sex & naked gays with a loose story hung around it. Here, the story and characters come first. I think the problem other reviewers had with this movie was a preconcieved notion of what they were going to see. I was disappointed with the lack of gore when I was expecting buckets, but I realize it wasn't the movie makers' fault I expected that without knowing the movie well before seeing it. I guess the movie is at least unique in the fact that its premise has a lot of possibilities- I think it is worth a look with an open mind and few preconcieved notions.
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