›› Dare ‹‹ a short film by Adam Salky. 2005 | 16 mins | US. dare you fall in love with your new-found straight best friend? Dave says: In this award-winning short film, closeted gay boy, outsider and 'never been kissed' Ben (Adam Fleming) has the hots for his hetero classmate Johnny (Michael Cassidy). Yet the only time that the two spend together is at rehearsals for the school production of A Streetcar Named Desire, with bad boy Johnny in the role of Stanley Kowalski and lighting technician Ben in the rafters, forever shining the spotlight on the object of his desire. Yet even in the gallery, Ben can hear a fluffed word or two and when Johnny misses his cue yet again, Ben's offer of help extends to more than just reminding Johnny of his lines, as with Johnny's wealthy step-mother away, the indoor swimming pool beckons, together with left over champagne that's soon to find inhibitions lost, as clothes are removed and secrets revealed. Simmering with homoeroticism, this Columbia Graduate work from director Adam Salky charts the gay cinematic favourite, or should that be the real life experience for some, of falling in love with your new-found straight best friend. To that end the Cassidy / Fleming pair play their roles to a narrative tee, charting a friendship that culminates not only in an act of sexual intimacy, but more in the knowledge that the two strangers have more in common with each other than what at first appeared; be it their sexuality, or perhaps even their virginity. Playing like a scene from the film that was to follow, this is but sixteen minutes worth of sheer seductive delight, given the whole sensuous scenario plays heavily on the theme of daring to cross the sexual divide. That it ends with the issue of whether or not the two young men are willing to take their friendship to an all the more deeper level unanswered, is of no surprise, as this is one of those short films that was all but crying out for feature length development and which thankfully arrived in the form of Dare - the film. As it stands, this is both a touching and downright flirtatious celluloid appetizer of what was to come and to some, the more tender take of the Dare scenario. Need more be said? Quote: "You can blow me light boy ... whip it out!" ›› revised: Saturday, 7th September, 2024. Gay Visibility - overt | Nudity - from the waist up | Overall - file under ... 3 stars ›› copyright © 2024 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com ‹‹ ›› archive reference #154 - revised ‹‹ donations are the lifeblood of Gay Celluloid; every drop helps keep it online - thank you :)