The Living End
The Living End

Movie spotlight

The Living End

1992
Movie
85 min
English

Two HIV-positive young men — a semi-employed film critic and a hot hustler — tear off on a cross-country crime spree.

Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes86%
Director: Gregg ArakiGenres: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Plot Summary

Jon, a cynical and irresponsible filmmaker, meets Luke, a charismatic and dangerously impulsive thief. They embark on a chaotic road trip across America, stealing cars and engaging in violent encounters. Their increasingly nihilistic journey explores themes of love, alienation, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to have little use for them.

Critical Reception

The Living End was a landmark film in independent and LGBTQ+ cinema, lauded for its raw energy, dark humor, and unapologetic portrayal of its protagonists. It garnered significant attention for its challenging themes and Araki's distinct directorial style, becoming a cult classic.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its anarchic spirit and dark wit.

  • Commended for its honest and unflinching look at queer identity and societal outsiders.

  • Seen as a significant cult film with a unique, provocative voice.

Google audience: Audience reception is not widely available through Google reviews, but it is generally regarded as a challenging and influential independent film.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Audience Award at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on 16mm and is known for its low-budget, guerrilla filmmaking aesthetic, which contributes to its raw and immediate feel.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Anyone else remember those robotic fish that you'd prod and they wagged their tails? We had one that also sang Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife"! Here, one features occasionally, but quite amusingly, in this quite provocative drama that follow...