Lonesome ***½ (2022, Josh Lavery, Daniel Gabriel, Ian Roberts) – Classic Movie Review 12,432

The searing 2022 Australian gay-themed drama film Lonesome stars Josh Lavery as the lonesome cowboy Casey, running from a small-town scandal, who finds himself down and out in Sydney, where he meets city lad Tib (Daniel Gabriel).

Writer-director Craig Boreham’s searing, extremely intense and controversial 2022 Australian gay-themed drama film Lonesome is an eye-opener. It pushes the envelope a long way on both the sexual and emotional fronts, taking no prisoners.

Josh Lavery stars as the sexily handsome young lonesome cowboy Casey, who grew up on a ranch in rural Australia but moves to Sydney after a scandal when he is rejected by his father after being outed as gay.

Casey is living from hand to mouth, as it were, with no home, no work, no prospects and no future. He’s lost and suicidal. His polite manners, and outward calm conceal a heck of a lot of rage and violence. Despite all his apparent advantages, he’s friendless and on the scrapheap. There’s just one thing, he’s heavily into promiscuous gay sex, and weirdly this is going to prove his salvation, though that is a close-run thing.

Daniel Gabriel co-stars as Tib, a casual sexual hook-up with whom Casey meets up through Grindr but gradually develops a deeper emotional and romantic connection, even working with him as a handyman and living with him, till Tib’s promiscuous gay sex ideas bust them up angrily and violently. Casey is lonesome and seems to be okay with that. But actually Casey is very very needy, and desperate, and then suddenly possessive. It turns out Tib is too, though much less so, and they are basically the one man. But Tib is even more reluctant to admit this than Casey. How on earth are these two going to come to terms, and actually love each other? And in the gay capital Sydney?

Ian Roberts also co-stars as Pietro, a nasty, manipulative older gay man who offers Casey work and a home as a houseboy, leading to Casey’s ultimate degradation and lowest point as a sex slave, channelling all his terrible hurt and pain, and suicidal masochism. Anni Finsterer is affecting as Carol, an sympathetic older woman who employs the boys because Tib reminds her of her vanished son.

Lonesome (2022, Josh Lavery).

The film goes a very long, long way, dragging us through the hero’s mire real graphically. It is extraordinarily impactful and effective for those with strong stomachs. Josh Lavery and Daniel Gabriel are both tremendous, pulling you over on their side always, even in their darkest moments. They are entirely believable in truly impressive performances, and the incredibly impactful film is credible and realistic, which is how it builds it impact. Ultimately, it is very moving too. The score and photography are smart, flavourful and exciting.

The film started production in Sydney in June 2021, was acquired for distribution by M-Appeal, and previewed at the European Film Market.

It premiered in April 2022 at the Seattle International Film Festival, and was screened at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival in May, before its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

In the UK, Peccadillo Pictures presents Lonesome (18) On Demand, BLU-RAY & DVD from 6 March 2023 Also available On-Demand on Peccadillo POD, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, as well as Curzon Home Cinema and BFI Player.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,432

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