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Cruising
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Cruising
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Whoa, Stephen King couldn't stomach it? That's saying a lot.
Finally saw this last night! I really enjoyed it; it was pretty true to Walker's book, Cruising, but there was a lot more freak show in the movie than the book. This is not a movie to watch with the kids, even if they are 30 and you are 60. Pacino's character spends most of the movie visiting leather bars looking for guys who might be the Mr. Gaybar killer, and hoo boy, the things he sees going on in there. All manner of live sex shows and every level of weirdness, like the 9th Precinct bar where everyone is dressed like a cop and openly having sex on the dance floor.The movie was also a cavalcade of Familiar Faces, with an almost-unrecognizable "Edward O'Neill" (best known as Al Bundy) collecting evidence in one scene sporting a full head of hair; Joe Spinell (he played the title character in MANIAC) as one of the true villains of the piece; and James Remar as the friendly neighbor's jealous boyfriend, among more than a few others.
I was disturbed to note how many of the leather-bar extras -- especially in the "live fisting show" bar -- were dead ringers for Patrick WAYNE Kearney.
I was tickled to see in the end credits that Barton Heyman, who played Regan McNeil's family doctor in THE EXORCIST, played the medical examiner in this movie by the same director -- and the ME character's name was Dr. Rifkin. Heh heh heh.
I do see where Steve King was coming from when he characterized the movie as resembling a dead rat in a Lucite block, but it's effective and memorable.
Cruising....I've seen several serial killer films and I've seen a ton of slasher films. Over 200 in fact.The film cruising although it has some good moments it's not really that good. I do like the sex video murder where it's playing punk rock as the gay porn plays and he stabs the victim. Getting his hands really bloody. I liked that scene.
Funny that you mention The exorcist because there is a real life connection to this film and to The exorcist.
An active serial killer had a cameo in that film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okd4I...
Paul Bateson was a New York gay serial killer who liked BDSM gay bars and would dismember the victims and dump their bodies in the river.
Bateson was only charged with one murder.
He was working as a X ray technician at the time and somehow got a cameo in the film.
He is the very first male in the scene.
As a mater of fact, reading an article about that connection is how I knew all the other stuff I mentioned.
The film was also heavily protested by the gay community.Personally I don't see why so many communities like this [the trans community, the furry community, etc.] have this about issue. Silence of the lambs has gotten some what of the same response. From the trans community.
My response is
1.It's a movie inspired by true events.
2.Both films say it doesnt portray all or even most gays/trans. This is a subculture, or a insane case that is tenuously connected with transgenderism.
3.In the case of Cruising, arent you bashing the BDSM community? I am into BDSM and if someone made a movie with a straight serial killer at a BDSM club I wouldn't be offended. It's just something that happens and it has happened. Richard Cottingham and Robert Rhoades for example. They were straight males who went to BDSM clubs.
4.The films don't portray ALL gays/trans as this. This film is simply taking place around that specific subculture or incident. It isnt like say....the new ghostbusters movie where EVERY SINGLE MALE in the entire film is portrayed as an absolute worthless fumbling idiot.
5.What is wrong with SEX?! Yeah, it takes place at a BDSM sex club. So what?! Same thing with the furry community. Where they get upset because of the whole "sexual kink" stereotype. Now if I was a furry it would anger me that people are ignorant and just automatically assume that every single furry just wanted to have sex in a fur suit. The sex part wouldnt anger me because I am sex positive and I see nothing wrong with people who want to have sex in fur suits or anthropomorphic animals. It would anger me if I was gay that people would automatically just assume every gay person is into BDSM. Same as a straight person.
In the case of Cruising. They show a gay guy who says he found BDSM magazines from the previous owner and is getting rid of them, and the police chief or what ever says this is a subculture of the gay community. We never see ANYTHING that indicates that the gay friend is into BDSM. We never see him at the sex club.
They also had police officers abusing and taking advantage of transgender people. Harassing them and demanding sex. These police officers are portrayed as bad people and the transgender victims are seen as sympathetic.
Context matters and most people don't like to take context into it apparently. The context is that it takes place in the gay BDSM community. Therefor of course it's gonna show that.
At least that is my interpretation.
A real example of this "bad portrait" would be the CSI episode of furries. Where ALL furries are portrayed as sex freaks, and there are several judgemental statements by the investigators.
Statements like "if I had to dress" in a fur suit "I'd be drinking too."
With disgust and disdain in her voice the medical examiner says "What ever happened to normal sex?"
By the way I love the "fag in a bag murders" phrase. A phrase coined by the COPS! At least in the Patrick Kearney killings.
That says a lot about the cops at the time. They would also do sex stings.
Cops are no different now. Gallows humor really helps get you through sometimes.
I agree. Cops aren't the only people who gallows humor to get through the job. Doctors, nurses, morticians, etc have a gallows humor as well.Taking in the over all context [sex stings for instance] that isnt just gallows humor.
We can only really know by knowing the attitudes of the guy who first made that joke, and his buddies who passed it on. It would not be a surprise if someone who hated cops came up with it an attributed it to them, to enrage his friends and put a smile on his own face...
Fishface wrote: "Cops are no different now. Gallows humor really helps get you through sometimes."Hi, Jay,
Are you a published author, by any chance?
Regards,
Hari
Mod
And his grammar! and syntax! I also found his rants not only offensive but impenetrable. Thanks, Belleza,
Hari
"Impenetrable" is a good word. He makes so many points I wind up not know what point he was actually trying to make.I do want to respond to one thing he said above, though: the movie may look at first blush as if it were stereotyping gays, but this killer was finding all his victims in leather bars and BDSM joints. The police wouldn't be seeking his quarry in a grocery store or a gym.
And as far as stereotyping goes, this movie showed a dazzling array of, not only leather bars, but live-sex-show nightclubs, diners, dive bars and an even wider array of what would now be called cosplayers. Nice guys, scary guys, out guys, closeted guys, you name it. Some ion leather, some in disco gear, some dressed like cops...
His post made me laugh. He was just so pompous and douchey.
Erin wrote: "His post made me laugh. He was just so pompous and douchey."Erin, I didn't think he would go over too well here. Very different perspective for sure.
It was like he needed us to know he was smarter than all of us. Like, chill out dude.
Erin wrote: "It was like he needed us to know he was smarter than all of us. Like, chill out dude."
Well he is pretty sharp but then I compare everyone to my dull mind. I am always forgetting something or other Erin.
Well, what got my goat is that even after I told him what I do for a living, he kept lecturing me on psychology as if he knew more about it than I do and he needed to straighten me out. I have been working in this field one year longer than he's been alive, for Pete's sake.
Mod
Now, has anyone but me and Jay actually seen this movie?
Mod
:::runs and hides:::
Well, considering hat this place is basically the Strong Stomach Club I invite you all to enjoy it. It's a unique experience.
Fishface wrote: "Well, what got my goat is that even after I told him what I do for a living, he kept lecturing me on psychology as if he knew more about it than I do and he needed to straighten me out. I have been..."Ha...you are funny Fishface!
Fishface wrote: ""Impenetrable" is a good word. He makes so many points I wind up not know what point he was actually trying to make.I do want to respond to one thing he said above, though: the movie may look at ..."
Jay did give me the name of two guys he studied because I told him I read a book about gay bars in NYC in the 90's. At first I thought...this can't be real. I at least remembered I read about it but couldn't think of the title or author. He gave me two names Richard Cottingham and Robert Rhoades. One of them is Road Prey by Alva Busch. I put it on my wish list.
Lady♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "I have not seen it.:::runs and hides:::"
I haven't seen this either. ***hides face....pokes Belleza, move over***
Mod
Here’s a doyyy moment, I kept thinking Stallone looked so much different when he was young, probably cause It was Al Pacino! 😝
Haha! That's hilarious Lady! I needed that : )
Obsessed with True Crime
Books mentioned in this topic
Cruising (other topics)Danse Macabre (other topics)
Stephen King, no stranger to gruesome and intense book and film content, compared this movie in his Danse Macabre to "a dead rat in a Lucite block" -- glittery and revolting at the same time. This has always made me want to see it, but if he can't stomach it, who am I to try? Being The Girl With The Iron Stomach, today's discovery that this is based on a real case makes me long to rush out and see it all over again. And now I need to read the book as well. Stop me if you can!!!