Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Feb 14, 2025
Table of Contents
Luca Guadagnino has carved himself into this generation’s controversial yet fascinating director with films that have taken on both horror and erotic elements, characterized with emotional complexity and often surreal imagery. ‘Queer’ (2024) is his second film of last year, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs. Described as Guadagnino’s most personal film to date, ‘Queer’ combines all of the trademarks found in his films and succeeds in creating an experience as beautiful and strange as it is complex in its portrayal of love.
‘Queer’ lives up to its simple title as it follows a homosexual, drug obsessed writer William Lee performed by Daniel Craig living in Mexico City as he starts a relationship with a discharged American Navy serviceman Eugene Allerton played by Drew Starkey. The film at first plays out not too dissimilar from Guadagnino’s own ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017) which is also about a homosexual relationship with an age gap. There are beautiful colors, great costume design, and a relaxed pace that immerses the audience in the world with ease. But, the film later delves into very strange territories that, without spoiling, relate into the surreal horror that Guadagnino has made his trademark in films such as the remake of ‘Suspiria’ (2018). The film ends in a perplexing fashion that may leave some audiences scratching their heads. Yet ultimately, ‘Queer’ is not about providing comfort and concise answers to complex questions.
The subject of this film is very clearly the idea of being a queer person. The desires one has while undergoing the worry that the love is not reciprocated. This is beautifully shown in several scenes where even when Lee is talking to Allerton or intense romantic encounters, the love he wants to be given back is not entirely given. Complicating it even more is the woman Allerton is often seen with or the other queer people after him, not to mention that the reality that Allerton is actually queer is questioned.
This is all very natural territory for Guadagnino to explore as its been noted that he has been wanting to adapt Burrough’s novel for years and it is the chance to be overt in exploring the novel’s intricacies that has likely made him resonate with it. Acceptance for queerness has improved since the 1950s and stories like this are able to be told with such authenticity and realism. That’s not to say that the world is void of push back as this film saw censorship in several countries and is guaranteed to anger certain circles of people. Nevertheless, the film is made in such a beautiful way and its exploration into the idea of being queer feels real and authentic.
Daniel Craig is a very familiar face for Bond fans and casual film goers. His portrayals of the famous spy and Detective Benoit Blanc in ‘Knives Out’ (2019) are still fresh in the minds of audiences. ‘Queer’ provides an opportunity for Craig’ to show off his acting skills in a less closeted fashion. Sometimes, Lee is a combination of the suave style of James Bond and the talkative quirks of Benoit Blanc that Craig is cut out for. However, William Lee is mostly portrayed as an emotionally vulnerable person throughout most of the movie. His stylish clothes and handsome looks are offshoot by his longing desires and harmful drug use. Craig portrays this pain with heart wrenching realism, unexpected to see from one who is mostly known for general audience appeal. It is courageous for him to take on this role as it reinvents the persona of him and in good hope, ‘Queer’ will be the first of many more experimental roles as he is a talented actor regardless of his name recognition.
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross deliver more superb sound
Much like how ‘Queer’ acts as a culmination of Luca Guadagnino’s trademarks as a director, the film’s score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is just as remarkable The pair have had an interesting rise in making movie soundtracks, originally the leads of the Industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails, later making synthy soundtracks for David Fincher’s films, and branching out to TV with ‘Watchmen’ (2019), animated films like ‘Soul’ (2020), and Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’ (2024) which came out earlier last year. With such versatility found within their careers that have spanned from industrial rock to high profile Hollywood film soundtracks, ‘Queer’ sees them combine the various elements of their music to reflect the film’s ever changing mood. The personal, almost nostalgic motif that serves as the film’s main theme is beautifully reminiscent of their calmer works such as ‘The Social Network’ (2010) and sets the tone for this couple’s lifestyle in 1950s Mexico. Other musical cues towards the last third of the film exude chaotic and loud compositions before ending with the music in the film’s climax which is dreamy, slow, and almost transcendent like an ocean, perfectly pairing with the surreal visuals at that point in the film. It is safe to say that Reznor and Ross are two of the most talented film composers working today and ‘Queer’ may find itself among their most brilliant.
Being a queer person in the modern day is far easier than in William S. Burroughs’ time in the 1950s. The world is still far from fully accepting homosexuality, yet ‘Queer’ is perhaps one of the few to not see the physical challenges in society that queer people face, but the psychological breakdowns of being infatuated as a homosexual and worrying that the love isn’t given both ways. It is wise to assume that not everyone will love ‘Queer’ seeing that its third act reaches some truly strange places and it does not shy away from any expletive depictions of the relationship. But, the film remains a mostly faithful adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel and will fascinate those who are in the mood for an overtly homosexual love story that descends into intense psychological awakenings in relation to queer people’s place in the world.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman
Director of Photography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Editor: Marco Costa
Producers: Lorenzo Mieli & Luca Guadagnino
Writer: Justin Kuritzkes
Director: Luca Guadagnino
By Elijah van der Fluit
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Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
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