The 24th Day (2004) User Reviews (65)

Quality acting and interesting script save low budget movie

[FilmWeekUK · 7/10 · 21 December 2004]

The other reviews have pretty much said it all, although I expected a little more from this given the rather over-the-top ecstatic reviews (certainly I expected more than the one plot 'twist' I got just over half way through - one that had already been revealed to me on the blurb on the back of the DVD).

One can argue it's a homophobic piece or one can argue entirely the opposite, but one can't argue that it's a well scripted, well paced and well acted movie that is worthy of 90 minutes of anyone's time in the world of Hollywood formulaic drama that dominates the mainstream. There isn't, truth be told, a lot of plot here, but what little there is turns out to be surprisingly gripping, thanks to the superb job of both the actors who are never less than totally believable in their roles.

I was amazed to read one 'review' here that just appeared to be a spiteful attack on the perceived commercial success of James Marden's acting career - just because he's easy on the eye is no excuse for slating a performance that most actors would be envious of as a career best. Well worth a viewing!

A important work for our time.

[jmbwithcats · 7/10 · 7 November 2004]

Scott Speedman and James Marsden's one-night stand turns into an intense power play between captor and captive.

A independent film adaptation from a play by Tony Piccirillo and directed by same, is a tour de force with very good acting by Scott Speedman and James Marsden. Although straight forward and attentively simple, one is easily engrossed by the story. The dialog carries well, and the ending very human.

It's not often I enjoy simplified concept pieces but this was vital and endurable for the criticssm.

A flawless, and beautifully moving film. A important work for our time.

not that bad

[aussieukangel · 7/10 · 7 January 2006]

Low budget drama at its best. Not a huge amount of money was spent in the making of this film, but that just added to the context of this movie. It was nice to see 2 actors, relying on their acting skills alone, making the movie work from all angles.

I liked this film for it's simplicity and storyline. A lot of films these days tends to rely on special effects, confusing plots and endings that are not satisfying. But I am happy to say that all of these things were absent from this film. Was definitely a satisfying way to spend 90 minutes.

Simple,interesting viewing and didn't go to extremes to make it entertaining and enjoyable.

My rating is 7 out of 10 and well worth watching.

Putting People In Boxes

[Chrysanthepop · 7 May 2011]

Tony Piccirillo's 'The 24th Day' is a character-driven chamber-piece based on his own play. The film raises the issue of responsibility that comes with sexual relationships. It starts off with two roommates Dan (James Marsden) and Isabella (Sofía Vergara) chatting at a bar. They meet a charming stranger, Tom (Scott Speedman). Dan and Tom decide to hook up that night and once the two enter Tom's apartment things gradually take an unexpected turn where Dan is held hostage and Tom wants answers.

Piccirillo stays focused on these two characters. His writing is brilliant. The characters are well-defined. The dialogues are amusing, thought-provoking, philosophical and there are some interesting references to pop-culture, sports and politics. The twists and layers are superb. He also succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere and keeping the viewer engaged.

The editing is good. At first the flashback sequences are mildly confusing but that parallels well with Dan's confusion. Of course, it all adds up in the end. Efficient use is made of the props and sets as to not distract from the characters.

James Marsden and Scott Speedman are in top form. Chambre pieces require great acting and both actors make fine ingredients. Speedman is restrained while Marsden delivers an authentic performance. Unfortunately, Sofía Vergara is wasted.

This would obviously make a great theatre piece and I'm very curious about the play. I would like to catch a show if it's happening nearby. As for the film, it is well worth the watch.

Cool little low-budget thriller

[dirtychild · 7/10 · 17 May 2005]

The 24th Day is a tense, low-budget gay thriller which focuses on Tom who holds Dan (an ex-trick) captive. Tom had tested positive to HIV 24 days ago and is convinced that Dan was the one who gave it to him. He extracts a blood sample from Dan and threatens to do bad things if it comes back HIV positive.

The 24th Day has a well conceived story-line (apparently it was based on a play written by the Director or something) - and although it takes a little while to get going - I think it sets the scene well and draws you to the characters.

It's basically a two-man film and the two leads are quite well acted - Dan (played by X-Men's James Marsden) is cocky, self-assured (for the most part) and defiant while Scott Speedman's Tom is uneasy and simmering (in the angry sense).

The film quality (as in picture) is fairly poor - but it doesn't distract from the film.

24th Day is a cool little thriller which is worth checking out if you like low-budget movies.

Intelligent Tale of Sexual Responsibility

[jmorris236 · 8/10 · 6 November 2005]

This is another film I purchased without knowing a thing about it, and wound up being quite glad I did. The premise of this film had me on the edge of my seat from the very first gut-wrenching conflict, in a film that was filled to the brim with gut-wrenching conflicts. The acting of both principals in this essentially two-character piece was first rate, and helped to elevate it high above most standard gay-themed fare. But what really made this picture superior to 90% of the gay titles I've purchased in the past year was the confrontation of real issues that gay men should be discussing, but frequently shy away from. Without giving away the plot, let me say that almost every minute of the taught, carefully crafted script is imbued with thoughtful discussion on issues that are all to frequently ignored by sexually active gay men. I didn't see the ending coming at all, and the ultimate, positive and healthy message – that everyone is responsible for their own conduct, and the consequences thereof – is one that too many people don't seem to get, in my observation. In a world where the madness of barebacking and substance abuse is decimating the gay urban male population, the lesson of this film is one that every gay man needs to consider, if not embrace wholeheartedly. Good god! A gay drama that dares to address and discuss sexual responsibility in an adult manner! What will they think of next?

The hedonist and the closet case

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 12 April 2017]

Two very hunky hunks Scott Speedman and James Marsden star in this mostly two person drama about Speedman who invites Marsden to trick with him and then holds him prisoner.

Speedman holds Marsden responsible for the fact that he now tests positive for AIDs. As he originally states his one and only venture into gay sex was with Marsden who gave him the HIV virus. To prove it he takes some of Marsden's blood and sends it away to a laboratory to be tested. If it comes back negative as Marsden says it will, he'll just be let go, if not Marsden will die a lot quicker than he will.

Marsden is a cheerful hedonist who's not ashamed about it and claims he always uses protection. Speedman is one man most deep in the closet and even the most naive know that Marsden could hardly be the only one he tricked with even while at one time being married to a woman. In fact it's his wife's death that has put him over the edge.

People like to have a tangible villain to assign blame when things go wrong. In point of fact it's internalized homophobia among LGBT people and an uncaring and indifferent government who didn't treat this as a matter of science, but listened to voice's religious fundamentalists who said that AIDS was a curse from the Almighty on certain people He didn't like and not to interfere. It's the explanation that best describes Speedman's actions. Speedman wants desperately to have Marsden as that tangible villain.

Sad to say that this is still a relevant drama for today, not something left in the 80s or in 2004 when The 24th Day was released. Marsden and Speedman do quite well in these roles and this is a film worth seeing.

Juvenile and personal work of internalized homophobia.

[McCurds · 1/10 · 29 August 2004]

SPOILERS. Strange people with generous tastes have been reviewing this film. Allow me to add balance by pointing out the following:

Script: Dreadful. As Tom and Dan are "getting to know each other," bantering about films, the talk is clearly that of one person, and I suspect it was the director, who carefully worked his words to sound intelligent. At one point, Dan asks, "Have you heard of the HIV virus?" and it sounds about as natural as asking, "Have you communicated with the nine alien races?"

Acting: White teeth do and a chiseled face do not a sensitive performer make. Speedman did well enough with what he was given, I suppose, but Marsden was terrible -- unsympathetic, unbelievable, and downright smug and smarmy throughout his captivity. There is an emptiness to his performances (also see Interstate 60).

Plot: Spare me! The moments of half-escape were not thrilling but irritating and weak. Recall Marsden pretending to try keys in the door and then throwing them down: "They don't work, man!" Tee-hee. And beware the semi black-and-white flashbacks, which are initiated with some schlocky sound taken from CSI and other crime dramas.

Most important of all, most dangerous, evil, and offensive, is the homophobia (external or internal, you decide) in a film in which HIV is considered a weapon. Tom says that Dan may have taken off the condom or not used it at all -- excuse me, where was Tom while they were having sex? There is some villainizing of the inserting partner which comes off as a villainizing of the gay man in general.

In sum: Beware!

One of the Best Films of 2004!

[gradyharp · 10/10 · 26 November 2004]

THE 24TH DAY is quite simply one of the finest achievements in American film making in the past year. Based on his play of the same name, writer and director Tony Piccirillo establishes his credentials as one of our more potent and important talents with the release of this exceptional 'first feature'. Not only is the script one of the best pieces of writing around, the acting of here-to-for underused pretty boys James Marsden and Scott Speedman is of the quality for which awards were invented.

After opening credits (which only in retrospect tell the entire story in beautifully executed photography), the story begins in a singles bar and moves slowly to the musty, dark, cluttered apartment of Tom (Scott Speedman from 'Underworld', 'Duets', etc) where it becomes clear that his 'guest' Dan (James Marsden of 'The Notebook' and the 'X Men' series - a 31 year old actor who lost out on the lead role in 'Primal Fear' to Edward Norton!) has been cruising Tom with the intention of a sexual tryst for the evening. With graceful, subtle dialogue we are seduced into the verbal foreplay of the apparent tryst until BANG! - Tom informs Dan that they had an evening of sex five years ago (Dan was drunk and doesn't remember) and since that has been Tom's only gay sexual liaison: Tom has been stalking Dan in revenge for his transmitting HIV to Tom, a transmission which has resulted in Tom's wife falling victim to AIDS and dying in a car crash 24 days ago!

Tom therefore becomes the captor and Dan the captive in this two-person drama. Dan is tied and gagged and Tom withdraws a syringe of Dan's blood, which he then takes to have tested for HIV. If Dan is HIV positive, Tom will kill him: if Dan is negative he will be free to go. The entire story takes place in this grungy apartment as a dialogue between Tom the avenger and Dan the victim who declares his seronegativity and opens the multi pronged discussion of such topics as truth ('THE truth or YOUR truth" they each spar), AIDS, gay vs. bisexual vs. straight, sex without love or commitment, etc.

The relationship between captor and captive goes through many permutations, each more startling and frightening than the last until the story reaches its almost unbearably surprise climax. In the end the audience is left to resolve the final issues presented - a trait of a truly fine playwright. The messages and the impact of this movie are some of the more powerful on film.

We can only hope to see much more of the gifted Tony Piccirillo's work, both as a brilliant writer and as a tautly sensitive director. The real surprise (in a film full of professional surprises) is the caliber of acting from James Marsden and Scott Speedman. The are both startlingly fine: each actor creates his character so fully that our identification with each man's plight plays like a ping pong game with every soliloquy. There is an underlying animal sexual attraction between the two, even as the initial ploy of an evening of anonymous sex turns bitterly sour, and this interplay makes the story's end all the more poignant. These two fine actors each deliver the quality of performance that deserves Oscar attention.

Without reservation this film is high on the list of the finest 'indie movies' (read very low budget) of the year. Everyone who admires the art of cinema should see, no - buy!, this film. Grady Harp, November 2004

Somewhere In The Middle...

[alexaraujo · 6/10 · 8 October 2005]

Better than what I expected, but less than what I thought it was going to be while watching it, The 24th Day has the intimate atmosphere of a theater role play (actually, it is an adaptation). This, in my opinion, it's both the strong and the weak point of the film. While Speedman's and Marsden's performances are solid, the mere fact of thinking how intense the theater play should be leaves the movie as a weak effort. In movies like these, which mostly happens in a room and which are based upon direct confrontation of its characters, timing is what separates classics (Wait Until Dark) from nice but soon forgettable efforts.

While the dialogue is witty enough to keep you glued to the screen, the movie seems to collapse at the middle, when Marsden's character tries to empathize with his kidnapper talking about football at University. The script provides some twists and turns but at some point I started figuring out the result of the HIV test.

Actually, I don't consider that the point of the movie is to know if Speedman is going to kill Marsden or not. This is more a twisted drama which uses the structure of a thriller to serve us a discussion about labels, social misconceptions and fears. Unfotunately it fails to be relevant, but I must admit that the end leaves you thinking.

Good movie, but just don't expect too much. Wish I had seen it on theaters.

Good gorgeous actors in a really bad script movie!

[votrus_arautus · 1/10 · 19 October 2004]

I think I've never had seen before such a bad movie in my entire life! Just because there is Mr. Scott Speedman, it doesn't mean you get delighted and immediately forget that the script is bad! It's too arrogant: it could be a very good movie - the two main characters alone (I wouldn't put the initial part with the girl, every action would happen inside the apartment), and concerned only to the fact he fucked the guy without remembering and bringing up just the issue of aids un-conscientious dissemination! By attempting to speak of a huge amount of issues the script fails into the point. And most of all why isn't the character Tom (Scot Speedman) responsible by his sexual adventures??? So cynical this movie... I was really disappointed, because the two main actors are good, and the result is this!

A gem of a film.

[me_richter · 10/10 · 6 March 2004]

This is the real thing -- tense, provocative, impossible to predict. Tony Piccirillo's script makes some cutting insights about personal responsibility without ever becoming obvious or preachy. As great as the material is on its own, it takes a couple of powerhouse actors to sustain tension and interest throughout what is essentially a ninety-minute two-man show, and James Marsden and Scott Speedman are more than up to the task. Their level of commitment is astonishing: both actors inhabit their roles so thoroughly that it was a jolt to leave the theater and re-enter the real world. There's almost a tangible sense of pleasure that comes from watching performances this great. Seek out this movie -- find it in a theater, rent it when it becomes available -- because it's worth it, and because films like this need to be encouraged and rewarded.

Scorching performances in provocative drama

[Libretio · 6/10 · 9 February 2005]

THE 24th DAY

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Dolby Digital

A 'casual' encounter between two young men (Scott Speedman and James Marsden) turns ugly when Speedman holds Marsden hostage in his apartment and forces him to take an HIV test. Speedman believes Marsden was responsible for infecting him, and plans to take drastic action if the results come back positive...

Tony Piccirillo's provocative two-hander - based on his stageplay - unfolds with cutthroat precision, and sees two fine young actors operating at the top of their game: Marsden the carefree party boy, and Speedman the 'hetero' family man whose sole dalliance in gay sex (with Marsden, five years earlier) precipitated a series of devastating personal tragedies. On paper, the material sounds like the study of a careless gay predator and the avenging 'straight' guy who teaches him a lesson in humility, but Piccirillo's wide-ranging script avoids this insulting pitfall by tarring both men with the same brush, exposing them as fallible individuals who have more in common than either one would care to admit.

The two leads give revelatory performances, especially Marsden (the "X-Men" series) as the streetwise hustler whose dubious charms are ruthlessly deconstructed by a worthy nemesis, and Speedman (UNDERWORLD) as the desperately sad young man whose motives for imprisoning Marsden culminate in a shocking declaration of intent. Dialogue is smart, snappy and constantly engaging, and Piccirillo injects just enough humor to lighten an otherwise sobering experience. The enigmatic ending allows viewers to 'finish' the movie for themselves, a masterstroke which closes proceedings on a note of genuine ambiguity.

NB. The movie was shot on digital video and transferred to 35mm for theatrical exhibition.

Ambitious premise, amateurish execution and unsatisfying returns...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 27 April 2008]

Writer-director Tony Piccirillo adapted his own play about a straight man, recently widowed, learning in the last three weeks he is HIV-positive; he tracks down the one homosexual partner he ever had, brings him to an apartment and ties him up, forcing a blood test on the guy and promising bloody revenge if the results come back positive. Intriguing idea sounds better on paper than it plays out. James Marsden's captive is realistically cynical and snotty, but the actor's own artificial mannerisms are disconcerting--it's like watching a roadshow version of Tom Cruise. Scott Speedman has to work harder with the more challenging role, but his personality-turn from shy guy to kidnapper-on-the-edge isn't convincing, and neither are the conversations the two men have. Marsden's gay party boy isn't apathetic, of course--he's momentarily sympathetic to Speedman's plight--but he doesn't react or behave the way any homosexual man would in this circumstance. The movie isn't a cop-out, exactly, but it is a fraud, handicapped further by the bad editing, the poorly-conceived flashbacks, the low-budget production, and the big finale which smacks of silly pretension and soapy melodrama. *1/2 from ****

Amazing and Powerful and true of gay men

[jtsegal · 8 December 2004]

Don't be fooled by those who say this movie was weak. True, it was a low-budget film that never got into theaters. At the same time, it was suspenseful. The best part is that it is not predictable. You know of course that there will be a twist at the end, and it's exciting to find out what it'll be. Marsden did an excellent job at captivating the audience and making them feel sorry for him, even though we know he lies so much. Both Marsden and Speedman are the bad guys in the movie. Two antagonists and no real protagonist. Those who say it's homophobic are full of crap. I'm a gay man, and I like to have sex (in fact, I kept wanting the two to do it while Marsden was tied up), just as Marsden wants sex, knows he can get it, and does whatever he can to have it. If the movie were untrue to life about how gay men go out and have sex frequently, then the rates of new HIV infection would be dropping incredibly, since everyone would use protection. People get drunk and people have unprotected sex; it's a terrible reality, and this movie portrays it.

whah, whah, blah, blah,

[wardbond · 6/10 · 27 August 2005]

I was pleased with the Actors and their work in this movie, and to be honest I was just happy to see a movie with gay content, but whoa just a little to much cheese for me, now maybe I am just a little jaded but I found my self laughing at key points,that were obviously supposed to be crucial defining points for the characters. Now granted these are very important issues, but they are all issues that people have been developing for years now. In this context, I felt that the issues were oversimplified and frankly too over the top and could have been handled with a bit more sophistication. Or, it may be that I am actually displaying my disappointment that this was a movie that should have been made 6-7 years ago, and that the irony or homosexual content in film is that it is BEHIND in its development compared to its mainstream equivalent...

Powerful and Effective

[boyinflares · 8/10 · 8 June 2006]

"The 24th Day" is one of those movies that you really have to be in the mood for. It may not seem like it at first, but as soon as things change for James Marsden's character Dan, things change for the viewer also. "The 24th Day" is a very thought-provoking film, which due to it's content is not everyone's sort of film, but being such an unusual and rare sort of film, is a great film to watch and perhaps for some people, after watching, may come out with a greater understanding of the issues in the film, one of the obvious being HIV.

Few and far between are there films where homosexual characters are portrayed as normal people, and this is one of them, so when the HIV aspect of the film was introduced it seemed rather odd - do all gay related films have to be about HIV? The answer is of course no, and the film does, through Marsden's character Dan, strongly point out that HIV is in no way a "gay disease", which is a good point, as there seems to be not enough awareness of this, however, the people that need to be aware of that are probably not going to be the ones watching this film anyway. However, it would have been interesting if the film did not have the HIV aspect and for it to be a psychological thriller or something with one guy obsessed with the other years after they first met.

But I digress. James Marsden was wonderful in a role that seems very removed from his usual films, kudos to him. Scott Speedman also did a fantastic job of portraying his character Tom. Essentially a 2-character film (as it is adapted from a theatrical performance), it can get quite monotonous at points, but the actors both stay in good form. Overall, a powerful and effective film.

brilliant cast & dialogs but HITCHCOCK...I miss you so much!

[sergibenidorm · 6/10 · 8 December 2006]

This is not a great Hollywood production, but we have a very interesting story performed by two brilliant actors (yes,James Mardsden & Scott Speedman are great in this movie)in what in Alfred Hitchcock's hands would have been a master piece but here the director just gets a correct but not brilliant movie with a good actors direction but with an unnecessary flashbacks along the film that I'm still wondering what was the purpose of the director with it, perhaps to give a more modern looking to the film because that flashbacks doesn't contribute to the understanding of the story (!),finally the best of this play made movie is the story itself that turns around AIDS and the responsibility of our acts.Well,a 6 to the movie, a 10 to the story.

An anti gay movie. Pity for the actors

[hbjuly13 · 1/10 · 16 November 2006]

I saw the movie recently on DVD. Maybe i had greater expectations than this almost awful movie. The script was so homophobic. The actors did not kiss at all (i wasn't into watch a sex scene or even a romantic one but at least a kiss). What kind of "gay" movie was that when you do not see a real gay scene. What kind of movie was that when you see the only gay "the bad guy" character by James Marsden to be treated that way by the "supposed non gay character" "the good guy" by Scott Speedman. Sorry but the movie was totally anti gay. The end was so disgusting. Some puritans may like this film or the ones who likes to accuse gay men for HIV disease. Beside that the whole HIV theme became very vivid. You better not see the movie at all unless you want to waste your time or you are totally anti gay. Such kind of movies give the heterosexuals the justification to accuse gay men for the HIV.

A Magnificent Screenplay With Stunning Performances of James Marsden and Scott Speedman

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 16 April 2005]

During the night, Tom (Scott Speedman) invites Dan (James Marsden) to his apartment for one night stand. After a couple of drinks, Tom ties Dan to a chair, and sends a sample of Dan's blood to a laboratory for AIDS test and tell Dan that if he is HIV positive, he will kill him. While waiting for the test result, Tom discloses the last dramatic events of his personal life. "The 24th Day" is indeed a play in a low budget movie, having a magnificent screenplay and stunning performances of James Marsden and Scott Speedman. The story is very real, credible and updated and is a kind of alert about this dangerous virus. The dialogs are very sharp, and this highly indicated movie was a great surprise for me. "The 24th Day" is another good example for Hollywood of excellent low budget movie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "24o Dia: O Prazo Final" ("24th Day: The Due Day")

It has similar overtones to "Death And The Maiden"

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 5 April 2023]

(2004) The 24th Day PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA

Adapted from Tony Piccirillo own play, directing it for the screen centers on Tom (Scott Speedman) holding Dan (James Marsden) hostage against his own free will, for the purpose of knowing what the test results are going to be, which is the "24th day"- hence the title. After he finds out he is HIV positive, he assumes he may have got it from the guy name he tied on to a chair.

After watching this movie, the tone is somewhat similar to another movie that may be more controversial than this one, called "Death In the Maiden"that has actress Sigourney Weaver tying actor, Ben Kingsley onto a chair, for the purpose of forcing a confession out of him, as she believes he violated her in terms of torture and assault. Therefore,it can be defined as a reboot rather than as a remake.

Preachy, implausible, and dull

[rmeador · 4/10 · 1 December 2006]

This movie looked like it wanted to be searing drama, but just didn't really rise to the occasion. It's primary message seemed to be "if you have unsafe sex you will get aids" with the corollary "if you have aids the gay person you slept with just once is the one who gave it to you". A public service announcement about safe sex is laudable, but not a movie. The corollary is a little insulting. There were other things implied too in their dialog: if you're a guy and slept with one guy you are secretly really gay and are probably sleeping with a lot of guys; and if you go to bars to meet people you're a slut. All those unpleasant implications aside, the movie just never offered any sparks or emotional resonance between the two characters. It was also kind of hard to believe, particularly the captive who seemed to largely just sit quietly through it all. At one point the captor goes to a bar and gets drunk with a woman (to prove he's not a slut I guess) and the captive is yanking on the arm of the ratty old sofa he's handcuffed to , and it looked like the actor had to work pretty hard to make sure he didn't actually snap the arm off and get free. They also spent a fair amount of time talking about Charlie's Angels (the TV show). Were these guys even old enough to have seen it? I like the actors in general, but the movie was preachy, implausible, and dull.

Simply without flaws

[albi_gjino · 10/10 · 15 August 2005]

24th Day looks like the typical low budget movie with only 2 actors (the others appear for less than 20 seconds each) in a constant dialog. But Tony Piccirillo has created something that no other movie has gotten near to. This is the most educative movie I have ever seen. After you see it, at least for the next couple of days, your point of view will be changed.

Dan (Marsden is as excellent as he was in Bella Mafia) is a handsome and cocky guy. He meets Tom (Speedman is cut for the role of the suffering one) and they both go to Tom's house probably to have sex. Only Tom had other plans for them. Being HIV positive, Tom wants to find out if Dan was the one who infected him... and if yes, make him pay. He has a way to prove it.

The movie has many strong points: it is very (Dan's favorite word) believable; it has a high influence on its viewers; the directing, the dialogs and the overall mood are world class; ultimately it touches a subject of the highest importance: HIV from the inside.

Be prepared for a high emotional impact. This is neither X-Men nor The Godfather, the subject is neither fictional nor away from us. And the fact that it deals only with 2 men in an isolated room brings it as close to the human nature and soul as possible.

Problem with Budget

[Silitonga · 6/10 · 21 November 2013]

I have to say that both James Marsden and Scott Speedman did a great job. Both their character growing as good as low and high tension of the plot. I really like Dan character and the opposite character Tom.

Honestly interesting story. I think Tony Piccirillo really did a great job growing a story like "The 24th Day" from HIV?AIDS genre. But, I think the great problem was the lack of emotion developing. It was a great move from the first time they were hitting, back to Tom house, have a little chat and the thriller begun. After that, actually most of it just shouting. I thrilled but just that it. I don't pick up any emotion involved.

I guess it was because bad editing and cinematography, but it's fair enough for low budget film.

Disappointing and homophobic

[dalexandertn · 3/10 · 23 December 2008]

Hmm… I agree with the reviewer who said that "strange people with generous tastes have been reviewing this film". I thought the film was intriguing enough to watch it. I think that was primarily because of Marsden and Speedman - not the plot.

The bottom line is that this film is mildly psychologically tantalizing on the one hand and profoundly homophobic on the other. Thumbs up on the former and triple thumbs down on the latter. I'm not sure if the film is intended to promote dialogue or to spread fear and propaganda.

I thought the acting was mediocre. A lot of conversation that was about 90 degrees askew of reality. I kept wanting to derive some meaning from the plot, but it's ultimately just a conversation with a mad man (Speedman). I feel mildly sorry for him (Speedman) because of his loss, but not really. His loss is no greater and certainly is less than losses suffered every day around the world by more significant causes.

Does the film expose naiveté about HIV/AIDS? Yes: That of the intended audience. Is HIV a dark, mysterious, evil killer? What about it's victims? The answer to both questions is NO. Neither HIV nor its victims have any more or less malevolent intent than lupus, multiple sclerosis, TB, hepatitis, CANCER, or their victims, FOR GOD'S SAKE. Just because a disease is communicable does not make it EITHER deliberate OR negligent - or evil - it just IS.

Does this excuse ignorance or fool-hardy risk taking? - NO. Should all people practice safe sex? - YES. Will safe sex save the world? - NO. Is safe sex realistic in all instances of love and lust between passionate and emotional human beings? – OF COURSE NOT. What kind of a world would we live in if everyone followed the rules, no one ever took risks, and sex was never spontaneous and passionate??? Am I ignoring that the film deals specifically with gay sex? – YES. HIV is spread by sharing blood or bodily fluids between infected and non-infected individuals. Sex is not necessary for transmission, gay or otherwise.

I'm always disturbed by willful violence of one person upon another. I actually thought the film did do a good job of portraying the absurdity of Tom's violent abduction, captivity, and intent towards Dan, and this kind of insane violence does occur every day.

Stream of consciousness notes from the film: Tom is crazy.

Why doesn't Dan ask "why" do you feel this way, rather than "what are you doing"? Implication: men who have sex with men get "AIDS" Implication: HIV = AIDS Where was Tom's responsibility in the sex act? Why was it Dan's responsibility to use the condom? "maybe you slipped it off before you stuck it in…" What are we talking about here? Was one of the parties unconscious? "Maybe she didn't want to hear the truth" are you kidding me "She's up in heaven and so unbelievably hurt about what she now knows about me" …right… Is Dan's life over if he has HIV? Certainly NOT! Is this why the whole world is so homophobic???? They think gay men are the cause of HIV, that they will give it to the rest of the world, and we will all die… are you kidding me??? Are people really stupid enough to think that homosexuality is the cause... is the problem??? Do we feel that way about the victims of tuberculosis? of malaria? I can see that Tom is hurt because of his wife's death, and he blames it on AIDS, but seriously… who's at fault here? The victim or the virus? Are illnesses really the responsibility of the ill? (presuming they did not seek and did not seek to spread the disease).

Sure, safe sex is essential to a safe life, but so is not-driving, not-flying, not-leaving the house, not-living. Do we really want to blame the disease on the victims? Would safe sex between Tom and Dan have prevented Tom's wife's ultimate demise? Perhaps, but not Dan's sole responsibility.

Tom is crazy. Did I mention that.

Tom to Dan: "maybe you get what you deserve"… COME ON! 24 Days: Violent, naïve, and homophobic.

Am I overreacting? Perhaps. But I think this film points a judging finger at gay men for their reckless and malevolent intent towards a "straight world" by practicing unsafe sex, when the rate of homosexuals practicing safe sex is proportionately equivalent or better than that of heterosexuals. We all need to wake up and get serious about HIV/AIDS. HIV is killing hundreds of thousands of STRAIGHT Africans every year.