A great idea and positive message that lacked direction and intelligent dialogue.
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GoreWhoreAust27 June 2018Just saw Hooked on iTunes and will keep this brief. It looks good, nicely shot but that's easier to achieve these days. The subject matter is honourable, LGBTI youth homelessness is an important issue. The central relationship is sweet and unique. The film's biggest flaw is some awkward acting, occasionally from the main couple but particularly from Terrance Murphy who plays the conflicted Ken - so wooden! Katie McClellan who plays his wife probably gives the most naturalistic performance in the film. There's certainly far worse queer cinema out there but there is better too.
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dewberrydays4 February 2019I mean, I wasn't expecting much. Unintelligent dialogue and sloppy direction. Max Emerson is pretty but that's about all, sadly.
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johnnyd-3960320 January 2022What a waste of an attractive lead. The big failure was in making the protagonist so unlikable that you don't root for him. You just want him to go away.
I could write an essay on how terrible this movie was; but what I really came to mention was the insulting reference of Borderline Personality Disorder, where he (the character - though really the script writer) explains that this is the reason he stole an item from a store (!) and is "fcked up." Uh... no. -
midcenturybrad23 July 2019When I was a young man just out of college I experimented with some gay escorting and I found it to be a fascinating life experience. Later I became a gay adult video producer/director, so I know that world from both sides of the table. For those reasons, I'm always drawn to movies that explore the male escort/client relationship and the hidden world in which they operate.
"Hooked" doesn't really offer any genuine insight nor unique perspective into that secretive world. Jack's interactions with his male clients are predictable and stereotypical, but at least somewhat realistic. However, the only scene with a female client - who forces him to wear diapers and talk like a baby - appears to be lifted straight from "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo". Ridiculous. I understand it was probably included as comic relief in an otherwise serious movie, but I believe it was a misstep that went too far.
I was very impressed with Conor Donnally as the lead character, Jack. Not credible as a 17/18 year old, but I'm willing to overlook that. Of course, he's exceptionally handsome and hunky, but more importantly he was clearly committed to each scene - even the superficial and weak ones. It's all about the spark in his eyes. He definitely has the "x factor" and I hope to see him in many more features to come. The other stand-out performance was by Jay Alan Christianson as Date-Rape Dan. (Apparently he's uncredited in the movie. I'd like to know why.) He was fantastic as a creepy, coked-up slimeball client. I don't think anyone could have delivered a stronger performance.
I try to support as many gay oriented films as I can, but I have to be honest. "Hooked" is just okay overall. Ultimately, it's superficial and it missed a golden opportunity to explore the serious dramatic potential of the gay escort/client dynamic. Speaking of missed opportunities -- Donnally is shown shirtless in many scenes, but only shirtless -- never more. Obviously, I didn't direct this movie! I'll remember "Hooked" for the beauty and spark of Donnally and the brilliantly menacing performance of Jay Alan Christianson. -
dmoorejdrf2 November 2021Sadly gay storylines appear to be very limited. Here is yet another about gay prostitution. I don't believe this movie did anything to convince us that Max Emerson is a writer or a director. Yes, he is cute but you can only ride that so far. The movie itself was, like I said, a story that has been done several times. Can gay writers create a story that that deals with something other than being gay? A great story with a gay lead character would give us both a story and the chance to see a gay character living a day to day normal life. Unfortunately some of the biggest contributors to gay stereotyping are gays themselves.
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In this his big screen directorial debut, Director/Writer Max Emerson (who is also an actor " Glee," " The Real O'Neals") unfortunately relishes in presenting exaggerated gay character stereotypes, fights ongoing sound issues, and can't reign in his main characters dialogue. This is too bad, because the story of hustler Jake (played nicely by attractive newcomer Conor Donnally) and his on-the-run boyfriend Tom (the shy Sean Ormond "50K" 2018) has the makings of an intriguing gay storyline. Set against a New York/South Beach backdrop, Jake hooks up with married closeted man Ken (the handsome Terrance Murphy "Burn Notice" TV), who whisks him off to Florida for the weekend, while his wife Jess (the terrific Katie McClellan "The Ultimate Legacy" 2015) sits at home with their baby. Seeing the excursion as a chance for him and Tom to leave their crowded NY hostel, Jake goes all in. When things don't turn out as planned, he picks up his craft in South Beach, coming face to face with psycho client Date-Rape-Dan (played superbly by Jay Alan Christianson "Black-ish" TV). Emerson has all the makings a plausible story, however, wearing too many hats, he was unable to see the excessive dialogue, nor help his actors who needed a little directorial assistance. You won't be "hooked" on "Hooked," but you also won't be disappointed.
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Hooked showed me what LGBT homeless youth need to do to survive. The kids are kicked out of their homes through no fault of their own. They are abandoned by their own families at a young age. They become abused. They don't even realize that they are victims. Many of are protected by bubbles and don't recognize the extent that this goes on. Everyone needs to see Hooked. LOVED IT since it was a good mix of drama and comedy.
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steven-7223922 July 2018It was a really good movie. It was nice to see the two main characters Jack and Tom have that connection especially with such a deep movie that this was. I hope with this type of movie that there will be more like it so that awareness can be made about lgbt homeless teens and exactly what they have to go through to survive.
For this to be max's first movie that he directed all I can say is bravo max keep it up. -
ChrisLFinch13 June 2018This Movie has self-harm, sexual content, it also shows body parts. it has strong language, drug use, underage sex and smoking, attempted suicide, murder, rape and sexual abuse
I don't agree with the Ken and jack thing that was going on, I believe people should only date and stuff if they are the same age or 2 or 3 years apart at the most and ken is a lot older then jack, ken is like 50 or older then that and jack has only just turned 18 and its just wrong and anyway I see a person of 18 years as still a teenager and people say 19 is the last year of being a teenager, I would say a person of 21 is an adult but no one under that age
I liked jack and tom's relationship, they are the same age I believe and they were funny and cute together. tom is really smart and caring and that's why he is my fav charter
I like that the Movie covers borderline personality disorder, mental disorders are not talked about much and I keep hearing of borderline personality disorder and I would like to know more about it and after watching this Movie I want to look more into it. -
ohlabtechguy17 January 2019Here's a story about two 17 year old males who are intimately involved, hopelessly devoted to one another and lost in NYC. One has a mental disorder, along with a hot body, and the other is hiding from his wealthy father who would love to send him to Mexico City. Covers a span of a few months and ends with a super charged climax. Everything about the movie is exceptional. There are lots of actors and they all are excellent. Oscar worthy performance by Mr. Donnally, who was in nearly every scene and had to display amazing versatility. Script was excellent and realistic. Some situations seemed implausible, but the acting and realistic dialogue supported the fantasy. Refreshing to see that they didn't show sex scenes between the two leads. My first ten rating!!!!
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wamcgrath12 August 2018Very strong but imperfect film about the struggles of homeless gay teens, focusing on Jack (Conor Donnaly), who is battling mental illness and drug abuse and keeping his head above water as a sex worker. He's in a very nicely done loving relationship with another homeless kid (Sean Ormond, who's maybe written as a bit too perfect). One of Jack's clients is a married man (Terrance Mann) who hires Jack to comes to terms with his "urges" but treats him with respect Jack doesn't find with other clients. They have quite an adventure. I'll leave plot points at that. Go watch the movie.
Pretty strong debut by Max Emerson, who wrote and directed. Compared to much of indie gay cinema, the film is very well-made. Cinematography and production values are more than competent. The three primary actors are excellent, and Conor Donnaly is remarkable. I hope and expect to see more of him in the future. The supporting cast is by and large good, though there are a few cringe-worthy performances more typical of a lot of LGBT films.
The main stories -- Jack's relationships with his BF and his benefactor -- are pretty compelling and held my interest. The secondary story line of the older client's coming to terms with his sexuality and his marriage is poorly written and weakly executed. The older man's "journey" is unrealistic and forced and both his and his wife''s reactions to his "dealing with his urges"/addressing his sexuality are simply not believable. His relationship with Jack isn't even dealt with after the movie's climax and is disturbingly unresolved given promises he's made. That's really the only major flaw in the flick.
Overall, though, definitely an impressive first effort by the writer/director and his lead actor. -
robtyrrell-986078 February 2020I've watched waaaaay too many "struggling gay teen" movies lately, but this one was better than I'd expected. The characters and dialogue seem bizarre and unbelievable....except I have personally dealt with gay homeless teens who acted and talked the exact same way. Sadly enough, the plot is totally plausible for way too many gay youth in our country.
And unlike lots of other "artistic" indie films that drag along at a glacial pace, this one actually moves along at a decent clip.
Add in the fact that Conor Donnally and the rest of the cast are nice just to look at, and it's a fairly engaging flick that's worth a shot. -
CVN_198710 February 2024With all the content out there nowadays, it's hard for anything more than a few weeks old to get a 2nd viewing. Hooked absolutely deserves a rewatch! It's a much-needed conduit to some empathy, and not just for the LGBTQ+ community - everybody can find some trait in this group of characters to identify with.
A lot of movies in this genre collect plaudits by being ceaselessly bleak and grim - I'm thinking of Beach Rats as an example. Hooked sets itself apart by recognizing that human beings have an endless capacity to find laughter or moments of joy in the dark, to be jocular with fellow travelers in tough circumstances, to mock or exaggerate the labels people place on them... and just chew some scenery for the heck of it. It's confounding but real. When things are seemingly hopeless, you manage to move through the day anyway-sometimes even gleefully. If you worry there's little to lose, why not have some gallows humor about it?
New York operates the same way in the film- it has hard truths, danger and dark corners, but also a cast of characters that can populate any caper you come up with to distract.
That unlikely levity makes Hooked an enjoyable ride, and it ends up making the last 60 seconds really moving in a way I didn't see coming.
I saw one review quibbling with the audio track. I'd just say the obvious, that budgets for these films aren't growing on trees, and a million compromises are made to bring them to life. The writer-director Max Emerson didn't scrimp where it really counted: you'll be hard pressed to turn your attention from Conor Donnally as a disregulated-but-charismatic Jack. Sean Ormond, playing his love interest Tom, also succeeds in the quieter moments he's tasked with. Katie McLellan is at ease onscreen as a family matriarch who's exasperated at her situation but not without compassion, would love to see more of her. And somehow, through Jack's eyes, Emerson manages to make a regional flight to Miami look and feel like an exhilarating jaunt to a foreign country.
It's always cool to get to see a first-time director when they are at their rawest or most candid. Later stuff might be more honed but less alive, the edges dulled. What are you rewatching on a rainy Sunday? Jaws or...The Adventures of TinTin? That's what I thought!
Emerson has a POV that begs several more helpings and I hope they'll be coming!
If you're not convinced yet, there's an epic cameo from standup Tim Murray that's pitch perfect at just the right moment.