The premise showed promise, but the film ultimately spiraled downward as it became increasingly obvious that the characters’ relationship lacked proper discussion and understanding, leading to a truly unfortunate outcome. I watched roughly three-quarters of the movie, anticipating some kind of resolution, but instead, things just kept getting worse, so I looked up what happened online because I was feeling pretty unc…

The line between portraying alternative lifestyles and excusing harmful relationships isn't always clear, and regrettably, writer-director Harry Lighton’s first feature doesn’t seem to grasp that distinction. This sexually explicit “romance”—a term I use cautiously—chronicles the experiences of Colin (played by Harry Melling), a shy gay man living with his parents who struggles to find dates, after he encounters Ray …

After Colin, a barbershop quartet singer portrayed by Harry Melling, buys snacks for a stranger—a biker named Ray (Alexander Skarsgård)—at a pub, he instantly becomes infatuated. Despite Ray’s apparent lack of interest and only offering a Christmas card with his number, Colin is eager to proceed and accepts an invitation to “take the dog for a walk” on Christmas Day, which offers a clear indication of how their poten…