Underplayed Gems

Hard

Hard poster
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More films like this

How it feels

A closeted LAPD detective hunts a serial killer who targets male prostitutes. He struggles to keep his personal life hidden while investigating the case.

grittytensenoir-ishdarkurgentunsettlingbleak

What happens

Hard is a 1998 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed and co-written by John Huckert. Frequently compared to William Friedkin's 1980 film Cruising, the film follows closeted Los Angeles Police Department detective Raymond Vates (Noel Palomaria) as he tries to catch a serial killer (Malcolm Moorman) who preys on male prostitutes. The soundtrack prominently includes music by Marilyn Manson, as well as a song by George Michael. Premiering at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Hard received mixed reviews from critics. The Los Angeles Times described it as one of the best films to screen at Outfest in 1998. The New York Times noted similarities in the story to the Jeffrey Dahmer case and praised Moorman's performance, while criticizing inconsistent screenwriting and performances. Variety published a more critical review, referring negatively to its depictions of graphic violence and sex, even as it credited the film with gay representation. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems. Not quite it? You can browse by genre, country and year, or take this one into the 3D catalogue and ask the Catbot for something closer.