‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is a Queer slow-burn thriller with twists and turns that can make the viewing experience feel like you’re on a thrill ride. It’s a mashup of multiple genres into one, containing elements of body horror, romance, crime, even fairytales. While a love story is the driving plot force, the film is refreshing in its depiction of LGBTQIA+ characters by not making their gender or sexuality the most important part of the storyline. The film depicts Lou and Jackie’s relationship without falling into stereotypical tropes or tokenism. Their love is just one facet of their lives, as their impending threats are not from homophobia, but rather from Lou’s dysfunctional, violent, gun-running family that she desperately wishes to escape from, and Jackie’s steroid addiction. Coupled with a happy ending rarely seen in gay love stories, the film brings a fresh perspective. However, that’s not to say the ending can’t be divisive. It does take a HUGE step into magical realism that requires suspension of belief the audience might not be prepared to take with it. Overall, it’s an exciting addition to the “Be Gay, Do Crime” cinema discourse.
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