Solo (IV) (2013) User Reviews

Surprisingly a Good Gay Thriller

[Silitonga · 7/10 · 19 November 2013]

Honestly, when I first watched this film, somehow it's a little bit boring. Well, I think this is a low budget film, the cast only 5 people and mostly 80% shooting only in the same room of an apartment.

But, I was surprise as the plot growing more complicated. The lead actor, Patricio Ramos as Manuel, played an innocent post-breakup gay and meet Mario Verón as Julio from online chatting. They have a different personality. Somehow, Julio look like the bad guy with tattoo and unclear past.

Interesting life in just one night stand. The whole plot only happened whole night with flash back sometimes. Sex made, emotion build and future planned. But the truth conceal when another truth reveal a lies.

Liked it but...

[Demetriusronwee · 6/10 · 24 June 2020]

It was really good for the most part and definitely worth one watch. Some fantastic ideas and I'm giving this high rating because I just enjoyed their dialog and bonding so well. I know a lot of people don't like love at first sight stories but I grew up on all those Amour fou type French films from Honore to Ozon, even Bertollucci s movies, Dreamers for instance, have this literally DIE FOR YOU AND KILL FOR YOU love that's always resonated with the idealist at heart while their cruel brutality satisfies the pure nihilist in me. American Translation is one such film as is the recent Heroes of Evil. Both of which are my top favorite films. SOLO tries to take the same approach but while it has its moments, it's not that remarkable and the end scene action wasn't done well at all, which really takes you out of the fantasy. The character's also while entertaining fail to make a lasting impression.

Gay romance with a twist

[thg011093 · 7/10 · 15 May 2020]

Very nice chemistry between the two leads. Didn't realize it was a thriller until the last minutes, even though there was some suspense developing throughout the movie.

Great acting and writing; cold, tightly choreographed sex

[jm10701 · 11 July 2014]

(see upbeat UPDATE at end after second viewing)

I loved the first part of this movie because it was very well written and acted, but the sexual attraction between Julio and Miguel was completely unconvincing. Weekend is much better in that regard (and in every other way too - there are too many superficial similarities to avoid comparing the two movies).

Julio and Miguel were naked a lot, and the two actors are very, very attractive as individuals, but I never believed in them as a couple. The dialog was sexy, but the physical interaction between them was so tightly choreographed that it was more like ballet than sex. I found myself wishing for more talk and less sex, which is a first. Their conversations were fascinating; their sex was cold and phony.

The story was pretty stupid, especially when it turned psycho at the end, but no more so than classic psycho thrillers like Psycho - realism is not a hallmark of the genre.

For acting and intelligent dialog, Solo is a definite winner. I'm amazed that this is the only feature-length film either actor has made so far; they're both extraordinarily good looking and talented. But the story is overwrought, the sex unbelievable, and the ending tiresome and very predictable.

UPDATE: I watched it again and liked it much more the second time. Knowing the ending makes me appreciate the writing even more than I already did. It is very intelligent and cleverly constructed. The sex is still unbelievable and cold, but everything else is really good. I'm adding four more stars.

Great performance by Veron and Ramos - Not a great plot

[augustoam · 6/10 · 2 February 2014]

From all the gay movies I have seen, the Argentineans are taking the top prizes. This movie has excellent performances by Patricio Ramos and Mario Verón. I would say that my rating is because of the performance and not the actual movie.

The plot is very predictable. You could say that some of the emotions and actions are "justifiable", but the overall plot doesn't make much sense. Saying this, I have to say that the movie compared to the cheesy American gay theme movies, it is worth watching.

Applause to both Verón and Ramos. Very proud of them. You guys are very talented. I hope we can see more of your work in the coming years.

A watchable gay thriller

[lollollolllo · 7/10 · 16 May 2015]

I liked the chemistry between the two leads, and I think the dialog helps to make them both relatable characters. I thought it was a little unrealistic how open and forward they were with each other immediately. The plot was also a little thin, but it went in unexpected directions. The twist ending was very surprising, probably because I was a little distracted. Unfortunately it conforms to the cliché that gay romances can't have happy endings.

I would recommend watching this movie if you like long romance scenes between two very handsome guys, or if you like low-budget, low-key foreign indie thrillers where 60% of the characters are gay men brutally murdered with hammers.

Depressing and exploitative

[Oblivion14 · 1/10 · 13 May 2021]

As a gay man, I'm seriously getting fed up with movies that depict gay people as amoral, sadistic, drug-addicted, and self-destructive. Especially ones that do so while showing lots of gratuitous sex. I struggled with my identity in my teens because I could not identify with any of those depictions.

The film could have been perfectly fine without the abrupt and horrifying tonal shift forced at the end. It's unnecessary, sensationalist, and ultimately hollow. Instead of being something special or revolutionary, it's just another mark for the "bury your gays" trope.

Beyond the gay theme, it's yet another film that thinks shocking your audience with a bait-and-switch premise is "courageous." Instead of being the disingenuous cop-out that it actually is.

good film, could have been straight as well as gay, a good thriller

[mikephilipsmith · 9/10 · 30 May 2014]

A good thriller which keeps you guessing. It could have been with straight characters as it is about one night stands etc but more intense as it is gay with risks of going off with people without telling others where you are going or who with etc. Slightly predictable but still has quite a shocking ending. well acted. The men are cute which of course helps but aren't really necessarily good looking for the plot. It is their psychological situations rather than physical looks that determine the plot. It is a bit titillating and soft porn in places but it does add to the story rather than gratuitous, for example, it is what they do or don't do sexually that develops their relationship and the story development.

A nasty film

[jromanbaker · 1/10 · 20 May 2020]

There are far too many exploitative ' Gay ' films out there and this is one of them. No spoilers but the end is sickening and what is even more sickening is that directors are making this stuff; heterosexual or homosexual directors I have had enough of them. This film exploits the difference between what we say and what we do. Who is the victim and who is the destroyer? I think there is enough violence towards LGBT people as it is without using this degraded trope as ' entertainment '. There is no political aspect to this film as in ' Siberia and Him ' where violence exists, but in such a way that you understand the terrible reasons for it. This film exploits by showing fairly strong sexuality and so gratifying viewers and then showing how dangerous it is to go with anyone. I do not expect rose-tinted views of LGBT life but I do expect directors and actors to question if a film can cause psychological harm. I believe this film does. Heterosexual films do this constantly, but that is no excuse for exploitative violence towards an already persecuted group of people in many countries of the world. Avoid this film, especially those who are already afraid of violence and torture.

Some Angel face Hides a Demon Within

[ZanderZion · 8/10 · 8 March 2015]

All I can say is that this movie deceived me, I don't believe as its genre tells Thriller all I thought is sort of Mystery/Drama. But the director well really do a great job, and a good choice of actors, explicitly acted and flavored by those gay scenes and nudity will surely catch the attention of audiences (especially gay audiences). It really drove you deeply with curiosity by the word "SOLO". It lingers in my thoughts that main protagonist are basically coping his loneliness but with unpredictable gestures, script lines and emotions by the actors can really made someone focus on what shall happens next. Then it come to finale that destroys my gay fantasy, as it leads to a crime that answer why he's "SOLO" or why the movie titled it is then answered.

That Handsome Manuel got an angelic face that I only focused my eyes on him but then he's a devil within.

Yuck! Get Me Out Of Here!

[donwc1996 · 4/10 · 30 May 2014]

This film made me nervous from the very beginning. And I hate being nervous while watching a film. But I stuck with it thinking how could two such hunky Latin Americans be all that bad. The first 45 minutes are quite a visual feast since the two leads are nude the entire time and either chatting or making love. In fact the first main scene is the longest love making episode I have ever seen in a film. But their chat is increasingly bizarre to the point where I bailed out but my buddy always the adventurer carried on and watched it to the bitter end and according to what he said it was very bitter indeed which is just what I suspected would happen when I bolted.

Disappointing

[danielmartinx · 3 November 2014]

This film was great at first. You've got your handsome buff tatuado stud on the one hand, and the Rex Reed blended with Liza Minelli guy on the other hand (not that there's anything wrong with that), and they go on and on about this and that, about love, sex, strangers, hooking up. It's all going on swimmingly, until it enters into the ten-hour abyss of nothingness that is the middle of this film.

And then the end. "Viewers who have been paying attention will not be surprised" say some, but after watching a movie in which both actors make "significant" expressions left and right, I must admit I let some of those clues go. Instead, I felt myself wondering how many movies are going to wrap up with a simple "homosexuals = freakish murderers just cuz" meme. Yes, the Liza Minelli mixed with Red Reed guy is a psycho bitch! Just like Amy in Gone Girl, but without the parents-being- authors backstory!

Yes, the ending ruined it for me. To think, that I watched these actors swap spit for this long, just for this ending. It's like the horror films that titillate with sexuality and then immediately follow it with a moral-palette-cleansing burst of death for the evil sex-having miscreants. Viewers walk away saying, "Goodness, thank God I would never have sex or hook up with someone!" and even the sadistic torture- porn glee of the filmmaker suddenly has an aura of godliness and saintliness, as he can tell himself "I brought the audience to orgasm with a hammer to the skull slaying, but I never exploited their prurient interest" and still respect himself.

hot steamy guys and decent plot

[dave_vogel_1 · 8/10 · 19 July 2021]

Whats not to like?! Grab some snacks and enjoy with your partner!