Luca Guadagnino Expands His Cinematic Universe with the Provocative ‘Queer’
Just a few months after the release of his vibrant Challengers, Luca Guadagnino returns to cinemas with a new and provocative film, another audiovisual feast that further expands his already renowned cinematic universe.
He's done it again. The Italian auteur behind Call me by your name (2017) once more challenges our limits and senses in this fascinating psychedelic drama set in 1950s Mexico. Daniel Craig delivers a sensational performance as an American expatriate thirsty for love, spending his days and nights wandering the streets in search of bars and fleeting moments of intimate connection with other men.
Guadagnino remains true to the spirit of William Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel on which the film is based, while elevating what could have been a simple adaptation into a cinematic experience. Through sublime visual and narrative language, he immerses us in a sordid, decadent atmosphere—a community marked by vice and excess. This setting becomes the backdrop for exploring the darkest and most vulnerable corners of human desire, a recurring theme in his filmography.
Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, stars of Queer, in an intense and captivating scene that reflects the provocative essence of the film.
In Queer, destructive addictions and the unrequited love between the protagonist and a young soldier, played by Drew Starkey, form the core of the story. The director once again demonstrates his mastery in capturing longing, obsession, and eroticism with a visceral and extraordinary sensitivity that is unmatched. Additionally, another standout element of this adaptation, which hits theaters on January 3, is its soundtrack. Featuring songs from after the era in which the story is set, it takes you completely by surprise.
As the story progresses, it takes a much more surreal turn, culminating in an exotic and wild third act where the pair ventures into the Amazon jungle in South America in search of ayahuasca. Guadagnino crafts a sequence of dreamlike and sensory images that oscillate between the corporeal and the ethereal, bringing Burroughs’ landscape to life—a nightmare that reflects the writer’s personal traumas. For those unfamiliar with his life and work, it’s possible to feel somewhat lost and disconnected. Queer is a complex film and likely won’t satisfy viewers who prefer a more conventional narrative.
In an era where playing it safe is the norm, Guadagnino stands out with a stylistic voice that is evocative and original—something deeply appreciated in an industry constantly clinging to remakes and franchise sequels. While commercial cinema insists on presenting the same predictable and nostalgic formulas over and over, the Italian filmmaker dares to successfully offer something new, thanks to his creative vision and the sophistication of his work.
