Queer (2024): review

Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, adapted from William S. Burroughs’s partly autobiographical novel, opened in German cinemas on January 2, 2025. Its psychological depth, visual beauty and difficult themes make it an intense experience, although the film is not without weaknesses.

Loneliness in Mexico City

Daniel Craig plays William Lee, an American expatriate living in 1950s Mexico. Addiction and loneliness accompany his search for connection in Mexico City’s bars. His fixation on the younger, emotionally distant former soldier Eugene Allerton, played by Drew Starkey, takes him deeper into his own troubled inner world.

Craig and Starkey in tension

Craig’s performance is nuanced and painfully human. He gives Lee’s divided character an intensity that holds our attention. Starkey’s cool distance creates an intriguing tension between them: the relationship is both hard to read and emotionally painful.

Images and music

Working with cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, Guadagnino creates a vivid setting that supports the film’s melancholy. Its visual design gives the emotional story considerable weight. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross add floating textures and melancholy melodies that deepen the atmosphere.

A fragmented narrative

The episodic, fragmented structure sometimes interrupts the narrative flow. Certain scenes seem more interested in stylistic display than in developing character or story. At those points, it becomes harder to connect emotionally with the people on screen.

Obsession and self-destruction

Even so, Queer treats loneliness, obsession and self-destruction with courage and empathy. Guadagnino makes Lee’s struggle strikingly tangible while keeping a distinct cinematic style. The respectful, candid treatment of gay relationships lends the film authenticity and depth.

Verdict

Queer both challenges and moves its audience. Intense performances, striking images and an ambitious exploration of love and despair stay in the memory despite the structural weaknesses. A strong recommendation for viewers who appreciate demanding cinema.