In 1950s Mexico City, an American expat finds himself captivated by a beautiful and elusive former soldier, sparking a desire for a deeper connection with someone. A film by Luca Guadagnino starring Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman, Henrique Zaga, Drew Droege, Andra Ursuta, Ariel Schulman, Andrés Duprat, Omar Apollo, David Lowery, Lisandro Alonso, Michaël Borremans, Michael Kent, Colin Bates, Ronia Ava, and Lesley Manville.

In the 1950s, American expatriate writer William Lee (Daniel Craig) lives in Mexico City, spending his nights bar-hopping and engaging in casual encounters with younger men, all while yearning for genuine human connection.

One evening, he invites Winston Moor (Henrique Zaga) for a drink, but Winston declines, claiming that he and Tom Williams (Colin Bates) will be busy building a boat in Zihuatanejo. After William’s departure, Winston thanks Tom for intervening, explaining that while he likes William, he can’t bear being alone with him due to his persistent sexual advances. Winston adds that queer men struggle to maintain purely platonic friendships.

During his walk, William stops at a street cockfight, where his eyes lock onto a mysterious young man (Drew Starkey) passing by. Their gazes meet, and William finds himself startled and inexplicably drawn to the stranger.

At another bar, William is surprised to spot the mysterious young man from earlier. However, upon discovering that the man is meeting a woman and deliberately ignoring him, William becomes infuriated and storms out of the bar. Unable to shake his frustration, William picks up a young man (Omar Apollo) at Chimu Bar and takes him to a nearby hotel.

At Ship Ahoy, William encounters the mysterious young man again – Eugene Allerton, who invites him to join his table with Mary (Andra Ursuta). As Eugene shares stories about his time in the army, William becomes increasingly infatuated, imagining himself reaching out to caress Eugene’s face.

William and Eugene develop a friendship, though Eugene maintains emotional distance even as William falls deeper in love with him. When William confides in his friend Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman) about his uncertainty regarding Eugene’s sexuality, Joe suggests he should simply ask Eugene directly. William, however, hesitates to do so, fearing that such a question might drive Eugene away.

One night, William invites Eugene to his place for a drink. After a few glasses of strange-tasting Napoleon brandy, Eugene becomes ill and vomits. As Eugene lies in William’s bed recovering, William makes his move, and Eugene responds with casual acceptance.

William grows increasingly puzzled by Eugene’s behavior – despite their intimate encounters, Eugene remains emotionally distant and appears visibly happier when with Mary. Falling into despair, William turns to drugs, experiencing hallucinations. In a desperate attempt to secure Eugene’s affection, he proposes a trip to South America, offering to cover all expenses. His only request: that Eugene be ‘nice’ to him twice a week. He even promises Eugene a round-trip ticket, ensuring he can leave whenever he wishes.

William and Eugene venture into the deep jungle outside Puyo, seeking Yagé, a mythical plant believed to enhance telepathic sensitivity allowing users to communicate intuitively without speaking. Their search leads them to an American botanist, Doctor Cotter (Lesley Manville), and her husband (Lisandro Alonso), who live in the area.

Yagé is a mildly hallucinogenic substance derived from the South American vine Banisteriopsis caapi. This vine is a key ingredient in the traditional psychedelic brew ayahuasca, which is used by Indigenous cultures in the Amazon region for spiritual and healing purposes. In William S. Burroughs’s work, particularly in Junky, yagé is mentioned as a substance that the protagonist is interested in, reflecting Burroughs’s own fascination with its potential effects. However, it’s important to note that yagé itself is not typically consumed as a standalone substance; it is usually part of the ayahuasca brew, which combines the vine with other plants containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT) to produce its psychoactive effects.

Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino and written by American playwright Justin Kuritzkes, QUEER is based on the 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs.

Queer, written by William S. Burroughs in 1952 but not published until 1985, is a semi-autobiographical novella set in Mexico City during the early 1950s. Notable for its candid portrayal of homosexual relationships, the book was considered controversial for its time. However, it also reflects the societal attitudes of the era, as Burroughs employs derogatory language and stereotypes common during that period.

The film explores themes of desire, addiction, and identity through a complex queer lens, following a character named William Lee as he navigates his romantic and sexual yearnings for Eugene Allerton in 1950s Mexico City.

Thai cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom beautifully captures the day and nightlife of 1950s Mexico City, particularly in the film’s first half.

While Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey deliver impressive performances, the screenplay becomes muddled in the second half as it ventures into hallucinatory and symbolic scenes. This departure from reality ultimately makes the film feel absurd and less memorable.

QUEER premiered at Biennale di Venezia on 3 September 2024. The film received a limited theatrically release in the United States on 27 November before expanding nationwide on 13 December, by A24.