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Mike Dytri, Craig Gilmore, Darcy Marta, Scot Goetz, Paul Bartel ... see more see more... , Sidney J. Bestwick , Torie Chickering , Nicole Dillenberg , Mark Finch , Jon Gerrans , Peter Grame , Michael Haynes , Stephen Holman , Jack Kofman , Peter Lanigan , Craig Lee , Christopher Mabli , Michael Now , Magie Song , Bretton Vail , Johanna Went , Mary Woronov , Dave Foley , Zack Ward , Christopher Coppola

A gentle film critic hooks up with a violent drifter in this HIV-positive road movie, which marked the emergence of writer/director Gregg Araki into the art house mainstream. Jon (Craig Gilmore) has j... read more read more...ust learned he has the virus that causes AIDS. Still in a state of shock, he stumbles through his usual routine -- until he meets Luke (Mike Dytri), a hunky, gun-toting hitchhiker who has just stolen a car from a pair of homicidal lesbians and shot a trio of would-be gay bashers. Against his better judgment, Jon lets Luke stay at his place and soon finds himself drawn into the nihilistic stranger's world; it doesn't hurt that Luke is also HIV-positive and hot to get inside Jon's pants. Things take a Bonnie and Clyde turn when Luke kills a policeman. The pair go on the lam, first to San Francisco, then all over the western United States. Jon keeps his best friend, Darcy (Darcy Marta), apprised of his situation via a series of ever more infrequent collect calls. But as the road trip continues, Jon becomes increasingly disillusioned with Luke's belief that since they're doomed to die, they should lead consequence-free lives. Like Araki's later movies, The Living End is peppered with pop culture detritus and features a soundtrack heavy on industrial and alternative music -- in this case Psychic TV, Coil, and Fred Gianelli. Marta is a veteran of Araki's earlier Three Bewildered People in the Night, while several other cast members, including Gilmore, would go on to appear in the director's Totally F***ed Up. The Living End's many cameos include performance artist Johanna Went, Eating Raoul director Paul Bartel, Warhol associate Mary Woronov, and Peter Grame, star of the obscure European film Das Gluck Beim Haendewaschen. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

60% liked it

1,952 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

6 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Gregg Araki

Release Date: May 10, 2008

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DVD Release Date: April 29, 2008

Stats: 107 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (107)

  • michaelcorleone
    December 13, 2010
    michaelcorleone
    Araki brings great ideas to the table, but his execution leaves a lot to be desired. The two lead actors are consistently unconvincing, so their love story has no emotional resonance. Since the film relies heavily on a connection with the doomed lovers, the low performance qualit... read morey hurts it badly. Nevertheless, it's very much a product of its time, and that works in its favour somehow. This is a cult classic with lots of bright possibilities, but most of them are unfulfilled.
  • RicC
    February 13, 2010
    RicC
    There are more pointless concepts than unique ones here. The dialogue sucked dick. I hated it. And the actors can't act. Poorly directed and crummy. It was campy at the start, then it became schlocky, then boring. Let me just spoil the details of the movie cover so that you don't... read more watch it: It's the ending. The gay masc rapes his boyfriend, planning a suicide via oral gunshot when he climaxes. Dumb BDSM presentation, right?
  • bobsteele0069
    January 30, 2010
    bobsteele0069
    Greg Araki has always been known for his gritty real life gay boyz in the hood kind of lifestyle. This particular film is my favorite of Gregs work. It's a low budget movie. I think this was his 2nd movie, but it is seasoned with great direction and once again great angst coming ... read morefrom the actors. This is a psychological sexual thriller in my opinion. Everyone knows the stereotype of the "Bad Boy" The fact that some boys are just plain crazy and bad makes for good fun!
  • videoal
    December 30, 2009
    videoal
    Luke is a gay hustler. Jon is a movie critic. Both are HIV positive. They go on a hedonistic, dangerous journey, their motto "Fuck the world"
  • rockabye
    January 14, 2007
    rockabye
    one of my all time fav. movies. I highly recoment seeing it. a wonderful experience, totally reeks of the flavor of the time period it was made in.

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Kennedy
April 4, 2008
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

It is visually vibrant (in a wonderful on-the- cheap kind of way). But its insightful fury is undercut by thrashes of immaturity. It's engaged with culture and angry at it. Full Review

Josh Bell
March 14, 2008
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly

Probably more valuable as a cultural artifact than a movie. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 23, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Self described by its director as "my most desperate movie," this road movie about two HIV-positive runaways and imposible love in th face of death, put Gregg Araki at the forefront of indie directors. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
October 2, 2002
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
October 2, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Michael Szymanski
September 23, 2005
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy

No review available.

Jake Euker
November 4, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Steve Davis
October 2, 2002
Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Rich Cline
August 19, 2010
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Living End Trivia

  • The movie stared Adam Sandler as a inmature, lazy, living off his Daddy, spoiled idiot! But in the end a guy who just wants the best for the family buisness.  Answer »
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  • What happend at the end of '50 first dates'?  Answer »
  • in what movie does Mark Ruffalo end up living in Reese Witherspoon's, coma victim characters house only for the spirit of her to come haunt him when she doesn't realise she is nearly dead?  Answer »
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