Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.
Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of William S. Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella is anchored by Daniel Craig's raw, vulnerable performance as William Lee — arguably one of his finest pieces of screen work. The film is visually sumptuous, with Guadagnino and DP Sayombhu Mukdeeprom crafting dreamy, sensually charged imagery that perfectly captures longing, dislocation, and erotic obsession. The surrealist psychedelic third act is audacious and memorable. However, the plot meanders in its middle section, and the pacing tests patience. The ending's hallucinatory ambition is divisive — bold but not entirely satisfying as narrative closure. Novelty is moderate: Guadagnino brings his signature sensory aesthetic, but the Burroughs adaptation space and queer period drama are familiar enough territory to prevent a higher score.