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Hard (1999)

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Synopsis

Raw gay sex, hard-hitting violence and a murdering frenzy are the features of this excellent DVD about a closeted cop who is handcuffed to a bed by a gay serial killer who targets young hustlers and gay teens. We sell only the unrated, uncensored director's cut with nudity and over six hours of DVD extras!

3 Reasons To watch this film

Noel Palomaria & Malcolm Moorman have strong sexual chemistry.
The psycho-killer scenes don't hold much back.
Noel looks damn good handcuffed to a bed naked.

Review

Independent filmmaker John Huckert tosses the notion of politically correct, positive representation of gays out the window with this chilling closeted-cop-meets-openly-gay-serial-murderer crime drama. Raymond Vates (Noel Palomaria), a rookie detective, joins seasoned partner Tom (Charles Layner) and a brutish lot of veterans. Vates is elated, but harbors a secret: he's a serious closet case who cruises macho men in gay bars by night. Meanwhile, Jack (Malcolm Moorman), a serial psycho with murderous tastes for hustlers and gay teens, has breezed into town. Vates eventually beds him, and wakes up, handcuffed, to a challenge presented by Jack, who pilfers his badge: come out and risk harassment at work or allow Jack to get away with, literally, murder.

Huckert doesn't shy away from explicit sex or violence, nor references to Jeffrey Dahmer. In one such homage/sequence, policemen detain and question Jack and his near-catatonic abductee - but let them go. After all, they're just a faggot couple, right? Although fiercely independent and operating with a slim budget, Huckert has managed to wrangle a slick look and solid performances with this gruesome thriller reminiscent of Seven and The Silence of the Lambs.

-- Raymond Murray

Customer Reviews

The Hardest Part of Life

JANORM wrote on 09/30/2009:

This is one film that portrays life in all of its base natures and behaviors. If one theme can emerge out of this picture, is that love in all of its extremity, knows no boundries! The interaction between the cop who is outed and the serial killer of young men, shows the audience real life, at its most gothic and sadistic qualities. The ending will grab you also, so be for-warned. This is one film for your collection! HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION!! NJMJr!

Hard is not for softies

Toby Ross wrote on 03/02/2007:

It has been like a year since I saw it with my friend. For a gay horror film it is very good. Let me get to the point of why I found this so good. The lead has a rugged sex appeal that is hard to find in regular run of the mill gay movie usually riddled with campy queens. Back to the lead. The combination of being deadly yet so sexy evokes one's darker side...Like would I take a chance with a man that dangerous, and if I declined how good would the sex be that I would have missed??...a bit uncomfortable to think that way but we all do. The serial killer's ability to move from men to women down to children while maintaining an interesting style of "dirty bantor" is realistic and pornographic without really showing an awful lot. Good Going John!

Hauntingly Disturbing

Fred wrote on 08/08/2005:

Malcom Moorman certainly sucked me in with his superb acting and sultry sexuality. His convincing portrayal of a psychotic killer is absolutely chilling. The sexual encounters are explicitly erotic, and the suspense is palpable. I had trouble sleeping, so I suggest watching this eerie film during the day!

Interesting

West Hollywood, CA (dalitattoo@yahoo.com) wrote on 07/31/2005:

Contrary to what everyone is saying, there are no graphic portrayals of sex or violence in this film. There are many violent images, but the violence is always suggested rather than shown. Hitchcock would be quite proud. But this material is not for everyone. This is a fine independent feature with interesting ideas about homophobia and the expendability of gay youth. Where the heralded "Silence of the Lambs" and its sequels and prequels drip with homophobia, "Hard" has a uniquely queer perspective that is not saturated with the requisite self-hatred of most major studio work. The acting is quite good for a truly independent feature. Perhaps it is a bit “talky” in places, but in general, I was quite happily surprised by this thriller. If you prefer your films filled with waxed youth waxing on about coming out to mom or seducing the cute Mormon coffee shop kid next door, well I’m sure TLA has plenty of those movies too, but this probably isn’t for you. However, if you like detective thrillers, this is a definite must-see.

'Hard' Can't Quite Keep It Up

John Nail (tojonail@bellsouth.net) wrote on 05/12/2005:

As long as it sticks to sex and violence, "Hard" has no problem maintaining wood. It's when it attempts to have a message that it starts to go soft. Neither the acting nor writing are strong enough to handle issues of coming out and homophobia in anything other than a cliched fashion, often producing unintentional laughs. (In a scene where the wife of a dimwitted bisexual security guard, played by Michael Waite, walks in on him in bed with serial killer Jack, the wife's reaction is so hilariously over the top that it just might have been meant as comic relief.) On the plus side: The cinematography is pretty good considering the movie's miniscule budget; the scenes of grisly--and often disturbing--violence are quite effective; and although most of the acting is passable at best, Malcolm Moorman as Jack seems to relish his role (not too hard on the eyes, either). "Hard" had a lot of potential, that's why I really wished I could say I liked it.

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