Socket

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Aug 29 2012

After being struck by lightning on a beach, surgeon Bill Matthews (Derek Long) recovers in the hospital where he works. His intern is the mysterious hot young intern Craig Murphy (Matthew Montgomery) who has also been struck by lighting. While flirting intensely, they share stories of what it's been like to survive such a trauma. As he is being released from the hospital Craig slips Bill a card inviting him to a meeting of "people just like us." He shoves it into his pocket thinking only of it as a way to get into the hottie's pants. But Bill's life is listless during recovery and he can't seem to get the energy to do much of anything. He pulls the card out of his pocket and gets up the courage to attend the mysterious meeting. There he meets other survivors of massive electric current, but it's not quite a support group! These people hook themselves up to electric current and get off on it. Bill not only becomes hooked on current, he hooks up with Craig in a fiery relationship. Who knows how far this madness will progress?

With ample male flesh on display, lively realistic writing, crisp direction and excellent acting, Socket will light up your television. This is one queer horror tale we've never seen before!

By: ptab

Between here!tv and tla, I'm glad to sexual nature taking a back seat to the storyline: making the orientation a non-issue and just getting into it. Derek Long, at least in facial features, looks a lot like Showtime's Dexter, weirdly enough. He is very good looking though. Matthew Montgomery is very sexy as well, call me crazy, I like furry men. My only issue with tla so far, is the lack of cc/subtitles, other than that, good work! Keep it up!

By: Urbangruv

By: Garlic toe

I waited so long to get this because I read a lot of bad reviews, but I got it cheap and took a chance. I actually liked it and am glad I bought it. I thought it was original and enjoyed a fresh story line. It's not a great movie, but better than the reviews would lead you to believe.

By: Amos Lassen

"Socket"
Dark and Wonderful
Amos Lassen
"Socket" is an amazing film with something for everyone. It is sexual, it is science fiction, it is dark, and it has comedy (and naked men). It is absolutely, in my opinion THE gay film to see. Sean Abley who wrote and directed "Socket" has made a film that he can be very proud of.
Derek Long plays Bill Matthews, a surgeon, who after being struck by lightning on a beach, finds himself no longer in control of himself. He begins his recuperation in the same hospital where he works and there he meets Craig Murphy (who you may remember from Cinema Pride's screenings of "Long-Term Relationship" and "Back Soon"). Murphy is handsome and handsome who sees something in Matthews. It seems that he to has been struck by lightning and after telling Matthews about his own adventure, he adds that he has had some very odd desires since the occurrence. He then invites Matthews to a meeting of people like them.
Matthews finds himself drawn into the group meeting where he meets others who have been hit by lightning and all of whom have a craving for electric current. Murphy becomes Matthews' guide and watches his friend becoming immersed in the group and sees that a relationship is beginning between the two men. As Matthews recuperates from the lightning, his body has an increased appetite for electric shocks which seem to be like in nature. The two men and the other members of the group begin to "juice up" more frequently as time goes by.
Matthews discovers a way to place sockets and prongs into the wrists of members of the group and they become able to "mainline" current or plug into each other to form circuits. I am sure some of you are thinking what a bizarre film this must be but I am sure you recognize what electric current represents here and this is a major problem in our community.
When a random encounter with a mugger occurs and results in the death of the assailant (quite by accident but due to the electrical prongs in Matthew's wrist which were jammed into the man's skull. The electrical impulses that control the human body were downloaded into the surgeon's body and he realizes he has found a whole new level to his addiction. What happens next will have to wait until you see the movie.
Everything about "Socket" is a delight. The actors are great, the script is not only interesting but exciting, the sets are dark and relay the basic theme of the film and the direction is perfect. Granted the idea behind the film may seem to be a little far removed from reality, when you consider the extent that addiction of any kind plays in society, you realize that beneath what you see is a very strong message.

By: port

By: Willis

By: dan

By: Conner

Well, another great movie with Matthew Montgomery! I bought this flick, only because I knew Matthew was starring in it. I'm glad that I followed my instincts. As the movie is as other reviewers have stated...."4 - STARS" worthy. Let's add a 5th STAR!

I found the movie to be, suspenseful, eerie, and, moving. I also found it to be thoroughly entertaining. Though I found the ending to be sad. I was hoping for an upbeat ending. (I say that, as I'm very found of Matthew, So, I was hoping for the best for him). Matthew is one "HOT" guy. Plus, I feel that he has a personality to match his looks & body.

This movie is a "MUST SEE" !!! I'm really glad that I added it to my Video Library.

By: PeterP88

Hey,

I purchased this to once again see Matthew Montomery's beautiful body. I did get to see him full frontal and other shots of his body. If I was closer to his age, I would try to have a session with him. Derek Long is definitely not hard to look at. Their sex scenes were quite erotic. If you do not like sci-fi do not buy but the eye candy will make you want to buy it.

I can not wait to see Matthew in Back Soon.

By: Franklin Hummel

*Note: There are spoilers in this review.* --- SOCKET is a good SF horror film. The disappointing thing is, it could have been a great one. --- This movie's creative concept is that some people who are struck by lightning are then able to become quasi-sexually stimulated by electricity. These few meet together in a small, secret group and give themselves electrical highs. --- SOCKET then becomes the horror cliché story of a Strange Thing (, brain parts, salt, lifeforce, etc.) That Becomes An Addiction and ends with another cliché, The Horror Still Lives! --- (The Strange Addiction theme can be done with greatness: watch Roger Corman's X - THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES.) --- This is a well-done movie even with a low-budget that had to be filmed in 9 days. Many of the actors are excellent; one reason I bought this DVD was for Matthew Montgomery, who I've followed since his appearance in a fan-made STAR TREK web episode. --- The main reason I bought it is I *really* love SF&F&H and if it's gay-related that's a *big* plus. --- Beyond its standard plot, there are several serious problems that make enjoying SOCKET difficult. First, the movie's transfer to DVD seems to have been done at a low audio level. Once the film began I had to turn my TV's volume to nearly twice it's normal level to make it audible. (After the end credits, I was blasted by loud music when the disc returned to the menu.) --- Next, of great importance in all speculative film/fiction is to have a consistent universe *within* its story. SOCKET fails this in two ways. There is the often presence of TVs with static-filled screens. I had thought the electrically-charged character's body interfered with electronics, but this was contradicted by his using a cell phone and computer without problems. In the commentary, you learn the director *forgot* to film the explanation for the TVs, but even if this had been used, it's still not consistent in the movie. --- (The commentary is badly-made; some people on it can barely be heard and at one point there is an unexplained silence for 3 minutes.) --- Another internal universe concept in SOCKET is obsessive-compulsive neatness developes in these lightning-struck individuals. This is explained as "Energy is order." Scientifically that's wrong; energy is imbalance and chaos. (Re: E=MC2 & entropy & opening-credits' lightning.) This then contradicts many events, resulting in my often being "taken-out of the movie". --- Finally, one of the *worst* distractions was during the characters' "power-ups". I am 96% sure the sound used during these was of the original STAR TREK's "Enterprise" increasing its warp speed! --- It was very pleasarable to watch a movie where the central characters were gay men and this wasn't vital to the story; the same with the occasional nudity. However I was disturbed by what I felt was a of one man by the other, without any follow-up to this. --- I feel the reason I've been so critical in this review goes back to my original comment: SOCKET is a good SF horror film that could have been a great one. I suggest SOCKET as a should-see, and for gay SF&F&H fans, a must-buy. Just know you might be disappointed at times.

By: Mike

It sure is nice to have some actual gay science fiction after all the gay horror flooding the market. This is a fun flick, with a really cool makeup effect about midway thru that made the audience I saw it with cringe (in a fun way!) Very good multi-racial cast, and the eye candy of the two leads isn't bad, either. (Not only do they nude up, they're actually good actors!) The story is very Cronenberg in a positive way.

By: Zod M.

This is a sexy, fast, Cronenberg-y gay horror movie that's a lot of fun. The iron-jawed Derek Long stars as a surgeon who barely survives getting electrified, only to crave electricity upon his recovery. He then finds a cult of electricity addicts! Bizarre, outrageous, sexy and trippy, this is a really fun low-budg gay thriller with its tongue firmly in cheek. People who want to see yet another coming of age drama or AIDS depression-inducer need not apply.

By: gene

If you like your gay flicks with a little bit of an edge and a big bucket of popcorn, SOCKET is for you. Spirited performances by a sexy cast and some cool special effects make this one a notch above the rest. Sure it's low budget, but that's what makes it so much fun. Looking forward to owning the DVD and watching the dirty parts in slow motion! Derek Long and Matt Montgomery sizzle!!! The lesbian friends are a laugh riot too. :)

By: usnjake

What a horrible, horrble movie! Throw in some REALLY bad science fiction elements; some questionable pyscho-babble; some horrible acting and writing; some gratuitous nudity, mix it all together and this movie is what you'd come up with.It's shocking (pardon the pun) that some of the stupid elements of this film were even introduced. Spoiler: The electrical outlets in the arms of the participants has to be the most laughable thing I have seen in recent years... heck, this element of the film might have been passe in the 1950s, but today's audience certainly deserves better.I sat through the entire movie looking at my watch praying it would end. All I can say is do NOT buy this film... The only electrifying thing about this film is that it was ever made. I wouldn't even recommend renting it. Avoid it all costs as it really stinks!