The Americans may not be the default noir specialists but every now and then they get it right–as here in Graham’s moody, rich début about a hustler who gets trapped in a labyrinthine apartment building that is part purgatory, part dark room and all kinds of interesting.

Fassbinder and Genet is the feel, Shakespeare and Foucault provide the impetus for the dialogue and if that all sounds too highbrow, it isn’t. Thank the entirely gorgeous Ben Bonenfant for that; his depiction of the deeper-than-thou rent boy drips with easy sensuality as he tricks his way through various apartments – and revelations – in the building, learning about life, love, and the best way to give a blowjob. The characters he encounters are vintage Genet too, a soufflé of battle worn activists, heady queens and lush Euro muscle.

Highly recommended.