The 1980 Al Pacino movie Cruising is one of the most controversial gay-themed films ever made and still has the power to raise many people’s hackles. But now director Brumby Boylston has decided to turn the controversy on its head by creating a Cruising children’s electric playset in a new short film.
Cruising follows Pacino’s cop character as he goes undercover in New York’s gay leather scene in order to catch a serial killer, but finds himself seduced by the hard partying, drugs and erotic atmosphere. Even before it started shooting there were protests in the streets due to the fact it was based on a short story many deemed deeply homophobic. The anger was so great that director William Friedkin agreed to add some text to the beginning of the movie saying that the film was not supposed to reflect all of the gay community.
More recently Cruising became the inspiration for James Franco and Travis Mathews’ unusual queer-themed film, Interior Leather Bar.
Here though it becomes a great toy, complete with a car to go cruising in, strangers to make eye-contact with and it’s educational too, as youngsters will need to know all about the hanky code to play – all shown to us in a pitch-perfect take on 1980s toy marketing. Take a look below.
The short has screened to acclaimed around the world, including at Sundance and the New York Queer Film Festival.
Bobby Williams says
A scream….