Sun Kissed

I loved most of the movie, I was waiting for Leo to say I love you, but it didn't happen. But I enjoyed the drama of it all.

Violent and scary

What a mess of a movie. Occasional glimmers of a plot and characters but so fleeting as to render the film incomprehensible. I generally try to find something positive to say, but it would be a disservice here if I didn't say this is an unmitigated disaster. This kind of film making would get the writer/director tossed from film school. Shocked it's had a release and distributor, and unbelievably a NY Times review. Such a waste, when far more talent can't get their films made or seen.Far, far better you watch "God's Own Country" for the first or second or third time to see a five star (5*) gay film.

The Lynchian idea is stronger than the execution but when you have a solid and gorgeous Gregory Marcel it's more than enough! I wanna see him in more films!

There are several reasons to consider 'Sun Kissed' an exceptional movie. What most impressed me is the light it throws on the male world that hates discovering itself as gay, even though this impulse is a reality of its own soul depths. Contemplating the evolution of Leo, we witness his slow sexual awakening, in painful conflict with the prejudices of the character, obsessed with the idea "I am not homosexual." So it is he, the supposed heterosexual, who appears inwardly divided to the point of schizophrenia, in contrast to Teddy, who knows very well that he is "completely" gay and draws a remarkable inner balance from this consciousness, in spite of his moments of despair. As such he shows himself to be healthier and more mature than Leo, even taking a certain protecting and enlightening role toward him.It is also possible to take into consideration the philosophical aspect of this love story, urging us to reflect about fate, death and the meaning of life, and the sense of love in its relation to solitude. Do we love only because, otherwise, this solitude would be unbearable?And over these issues hangs a meditative and poetic spirit that ennobles the sexual side, naturally predominant. The loneliness of these two souls in the middle of the loneliness of Nature creates a nearly magical atmosphere. I felt incited to view this captivating movie again, as one might listen again to the music of a great master.

This could have been a good movie but I could not tell what was real or imaginary so by the end I was disappointed not to have some kind of real resolution. Some of the movie was good and the actual filming, for what it is worth, was good. I guess if the writer intended to leave unanswered questions and blurred lines between reality and fantasy, then direction was very well achieved. Overall, the acting was superb, for what the script followed, I did feel the emothions of the movie. However, I was left wanting, because it really wasn't clear.

One of the worst; I barely made it through, and only stuck with it hoping that some of the things that were unclear by halfway in, would be clarified. Not to be - just introduction of more and more confusion. Also confusing: Amazon Prime's listing refers to 2020 as the date of the movie. Many of reviews were in late 2020 and early 2021, so something triggered a lot of recent watching, but also there are reviews back to 2012 and 2013, even one in 2007 but that one refers to a problem with someone not receiving a DVD ordered. All in all, a waste of $2.

Depending on how you view the world and the nature of art, this film will either bore and confuse or excite and challenge. The non-linear plot line meanders, crisscrossing, doubling back on time and space. The premise of the plot may or may not be true; the characters may or may not exist; the nightmares may be recollections or hallucinations. The characters, if they exist, are imperfect, but the themes of self-realization and love are universal. " I have it in me so much nearer home to scare myself with my own desert places."

SunKissed unfortunately has been subject to some poor reviews and criticism. Questionably these could be drawn from hasty and unjust comparisons to `highly polished' productions to the likes of Brokebeck Mountain.With SunKissed what you have is a heady mix of passion and fascination as conjured and dreamt from within the confines of Leo's troubled mind.Admirably conveyed in SunKissed is the full spectrum and intensity of human emotion which is both powerful and moving in their portrayal.Understand the movie for this intention folded within an atmospheric cine file quality and excellent music score by the indie group The Sea And Cake, and what you have is a cult movie that is uniquely crafted very enjoyable.I've got to say that from the beginning I totally `got it' about this movie, love it and wish it duration of deserved success.

Hard to follow this movie. Acting not brilliant, no real story line that I could follow. Kept jumping around and didnt really see the point to the movie. Wouldnt buy it again - have tried watching it 2 or 3 times to see if I missed something but still don't get it.

Having just finished watching this movie, and after almost having been put off purchasing it by previous negative reviews, I felt a little balance should be brought to 'Sunkissed'.In many ways, this is an intruiging little film. It both looks and sounds gorgeous. Attractively shot, it is given a somewhat old-fashioned sense in part through the use of grainy film-stock - which may be off-putting to viewers used to crystal-clear digital. One might assume that the defects present on the film itself (an occasional hairline mark on the print) are due to budgetary constraints, but I found they if anything add to the ambience of the visuals, which drench both the beautiful landscape of the American desert, and the semi-naked forms of the male leads, in saturated light, with a likeably fuzzy quality to the picture. The sound is equally appealing - not just the fabulous dream-pop soundtrack by The Sea and Cake, but parts of the dialogue have a similar fuzzy quality to them.What a shame then that the acting ranges from adequate to... well, frankly, not. The 'adequate' half of the leading men is at least offset by good looks, and a level of on-screen charisma. More upsettingly, the script does the film absolutely no favours. While the plot is as dreamy as the sound and pictures, meandering and anti-didactic, resolutely refusing easy resolution, playing with concepts of identity and fiction, the script itself is often clunky and unbelievable. Even so, this movie ought to be applauded for attempting to do something different - something often sorely lacking in cookie-cutter LGBT cinema. In short, 'Sunkissed' might not be the picture to revolutionize film-making, but it is an interesting gay movie, with admirably art-house aspirations.

I should have read some of these comments before buying! Instead, I read the Amazon synopsis which made the film sound way more interesting than it is. I have no huge objection to a film moving back and forth in time, but it does need some form and shape to it so that the periods in the past or present are relevant and each period builds upon the last. This film, sadly, meanders into so many times zones it's like taking a long haul flight from one side of the globe to the other, one never knows whether it's morning or night, the day before or the day after. I found it difficult to asses...at least with my limited brain...whether we were in the past present or future and frankly, in the end, I didn't really care.The acting was, at best, mediocre. I suppose Greg Marcel redeemed himself to some extent by having a rather well-defined, pleasant body, although I found his eyes rather spooky. I shall make no comment about John Ort.The long meaningful glances became so predictable and boring that I found my finger on the FF button as I simply couldn't stand any more. At least this reduced the amount of time I spent viewing this film as, believe me, there are numerous, long meaningless glances with zero dialogue, especially from Mr Ort. If it's not the meaningless glances, it's the inexcusable amount of water wasted whilst they hose each other down outside, with a garden hose, as the shower is broken!It's my opinion that a low budget film doesn't have to result in one which is of poor quality. I quite liked the grainy effect of some of the scenes (a clue as to which time zone one has entered) and the soundtrack was reasonably pleasant. Having said that, WTF was this about? Were Leo and Teddy the same person? Was Crispin a college lecturer or someone from a publishing agency? Had Leo/Teddy murdered his wife? Was the wife in the present or past? Did Leo steal the manuscript and put his name to it? Why did the huge chopping knife Leo used to cut the Watermelon look so disgusting? And perhaps most importantly, how come their watermelon didn't appear to have any seeds in it?

I have spent the last half hour trying to think of something positive to say about this film, and alas there is nothing. The script was one of the worst I have encountered, which is somewhat ironic considering the story centers around a writer. In fact if his own writing was anything like the films, then his writers block is a thunderous blessing which all of us should be grateful for. The world could do without such talentless dribble being thrust upon an unknowing audience.The acting was stoic and at times deplorable, as was the direction and editing. The tasteless and at time gratuitous display of flesh, was ill conceived and hedonistic. Far from being pornographic, which I expect has its purpose and function, this was nothing less than flagrant lustful ranting in pictured form. The director could have been more subtle, and indeed artful, and yet these two skills seemed to elude both him and the writer.Having said that, there are times when the movie is indeed picturesque. Similarly there are moments in the script, where the writer has excelled. Unfortunately, these moments are brief and transient. Like a bite of good pie, it entices but never satisfies.Give this one a skip, it is not worth the money spent on its purchase. In fact, I am overwhelmed by the thought that this is an hour and a half which could have been better spent watching something else.