User Reviews

"Death in Venice, CA" was an early career effort back in 1994 by writer and director P. David Ebersole, so this film has its 25th anniversary now and Ebersole was around the age of 30 when he made this one. The two actors at the center of the story Rafter and Keith never managed a bi breakthrough, but are still active in the industry today, Rafter also in other fields than acting. The biggest name here, however, is Shirley Knight, already a long time after her two Oscar nominations. But she is really just a minor supporting actress this time as it is all about Rafter's character and what happens when a mysterious young man enters his life. Doesn't sound too bad huh? Well, is still kinda is. There is not a single area where this film delivers truly convincingly, be it the acting (even if still one of the better components), the writing or the suspense that is (not) delivered in this half-hour movie. The end feels rather shocking for the sake of it and it is not reason enough for me to think more positively about the movie itself that admittedly does not feel too realistic on some occasions. The one thing I can say in favor of this film is that stories like this one about homosexuality were probably more challenging to make in the mid-90s other than today, even if many still try to convince us there is so much homophobia everywhere. Well, yes in the Islamic world, that is true. Anyway, I am drifting away from the story and film we got here. I give it a thumbs-down. Overall, it is too mich style over substance for my liking. It is not a failure, but I suggest that maybe you should watch something else instead.