Dorian Gray

Cast:  Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin, Emila Fox, Rachel Hurd-Wood

Director:  Oliver Parker

2009


Dorian Gray is a British horror/fantasy thriller adapted from the Oscar Wilde novel, The Picture Of Dorian Gray, published in 1890.  It was nominated for Best Film at the Sitges - Catalognian Internation Film Festival.  Although it is classified as "horror" it's more of a dramatic thriller.

Story:  The youthful Dorian Gray arrives in London where is swallowed into the hedonistic lifestyle of the upper class.  Obsessed with youth and pleasure, he sells his soul for eternal youth.  Now he must do anything to keep his secret.

Gay Factor:  The novel (by Oscar Wilde who was gay) hinted much more at Dorian's bisexuality.  The film only includes two scenes of his bisexuality, including hottie Ben Barnes in a male/male kiss.

TRAILER

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Cast:  Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins

Director:  Francis Ford Coppola

1992




This was a hugely successful film in 1992, earning $215 Million worldwide and drawing on the growing goth fad.  Based on Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, first published in 1897 and adapted by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.

Story:  In 1462, following a bloody battle against the Turks, Vlad returns to discover his love, Elisabeta, has committed suicide after a false report of his death.  In anger, Vlad renounces God and gives himself to the powers of darkness.

Centuries later, in 1897, a young clerk, Jonathan Harker, is sent to travel to Transylvania to close a property aquisition from the Count Dracula, who is purchasing 10 properties in London.  Dracula entraps Jonathan in his castle and then leaves to London to seduce Jonathan's fiance, Mina, whom he believes is the reincarnation of his lost love, Elisabeta.


Gay Factor:  Small bits of veiled homoeroticism (much more obvious in the book); 2 girls kissing twice in the film; In the 90's there were vast unconfirmed rumors of Keanu Reeves being bisexual.  Keanu Reeves starred in Gus Van Sant's gay film, My Own Private Idaho.