Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Spa Night is a gay drama about a young, closeted Korean American man coming of age while working at a spa.
David (Joe Seo) is 18 years old, living with his parents, and helping out at the family restaurant. When his father’s alcoholism forces them to lose the restaurant, David takes a job at a local spa.
Although David’s parents want him to go to college, USC specifically, his poor grades keep him from being accepted. To please his parents, David takes classes to help him study for the SAT, but he lacks motivation and doesn’t do well.
While working at the spa, he notices men going into the steam room for sex, which intrigues him. Instead of reporting the activities, David ignores them. One day a customer complains about seeing two men having sex to the owner, and the police are called.
The owner tells David to keep his eyes open for any sexual activities and to let him know if he sees any. But instead of reporting the incidents he sees, David looks the other way. Curious and aroused, David begins to consider the possibility of participating in a sexual encounter.
Some Thoughts:
Although Spa Night sounds like a highly sexualized story, it’s not. There aren’t many sex scenes, and the few depicted are sensual and tastefully done. David is a voyeur for most of the sexual encounters, curious yet afraid to participate.
David’s struggle with his sexuality is mixed with the shame of not fulfilling his parents’ expectations of going to college. Instead of telling them he doesn’t want to attend college, he goes through the motions of studying for the SAT knowing he will only disappoint them.
The theme of alienation is prevalent in Spa Night. When David visits the USC campus, he doesn’t feel a connection with the students. And when he gets caught looking at another student’s penis, people shy away from him. The only people he feels a kinship with are the gay men who cruise at the spa, who are the same men he is supposed to report to the owner. As you can imagine, this doesn’t make for a positive self-image.
The acting, cinematography and pacing are well done. Although there are few, if any, joyful moments in Spa Night, it’s never dull. And the sense of isolation that David feels is often palpable.
The Final Verdict:
Spa Night is a thought-provoking film that’s very well done. If you enjoy a more artsy, introspective film, this is a good choice.
