Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Amphetamine is a gay drama about the relationship between a businessman and a drug addict.
When openly gay investment banker, Daniel (Tom Price) meets Kafka (Byron Pang), a straight swimming instructor, they start talking and hanging out. As they discover their mutual interests, they form an attachment, which turns into a relationship.
It doesn’t take long before Daniel discovers that Kafka has a drug problem. Unwilling to give up on him, Daniel decides to help Kafka free himself from his addiction.
The film follows this difficult relationship from start to finish.
Some Thoughts:
Amphetamine is directed by Scud, who has a very specific vision for his films. The movie has a story that’s easy to follow and is visually appealing. And much like the previous movie I reviewed by Scud (Adonis), this film is very dark. It explores themes of sexual confusion, loneliness, class, and the nature of fate.
Price and Pang have chemistry, which makes their interest in each other plausible, even with one of them being straight. And if the story had only been about that, it would have been a sweet romance; but there are dark elements that involve rape and drug use. Please keep this in mind if these are triggers for you.
Kafka’s addiction and how it makes him act irrationally is the driving force that propels the story. His drug use is how Kafka escapes the reality of his life and tears it apart. It’s also what drives Daniel, a successful businessman who gets what he wants, to try to save him. And if you’ve seen any of Scud’s films, you know where this will lead.
All of the darkness is mixed with beautifully composed shots that highlight the highs and lows in the story. The camerawork is also what elevates Amphetamine above the standard art house fare.
The Final Verdict:
Amphetamine is a well-crafted film about love and fate between two men from different financial classes and sexual orientations. There are some dark moments that involve rape and drug use.
