Wild Awakening

As temperatures rise outside, we got to thinking about our favorite sweaty, beach-side, summertime-based gay movies. Below, you’ll find THIRTY different flicks available RIGHT NOW on-demand to put you in a seasonal mood! The genres may be varied, but all of these films do a great job turning up the heat (draw the shades and adjust your A/C accordingly).

 

Bromance
Take a trip back to 1996. When four friends go on a camping trip in a remote part of Argentina, sexual tensions quickly bubble to the surface. Once in virtual seclusion by the beach, Juli, the only girl of the group, quickly recognizes that the boys seem to have a closer relationship than what she would consider “normal” (it’s only ’96, after all). The line between friendship and love fade further for two of the boys in particular as their desire becomes too much to bear. When what started as a simple getaway quickly becomes tinged with sex, romance and conflict, everyone is forced to confront who they really are for the very first time. Starring Javier De Pietro, the scrumptious star of Absent and Sexual Tension: Volatile, Bromance uses a clever found-footage aesthetic to deliver a thoughtful and supremely sexy meditation on young, burgeoning gay love.

 

Eating Out: The Open Weekend
In the fifth and seemingly final (unless we get lucky) installment of the beloved, relentlessly sexy and hysterically funny Eating Out series, Zack and Benji (returning stars Chris Salvatore and Aaron Milo) open up their relationship for a weekend of fun at a gay resort in Palm Springs. After Zack runs into his ex-boyfriend Casey (Daniel Skelton), Casey lies and tells him he met someone new to avoid Zack’s pity. When Casey reacquaints with an old high school friend, Peter (Michael Vara), he manages to convince him to pretend to be his boyfriend despite Peter’s reluctance that it will interfere with his promiscuous weekend opportunities. As sexual tensions start to mount between Benji and Peter, Zack becomes increasingly dissatisfied with his relationship while Casey longs for a stable relationship of his own. A sexy and outrageous comedy, Eating Out: The Open Weekend serves up plenty of eye-candy and raunchy fun along with the pursuit of finding true love.

 

Esteros
Sexy and heartfelt, Esteros tells the story of two men who get a second chance at love. Childhood friends Matias and Jeronimo reunite in their hometown of Paso de los Libres, Argentina, on the banks of the Uruguay River. The summer before high school, their friendship transformed into something deeper, but their mutual attraction never came to fruition. More than a decade later they meet again, and the chemistry between them is palpable, but now Matias has a girlfriend who has traveled to his hometown for Carnival. Seeing his old friend, now so comfortable and confident, reawakens Matias’ feelings. This unexpected opportunity forces him to reassess his choices and to figure out whether he can turn his back on marriage in favor of the man he’s always loved. A powerful film that elicits feelings of nostalgia for the forgotten romances from our past, Esteros offers a satisfying glimpse into what might have been (and what might still be).

 

Everything is Free
Ivan (writer-director Brian Jordan Alvarez) has relocated to a coastal town in Colombia to focus on his painting. After some time apart, his straight best friend and former roommate, Christian (Peter Vack), comes to visit, bringing his younger brother, Cole (Morgan Krantz), along. The initial pleasantries of beach side camping and late-night partying fade more quickly than expected, after Ivan and Cole (who generally identifies as straight) start secretly sleeping together. When Christian finds out, the otherwise idyllic summer affair brings out difficult and surprising emotions in not just the three men but also their diverse circle of fellow American expats and tourists. Frank and playful, Everything Is Free navigates gay cinema tropes with self-awareness, humor, gravity and a very modern sensibility.

 

45 Days Away from You
After a recent breakup with “a man who shall not be named,” young bachelor Rafael finds his romantic life spinning out of control. With a change of scenery in order, he sets out on journey of self-discovery – an adventure that will take him from Brazil to England, Portugal and Argentina. Along the way, he seeks the counsel of his nearest and dearest friends. There’s Julia, an amorous single actress trying to land her breakthrough role; Fabio, Rafael’s straight-boy buddy, who is trying to maintain a long-distance relationship; and Mayara, a dear friend who gave up a promising career in favor of marriage. Over the course of his 45-day trip, Rafael grows closer to the people in his life who really matter and learns that all it takes to mend a broken heart is time… and the support of a few good friends.

 

Happiness Adjacent
Happiness Adjacent explores the romance that blossoms between Hank (Adam Fried), a nice gay Jewish boy traveling alone on a tropical cruise, and Kurt (Ian Dick), a bisexual man vacationing with his wife, Kate (Rachel Alig). While Hank isn’t looking for a relationship, he can’t deny his immediate attraction to Kurt and their intense connection. As Hank struggles to get past his own issues and his past failed relationships, he can’t help but wonder if Kurt is secretly looking for a way to break up the monotony of his seemingly stale marriage. Is this just a vacation fling, or is it a chance for both men to find true happiness? Shot entirely on location on the iPhone 6S Plus, Happiness Adjacent is the terrific ninth feature film from writer/director Rob Williams – the same guy behind Shared Rooms, The Men Next Door and Make the Yuletide Gay.

 

Hawaii
The sexual tension practically spills off the screen in this sweaty, titillating romance from award-winning director Marco Berger (the same guy behind Absent, Plan B, Sexual Tension: Volatile and Testosterone). Hawaii follows Martin and Eugenio (Manuel Vignau and Mateo Chiarino), two former childhood friends who reunite during a hot summer in the Argentinean countryside. As they work together to restore Eugenio’s summer home, a game of power and desire ensues the two buddies to grapple with their sexual attraction and reconsider their relationship. With gorgeous cinematography, a lush setting and compelling lead performances, Hawaii is an intimate character study that percolates with lustful longing. Have a towel ready before you watch it. You are bound to break a sweat!

 

He Loves Me
Director Konstantinos Menelaou‘s sexually explicit relationship drama He Loves Me is an exploration of the unconventional nature of love and its ability to survive against the fear of loneliness, psychological traumas and the problems that come with life in the big city. The collapsing relationship shared by two men finds an outlet for escape on an isolated beach. Once there, they feel free to expose their deepest emotions. Their wounded relationship might not survive the vacation, but it’s certainly a glorious place to feel things out. Super-sexy lead actors Sanuye Shoteka and Hermes Pittakos are artists and performers who were a real-life couple at the time that He Loves Me was shot – and the script for the film was greatly influenced by their relationship.

 

Holiday
During a time of turmoil in Ecuador, sixteen-year-old Juan Pablo (Juan Manuel Arregui) travels to the family hacienda in the Andes, where his uncle (Peky Andino), facing a corruption scandal, has taken refuge with his wife and teenage children. There he meets Juano (Diego Andrés Paredes), an enigmatic and very self-assured seventeen-year-old black-metal fan from the nearby pueblo. As these two young men get to know each other a little bit better, Juano begings to open up Juan Pablo’s eyes to a new and liberating universe. As his country and family begins to seem like it is heading for the abyss, the budding friendship between the two boys develops into a fragile romance… and Juan Pablo starts to define himself, despite the chaotic nature of his surroundings. A sweet romantic fable of young love against the odds, Holiday bubbles with tension and excitement.

 

Jess & James
Jess (Martín Karich) is a bohemian young man with secrets to hide from his shrewd parents. James (Nicolás Romeo) feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, these two young men set off on a spontaneous road trip across rural Argentina to reunite with Jess’ estranged brother. Alone their journey, they confront strange occurrences and engage in a menage a trois affair that brings them even closer together. Their newly found affection grows, all while discovering a fresh vision of freedom and happiness. Don’t miss this colorful and relentlessly sexy gay road movie!

 

Last Summer
Writer/director Mark Thiedeman’s Last Summer tells the story of two high school sweethearts, Luke and Jonah (Samuel Pettit and Sean Rose), who spend their final months together over the course of a long, quiet summer in the rural South, contemplating their uncertain future. Jonah, sensitive, quiet and artistic, prepares to leave his small town for college, leaving Luke behind, but all he wants is for Luke to ask him to stay. But Luke, an athlete struggling through summer school, knows that his boyfriend needs to experience the world beyond their home. A beautiful melancholy romance, Last Summer takes on an almost other-wordly vibe. It’s set in an idealistic American South where Luke and Jonah’s relationship is never questioned or taken as anything other than a normal high school romance. Their struggle isn’t with the outside world, but with the passage of time.

 

Lazy Eye
Dean (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe), a graphic designer living in Los Angeles, notices a sudden change in his vision. Around the same time, Alex (Aaron Costa Ganis), an ex-lover from 15 years prior, contacts him unexpectedly in hopes of rekindling their relationship. When the two meet at a vacation house in the desert near Joshua Tree, secrets are revealed and passions are rekindled that threaten to upend both of their lives. Forty-eight hours later, neither will ever be the same. Written and directed by Tim Kirkman, the Emmy, Gotham, GLAAD and Independent Spirit Award-nominee behind Dear Jesse, Loggerheads and The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, Lazy Eye is a thoughtful and thoroughly sexy romance about roads not taken, unfinished business and the struggle of adjust to progressive lenses.

 

The Longing
Erik (Hendrik Scheider) is vacationing with two German friends in an opulent beach house owned by the father of one of them. They spend their days snorkeling, lounging about, eating, watching Brazilian soaps and, when the mood strikes them (and to make a few bucks), making R-rated love in front of a live webcam. Erik’s mindless days come to an end when a sexual tryst on the beach becomes violent, ending in the death of his nameless trick. While agonizing over the incident, Erik, a muscular beauty, meets Miguel (Aldri DAnunciaao), a fresh-faced young man and TV actor. The two fall in love but Erik’s secret and intensifying guilt begins to haunt the relationship. The Longing is sensual, yet ominous drama of youth, desire, love, cross-cultural tensions and fate.

 

Malila: The Farewell Flower
Former lovers Shane and Pitch reunite after years apart and try to heal the wounds of their past. Shane is haunted by the tragic death of his daughter, while Pitch suffers a grave illness, rejecting medical treatment as painful and ineffective. A talented artist, Pitch creates beautiful structures made out of flowers and banana leaves as a way to cope with his deteriorating health. Meanwhile, Shane trains to become a Buddhist monk, in an effort to build karma for Pitch… to either keep him alive or to help him along in his afterlife. A remarkably beautiful, spiritual film from Thai director Anucha Boonyawatana (the same director behind the queer films The Blue Hour and Down the River), Malila: The Farewell Flower is as close to transcendent as cinema gets.

 

Martyr
Shot in Beirut and Italy with Arabic dialogue, Martyr is probably the sexiest cinematic meditation on grief that we’ve ever seen. The film follows the intimate friendship between Hassane (Hamza Mekdad) and his three closest male companions. The boys meet up regularly at a popular Mediterranean beach to swim, drive and show off their firm, bronzed young bodies. When death strikes one of them, the three others must literally grapple with their friend’s passing, carrying the body back to the man’s family and ritually washing it before his funeral. Director Mazen Khaled tackles weighty themes with a voyeuristic eye, subverting expectations with ample homoeroticism – nudity, masturbation, longing glances – and keeping tensions at a low simmer. This is a thinking man’s erotic drama.

 

Orpheus Song
Enis and Philipp, two hot macho dudes from Berlin, become workout buddies at their local gym – each spotting the other. The two hunks quickly fall into an intense friendship. When Philipp wins a trip to Greece, he invites Enis along and the two have a great time. But during a hike, they become lost and tempers flare, escalating to a violent scuffle. A mysterious young man, Hercules, happens upon them and leads them to a magical underground cave. During the night, fueled by forbidden fruit Hercules has warned them against eating, passion ignites between Enis and Philipp. The next day, nothing between the two will ever be the same. This wildly erotic variation on Greek mythology will quickly have you falling under its sensual spell!

 

Palace of Fun
In a paradise of sun and sea, three young people on the brink of adulthood navigate the complexities of love, sex and secrecy with disastrous consequences. Lily and Finn meet one drunken night in a club and begin the perfect summer romance – until they meet up with Lily’s younger brother Jamie and sexual alliances are tested. As the temperature rises outside, the heat between these three individuals brings tensions to a boiling point. An intimate look into the strains of familial bonds and awakened romance, Palace of Fun explores how far young people will go to keep up appearances and maintain their identity. As secrets are revealed, you can’t help but become compliant in the debauched behavior of these dubious characters. Palace of Fun envelops the viewer in an irresistible world of questionable morals and fervent intentions.

 

Rock Haven
The coastal California community of Rock Haven is the perfect place for cute eighteen-year-old Brady and his loving mother to begin a fresh start. Their mission: to spread the word of the Lord. But while roaming the beach one day, Brady meets Clifford, a young man who is the complete opposite of him: outgoing and athletic as well as incredibly handsome. Their initial encounter stirs up feelings of desire that Brady has been suppressing. Once Clifford makes it clear that their attraction is mutual, Brady’s conflicting feelings of religious obligation and natural impulse go into overdrive, and the two young men must navigate their confusion, lust and beliefs in order to come to a mutual understanding. Writer/director David Lewis crafts an emotionally realistic drama that instead of shying away from the complex nature of sexuality and spirituality embraces both topics uninhibitedly.

 

Screwed
A gorgeous feature-length debut from talented writer-director Nils-Erik Ekblom, Screwed takes us to the Finnish countryside for an unforgettably romantic summer. Seventeen-year-old Miku is trying to come to terms with his sexuality and find his place in the world. After his parents find out that he threw a wild party while they were away, he is ordered to spend the summer with them at their cottage. A flirtation soon develops between he and Elias, the irresistible boy next door. As they spend the summer together, escaping the turmoil offered up by their uniquely dysfunctional families, a passionate relationship quickly blossoms. But the boys soon realize that love is not as easy as it seems… especially when it comes to first love.

 

The String
Set in arid Tunisia, tall, quiet Malik (Antonin Stahly-Vishwanadan), a 30-year-old Parisian architect, returns to his homeland after the death of his father. He’s greeted warmly by his over-bearing, petulant mother (the legendary Claudia Cardinale) and is immediately confronted with her expectation that he stay and get married. This now strange world of his youth, his mother’s pressure and his barely hidden homosexuality set off anxiety attacks in Malik, who finally finds relief when he meets the darkly handsome handyman, Balil (Salim Kechiouche). They begin a tentative relationship, but Islamic mores, a still class conscience society, and the ever-presence of his mother threaten their young love. The String is a riveting story of forbidden romance that doubles as a character study of people lost in rapidly changing cultures. Don’t miss this engaging, insightful and undeniably sexy drama.

 

Sunburn
Set within the luxurious confines of a modern vacation villa in the Portuguese countryside, the stylish new thriller Sunburn examines a close-knit group friends who share a long (and slowly teased-out) history. Our four protagonists come together for a peaceful weekend retreat by the pool. Unfortunately, their calm is quickly shattered by a phone call from David, a former friend, previously ostracized by the group, who seems to have left a strong and lasting impression on each of them. After a long absence, he’s back in town and planning to stop by. It’s at this point that Sunburn starts ramping up the dread. A reckoning, of some sort, is coming. What happened between David and the rest of the group to inspire such mixed emotions?

 

Taekwondo
You can almost smell the sweat coming off the screen in this excruciatingly hot new film. In a beautiful country house in a chic suburb of Buenos Aires, Fernando (Lucas Papa) and his buddies are having a “boys only” weekend. Disconnected from the outside world, they do little more than bask in the hot sun, play in the swimming pool, smoke pot and drink – naked or half- naked pretty much the entire time. Fernando decides to invite a newcomer, Germán (Gabriel Epstein), a close friend from his Taekwondo class. Germán is quickly welcomed into the group. Fernando doesn’t realize, though, that Germán is attracted to men. Little by little, the two dudes get more intimate and the simmering sexual tension hits a boiling point. Assembling one of the hottest casts in gay movie history, prolific queer director Marco Berger (Absent, Hawaii, Sexual Tension: Volatile) has outdone himself.

 

These Peculiar Days
An adolescent coming of age tale, These Peculiar Days tells the story of eight friends who graduate high school and celebrate by staying in a cabin in the woods. Just before the trip, Isabel (Sofia Sylwin) breaks up with Roman (Gerardo Del Razo) when she finds out he’s been cheating on her with Oscar (Carlos Hendrick Huber). When Roman tags along to try to win her back, it turns this pleasant weekend into a ticking time bomb that will be set off by their unstoppable sexual impulses. Soon, the lines between their sexuality begin to blur as allegiances and love affairs are quickly made and broken. An unabashedly erotic look at modern sexual fluidity between young adults from acclaimed writer-director Chucho E. Quintero (Velociraptor), These Peculiar Days is both fresh and endlessly compelling.

 

3-Day Weekend
Prolific writer-producer-director Rob Williams (Long-Term Relationship, Back Soon, Happiness Adjacent, The Men Next Door, Out to Kill, Shared Rooms) served up a shaken and stirred cocktail of sexual intrigue, humor and drama in this 2008 film about an unlikely group of friends and lovers. Long-term couple Simon and Jason, along with Cooper and his boy toy du jour, meet annually for a three-day getaway. Looking to spice up the tradition, they add a twist – each invites one attractive, single friend to their mountain retreat. Soon a frisky former college roommate, an often naked yoga instructor, Jason’s bashful coworker and a high-priced rent boy arrive to stir things up. From bed-hopping to break-ups, this is seventy-two hours they’ll never forget.

 

Tumbledown
Inspired by shocking true events, underground queer cinema cult favorite writer-director Todd Verow’s Tumbledown is an explosive cocktail – an emotional roller coaster ride through the dark sides of sexuality. A complicated love triangle develops after hunky Jay (Verow himself) meets bartender Nick and invites him to spend the weekend with him and his partner in their country cabin. Soon, copious amounts of sex, drugs and alcohol lead to a dark obsession and even darker complications. Something happened. Not everyone remembers. And there seems to be video evidence of the whole sordid affair. Always bold and never less than riveting, Tumbledown is sure to leave you breathless.

 

Vacationland
Also from Todd Verow – set in Maine and inspired by his own teen years – Vacationland tells a story of gay lust in high school between Joe, a theater geek, and his best buddy, Andrew, a football star. Joe has been edging his way out of the closet for some time, but Andrew is still resolutely having sex with women. They both have girlfriends, but the charade is wearing thin. Unhappy at home, Joe moves in with an older gay man and becomes his caretaker and artist’s model. The boys continue to play hetero in public until the girlfriends decide to get these two boys to start playing with each other. The scene in which the boys first make love, while the girlfriends peer around the wall, is pretty damn memorable. As their relationship develops, they explore the local gay scene where old issues begin to surface.

 

Voyage
Get ready for a sexually explicit, highly erotic drama from Scud, the acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker behind Amphetamine, Permanent Residence, City Without Baseball and Love Actually… Sucks. Voyage centers on a young psychiatrist who embarks on a lone journey from Hong Kong, along the coast of Southeast Asia, to overcome his depression. On the sea, he records stories of people departed from this world prematurely, and reflects on the sad experiences he encountered with former patients. Meanwhile, what awaits him on the shore is the ultimate irony of life. This director always pushes boundaries and a whole lot of male nudity and explicit sex scenes… and we’re quite happy to report that Voyage is no exception. Stream it now and enjoy!

 

Wasp
Having left England for a romantic escapade in the south of France, Olivier and James (Simon Haycock and Hugo Bolton) invite their friend Caroline (Elly Condron) along at the very last minute. She was just left by her long-time boyfriend and is in need of a change of scenery. The trio arrives in a little provincial village, somewhat cut off from the world. Though everything seems calm between the pool, sunshine and a village visit, Oliver finds himself more and more intrigued by Caroline. A tension of sexual jealousy and possessiveness soon escalates between the three.

 

Wild Awakening
A trashy and delicious, totally erotic forbidden love story, Wild Awakening is equal parts drama and gay soap opera! Siblings Emma and Toni inherit their family’s horse riding school – a place where men are seemingly forever running around shirtless. Though they’re the rightful owners, neither Emma nor Toni seem well equipped to keep the business going. Emma is still young and Toni has an uncontrolled and promiscuous gay sex life – which is the subject of much gossip within their close-knit community. Leadership responsibilities fall to Ramon, the capable foreman. Things get tricky, though, when both Emma and Toni fall in love with his smoking hot, sexually fluid son Aaron. Stacked full of the hottest Latino men you’ve ever laid eyes on, and dripping with sensuality, Wild Awakening is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on!

 

You & I
Jonas (Eric Klotzsch) invites his best friend, Phillip (George Taylor), to come along with him on a trip through Berlin for the summer. They haven’t seen each other since they spent time together in London. So they pack up their Mercedes camper and take off across uncharted territory, stopping to take photos and enjoy a laid-back road trip. The fact that Phillip is gay has never been an issue for either of them. However, when they pick up a hitchhiker named Boris (Michal Grabowski), who shows Jonas some interesting spots and starts to make moves on Phillip, the friendship between the two besties starts to fray. Maybe three’s a crowd after all? By the end of the summer, things between Jonas and Phillip will never be the same again.