Endgame (2001)

A moody, stylish and sex-charged English thriller that stars Daniel Newman as Tom, a rent boy who is kept by George Norris (McGann), a sado-masochistic gangster. Tom is kept in high style in a London flat filled with pop art and a bedroom set up, not only for sex, but also for blackmail with a hidden camera focused on the red silk bedsheets. Tom is being sucked down into a nasty scheme involving drugs, money and protection by Norris' connection with a crooked gay cop Dunston (John Benfield of Prime Suspect). Things turn nasty rather quickly in this fast-paced thriller as we glimpse scenes of Tom being beaten by his boss and sent in to a bar as part of a scheme to rough up the owner. As a way to introduce some sanity into his dark and abusive life, Tom befriends a straight American couple downstairs and is invited to dinner at their flat. When Tom returns to his flat, Norris starts a jealous spat with his boy and Norris is accidentally killed.

The camera loves Daniel Newman and we get many shots of him showering, shirtless with leather pants and sometimes with just underwear. This rent-boy is clearly for the wealthy only and they appear to get their money's worth - at least until they are blackmailed! The apartments are stunning as are the scenes of the Welsh countryside where Tom makes his getaway. With a crisp script, concise editing, a striking soundtrack and excellent acting End Game is surely one of the best gay thrillers we've seen.

Scott Cranin