Written and directed by Mark Schwab, three gay men each find themselves in modern relationship issues through three separate coincidences. Wyatt learns that his best friend Logan is unknowingly falling in love with his ex, while Jason is shocked to learn the owner of the pool he’s cleaning is the man he fell in love with over a one-night stand eight years earlier. Finally, therapist Peter Lesh has become dangerously obsessed with his client Lex who tells him he’s just met the man of his dreams. Starring: Peter Stickles, Pano Tsaklas, Christian Gabriel, Jose Fernando, Julian Goza, Jacob Betts, Matthew Bridges and Diogo Hausen.
It’s an interesting concept to set Exteriors years after the events of Brotherly Lies, thereby making it technically a sequel in the traditional sense but it also works as a standalone film. If you have seen the previous film, it will add some nice additional context but you could still go into Exteriors without that and find plenty to enjoy, and not feel like you’re missing big pieces.
The story is interconnected well, there’s plenty of lines drawn between the different characters, even without needing to bring them together physically. There’s also a great blend of different tones, moving through more traditional drama to romance, tension, envy and obsession. It does perhaps shift a touch too far in its final scenes which don’t entirely balance tonally with the rest of the film but the story itself is well constructed for a satisfying ending.
Directorially, it has a good sense of confidence, the opening impression is a strong one, it has personality and charm. Mark Schwab does a great job of building upon the tension in his writing visually, while never trying too hard to inject a darkness or over the top conflict. The style has a focus on the dialogue and personal connections, allowing Exteriors to flow organically.
A lot of that focus is on two-person scenes, which creates an edge of intimacy and each of the pairings of cast are well chosen. Particularly putting together Jose Fernando and Julian Goza, there’s a sweet, natural awkwardness between them which shifts into a generosity and kindness that’s touching to watch. Peter Stickles and Pano Tsaklas are similarly an intriguing pair, they each give their characters hidden layers, giving a feel that they may be capable of much more than we’re seeing.
Exteriors is a tense yet intimate drama, playing with a lot of different forms of conflict but cleverly playing things stylistically simple to keep a convincing feel. It’s a well-drawn web of crossing paths between the different characters, and the progression is done well to keep building upon the tension as time goes on. There’s a solid cast at work but Jose Fernando and Julian Goza definitely stand out, and it holds a captivating blend of different tones to give its story variety and personality.
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