The Visitor (2024) by Bruce LaBruce

“The Visitor” is a 2024 British film directed by Bruce LaBruce, serving as a contemporary and sexually explicit reimagining of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 allegorical film “Teorema.” The film follows a mysterious refugee who arrives unexpectedly at the home of an affluent family in London and proceeds to seduce each member. His sudden departure leaves a void that the family members attempt to fill in various ways.

An enigmatic refugee washes ashore in a small suitcase on the banks of the River Thames in London, arriving at the luxurious home of a wealthy, upper-class family. This visitor, one of several identical-looking individuals appearing simultaneously in different locations, embarks on a silent and sensual conquest of the household, seducing the father, the mother, the son, and the daughter. After his sudden and unexplained departure, the family is left in a state of emotional turmoil and emptiness, each member grappling with the void he left behind and attempting to find solace and meaning in their altered lives.

Bruce LaBruce’s vision for “The Visitor” is to create a “brilliantly depraved” and sexually explicit thriller that critiques bourgeois society and the objectification of labor. As a homage to Pasolini’s “Teorema,” LaBruce likely aims to provoke and challenge audiences with frank depictions of sexuality intertwined with commentary on class, status, and the disruption of societal norms by an enigmatic outsider. The film is intended to be a subversive experimental work, blending elements of psychological horror, tense melodrama, and dark comedy, ultimately questioning logic and societal structures.

• Critique of Bourgeois Society: The film serves as a scathing satire of the upper class, their complacency, and their dependence on external figures for meaning or stimulation.

• Sexual Transgression and Taboo: In line with Bruce LaBruce’s style, the film explores sexual taboos and interpersonal transgressions against cultural norms with explicit depictions of sex.

• Objectification of Labor: The visitor, interpreted as a refugee, can be seen as a commentary on the objectification of labor and the reduction of individuals to mere commodities.

• Disruption of Family Dynamics: The arrival and subsequent departure of the visitor throws the established family dynamics into disarray, revealing underlying tensions and desires.

• The Search for Meaning: The emptiness left by the visitor forces each family member to confront their own lack of fulfillment and search for meaning in different ways.

• Provocative and Challenging Content: Bruce LaBruce’s films often attract viewers interested in transgressive and unconventional cinema.

• Explicit Exploration of Sexuality: The film’s frank depictions of sex align with the director’s established style and may appeal to a specific audience.

• Social Commentary: The film’s critique of bourgeois society and class structures offers intellectual engagement for viewers.

• Homage to Pasolini’s “Teorema”: The connection to a renowned and controversial film may draw cinephiles familiar with Pasolini’s work.

• Performances: The cast’s willingness to engage with the film’s explicit and challenging material is crucial to its impact.

“The Visitor” is a sexually explicit and subversive British film by Bruce LaBruce, reimagining Pasolini’s “Teorema” with a refugee seducing an upper-class London family and leaving chaos in his wake, offering a critique of bourgeois society.

• Berlin International Film Festival 2024: Nominated for the Panorama Audience Award (Feature Film) and the Teddy Award (Best Feature Film).

• Guadalajara International Film Festival 2024: Nominated for the PREMIO MAGUEY (Best Feature Film).

• Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2024: Nominated for the Audience Prize.

Critics describe “The Visitor” as a scathing critique of bourgeois servitude that devolves into a psychedelic dark comedy combining elements of psychological horror and tense melodrama. The film is acknowledged as an acquired taste but a fascinating entry into the New Queer Cinema movement. While challenging and containing explicit content, the film is noted for having intriguing ideas simmering beneath the surface and a captivating and genuinely complex message.

• International Cinephile Society: Characterizes the film as a brilliantly subversive experimental film that is both chaotic and tense, with a complex and perverse message embedded within.

• Washington Blade: Notes the film’s direct nods to Bruce LaBruce’s influences, including Pasolini and John Waters, highlighting its gleefully transgressive shock tactics and social commentary.

The critical consensus suggests that “The Visitor” is a challenging, provocative, and ultimately thought-provoking film that aligns with Bruce LaBruce’s distinctive and controversial style.

“The Visitor” has a reported box office of $14,759. This suggests a very limited theatrical release.

“The Visitor” is a 2024 British film directed by Bruce LaBruce. It is a low-budget production that explicitly depicts sexual scenes and serves as a modern interpretation of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Teorema.”

• Theatrical Release: The film had its world premiere on February 17, 2024, at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section.

• Release Date on Streaming: Information regarding a specific streaming release date for “The Visitor” is not widely available in the search results. Given its limited theatrical release and the nature of its content, it might become available on specialized streaming platforms that feature independent, arthouse, or LGBTQ+ cinema.

Why to Recommend This Movie:

• For Fans of Bruce LaBruce: Viewers familiar with his provocative and transgressive filmmaking style will likely find this film to be a quintessential example of his work.

• Interest in New Queer Cinema: As a noted entry in this movement, the film offers a bold and unconventional exploration of sexuality and social issues.

• Appreciation for Experimental and Subversive Cinema: The film challenges conventional narrative structures and societal norms, offering a unique and potentially mind-bending viewing experience.

• Exploration of Social and Class Critique: Those interested in films that offer sharp commentary on bourgeois society and power dynamics may find this film engaging.

• Homage to Pasolini: Fans of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s work may be curious to see LaBruce’s contemporary and explicit take on “Teorema.”

• Seeking a Challenging and Thought-Provoking Film: “The Visitor” is not intended for casual viewing and promises to spark discussion and debate.

• Interest in Explicitly Sexual Content within an Artistic Context: The film blends pornography with art cinema in a way that is characteristic of Bruce LaBruce’s work.

• Curiosity about Contemporary Queer Cinema: The film provides a current example of filmmaking within this genre, pushing boundaries and exploring unconventional themes.

• Exposure to a Distinctive Director’s Oeuvre: Watching “The Visitor” offers insight into the unique and often controversial world of Bruce LaBruce’s films.

What Movie Trend film is following:

• New Queer Cinema: Bruce LaBruce is a key figure in this movement, and “The Visitor” continues this trend by blending queer themes, transgressive sexuality, and independent filmmaking techniques.

• Socially Conscious Horror/Dark Comedy: The film uses elements of horror and dark comedy to deliver a sharp critique of societal norms and class structures, fitting into a trend of genre films with social commentary.

What Big Social Trend is following:

• Continued Exploration of Sexuality and Identity in Media: The film’s explicit content and queer themes reflect an ongoing trend in media towards greater openness and exploration of diverse sexualities and identities.

• Critique of Wealth Inequality and Social Structures: The film’s commentary on bourgeois society and the refugee experience taps into broader social discussions about wealth disparity and the treatment of marginalized groups.

“The Visitor” is a challenging, provocative, and undeniably distinctive film that embodies the signature style and thematic concerns of Bruce LaBruce. As a sexually explicit reimagining of Pasolini’s “Teorema,” it offers a scathing critique of bourgeois society and explores themes of class, status, and desire through a queer lens. While certainly not for all tastes due to its explicit content and experimental nature, “The Visitor” stands as a fascinating and subversive work within contemporary queer cinema, sure to provoke thought and discussion among those who dare to engage with its unconventional and transgressive vision.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

• Continue to Explore Transgressive Themes and Challenge Societal Norms: Bruce LaBruce’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring taboo subjects is a defining aspect of his work.

• Utilize Genre Blending for Social Commentary: The film’s combination of horror, dark comedy, and melodrama serves as an effective vehicle for delivering its critique of societal structures.

• Embrace Explicit Content as a Means of Artistic Expression: For filmmakers interested in exploring sexuality in a frank and unfiltered way, LaBruce’s work provides a notable example.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Support Independent and Auteur-Driven Filmmaking: Directors with distinct visions, like Bruce LaBruce, contribute to the diversity and richness of the cinematic landscape.

• Provide Platforms for Diverse Voices and Perspectives: Films that challenge mainstream norms and explore marginalized experiences deserve opportunities for production and distribution.

• Acknowledge and Engage with Challenging Content: While not commercially mainstream, films like “The Visitor” can spark important conversations and contribute to the evolution of cinematic language and social discourse.