Body Blow

9/19/2026

Fusing two distinctly disparate movie genres into a single offering can be a risky proposition for any filmmaker. If handled skillfully, the finished product can turn out to be a bona fide masterpiece. But, if the opposite is true, it can prove to be anything from a moderate disappointment to an undeniable embarrassment. When combining the elements of a crime saga/thriller with an LGBTQ+ romance, results at both ends of the spectrum can be found in releases like the cinematic classic “The Crying Game” (1992) and the underwhelming undercover cop romance “Plainclothes” (2025). And, sadly, another entry can now be added to the far end of that list of fusion projects, the latest work from writer-director Dean Francis. This ambitious but often-awkwardly handled would-be LGBTQ+ thriller from Dow