Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ Queer is a surreal, hallucinogenic odyssey.
In short: Director Luca Guadagnino brings William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novella to the screen in a visually arresting, phantasmagorical drama. Starring Daniel Craig as an American expatriate in 1950s Mexico City, the film explores obsession, drug-fueled transcendence, and the search for connection, culminating in a deeply personal tribute to the power of cinema.
The film follows William Lee, an American immigrant in 1950s Mexico City, whose aimless life of bar-hopping and casual encounters shifts when he becomes obsessed with a younger man named Eugene Allerton. Their relationship is marked by Allerton’s emotional distance and his refusal to identify as queer. Seeking a deeper connection, Lee convinces Allerton to travel to the Ecuadorian jungle in search of yagé, a plant rumored to grant telepathic abilities. Under the guidance of a local botanist, the pair consumes the substance, leading to vivid, surreal hallucinations where they meld bodies and communicate beyond words. This sequence serves as the emotional core of the narrative, blending the visceral with the ethereal.
Guadagnino’s adaptation process was deeply collaborative. After reading the book at age 17, he finally secured the rights with producer Lorenzo Mieli and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes. Because the original novella was published unfinished, the creative team worked with Burroughs scholar Oliver Harris to craft a fitting conclusion that honored the author’s vision. The production, which wrapped in June 2023, utilized Rome’s Cinecittà Studios and locations in Quito, Ecuador. The final cut, clocking in at 135 minutes, was significantly shorter than the initial 185-to-200-minute assembly, reflecting a rigorous editing process aimed at distilling the story's complex, dreamlike atmosphere.
Critical reception has been largely positive, with many praising Daniel Craig’s performance as Bill Lee. Critics highlighted the film’s visual beauty and its bold, scandalous approach to its subject matter. Despite this acclaim and inclusion on several 'Best of 2024' lists—including those from John Waters and the National Board of Review—the film struggled commercially. With a production budget of approximately $50 million and a worldwide box office return of roughly $7 million, it is categorized as a box-office bomb. Nevertheless, the film remains a significant artistic statement, noted for its evocative score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and its unflinching exploration of the human condition.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Queer (film)
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