2024 Entry #38 04-12-24 “Chaperone” is 16 minute 2022 short film which was written and directed by Sam Max which stars Russell Kahn & openly gay actor Zachary Quinto (“Six Feet Under”, “Star Trek”, “American Horror Story: Murder House”, “American Horror Story: Asylum”, “Star Trek Into Darkness”, “I Am Michael”, “Star Trek Beyond”, “Hannibal”, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “Big Mouth”, “The Boys in the Band”, “American Horror Story: NYC”, “Down Low”). The story concerns Zachary Quinto’s mysterious chaperone who picks up his client (Kahn), accepts his money and after checking to see if the client has followed his instructions, takes him to an out of the way house where the client does drugs, has sex with the chaperone (via a toy) and when ready, is taken into the countryside where he takes a pill which seemingly fulfills its intended purpose and kills him. The chaperone covers everything up. The audience is not privy to why the young man wanted to die or why he went to such great lengths to do so. And the thoughts and feelings of the chaperone are suggested but remain a mystery.
Interesting, dark and well made. This is the kind of short that usually has a slew of comments from gay men who are pissed that it was included in a collection of gay shorts (“Boys On Film 23”) – the same ones that tend to rant about any inclusion of HIV related stories. Yet the tale being told is definitely queer. I like variety so I was pleased. And though I doubt I’ll ever watch this again, it was entertaining & creepy – and I like both.