Cruising

Star Review

Despite having two controversial but titanic hits not far behind him (The French Connection and The Exorcist), William Friedkin could have been forgiven for treading carefully after the critical and commercial disaster that was Sorcerer (1977). But the director never was one to tread carefully, and he hit back with Cruising, by far the most daring film a major studio had released up to that point (and probably since).
Cruising sees undercover cop Al Pacino going deep into New York’s leather gay scene to track down a sadistic serial killer. Morbidly compelling, the film doesn’t flinch from the kinky brutality of this (albeit exaggerated) nocturnal underworld, nor from the stark grisliness of the murders. And it is quite remarkable as a testament to just how brave an actor Pacino used to be. (Hollywood in 1980 steered well away from mainstream gay culture, let alone S&M gay culture.) The star nevertheless emerged from the experience unscathed; Friedkin didn’t. But it is to the latter’s credit that the film senses the crisis that was about to crash the seventies sex party.

Julian Upton on 4th February 2008

View all 77 of Julian Upton’s reviews

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Film Description

The controversial story of an undercover cop who enters the gay S&M scene of New York and sets himself up as bait to try and catch a psychotic killer. Friedkin’s take on the serial killer genre is challenging, thought-provoking, and genuinely unsettling. One of the most daring films that a major studio has ever released.

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DVD Extras

• New Director Commentary
• Two new featurettes: 'The History of Cruising' and 'Exorcising Cruising')
• Theatrical Trailer

Film Details

Cast

Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino

Technical Details