User Reviews

It's clearly a low budget feature, and one sees it from get go. Camera works, edit and sound design all are less than sophisticated. I have seen quite a few cringe or even horrible low budget features before, so I kind of prepared myself for the worst case.

But in conclusion it was actually turned out a pleasant surprise. It's definitely not a product of high artistic ambition or a groundbreaking marvel. But the conversations capture the realistic flow of the young 'mates' who are not quite yet grown up men, and the actors do manage to pull it off enough. And the hidden tension and interaction behind the surface become quickly and surprisingly complicated.

Is Cornnor gay? Did he fancy Nate and that's why he agreed to go on hiking? Is Adam really serious about Cornnor? Why does he seem to flirt with just about anybody then? And what about Nate? Is he a closet case who was peer-pressured to play a big macho guy?

In the time where being Gay is OK and boundaries of sexuality is getting blurred, this little 4 men play captures the challenge and confusion of the younger generation who grew up in that environment. For me, Mark, who represents a straight man, was actually most interesting character. Belonging to the new generation, he does not display clear homophobia any more. He definitely can get along with gays... so long he is sure who is gay and who is straight. If he can't be sure whether his mates are gay or straight, how could he know how to treat them or, as he constantly does, reaffirm his own straight identity and territory?

Overall, it was definitely interesting and worth a watch. Give it a go without expecting too much, and go with its flow.

Dialogue driven. I thought the dialogue was good. This was not a bad movie, it simply wasn't LGBTQ in its focus but rather friendship focuses, or journey focused mostly. It had more of a gay themes film vibe for the bulk of the film. And I think the movie achieves a purpose of how we bungle things gay or straight and clearly defines structure or a rather a paradigm of some people's friendships. How they work: there is an alpha, a jovial one, one who sort of knows their self but is self conscious, etc.

Adam (the one who trepasses into the group) is a free loving spirit. He feels, he knows, he says, and his family is aware that he is not straight. He is searching for something. He's just young and maybe naive, but not in a harmful way. I think he's just overly friendly and occasionally that could get someone in the real world in trouble.

Nathan is kind and sweet natured. He does just about everything Mark tells him to. He's has to grow out of that (or maybe he is if only too slowly). If only so he stays happy. He wants everyone to get along and I understand that. Towards the end, I see more of a self establishment of his spirit and it makes me happy. It'll take growing pains but I see him achieving heights, he has to learn to have difficult discussions.

Mark is a bully, vocally aggressive. I like the Connor waited for him to say please, when he demanded he take the empty bottles to the trash. Mark is also the type of person who says he alright with gay people but isn't due to something deep in him whether it be fear, disgust, etc. I'm not certain, but he can also be oblivious to the waves he causes. He is an abject dick and his favorite line is "this is not a debate". I think that's his father coming out through his mouth.

Connor is aware of himself but not as confident as I initially thought. When pressured he caves, I liked in the beginning that he did not. But I find him to be adorable and consciously friendly. He is figuring out who he is. I like that he has the ability to be outspoken. I think he'll only get stronger.

Well done. I walked away feeling like my time was not wasted.

To start off, the script could've been written a lot better. The relationship between Connor and Nathan should've been given a little more context. Connor is a shy guy that alot of people clearly aren't accepting of.

This is a story of Connor going on a hike and being pursued by a very forward and out gay guy. Connor struggles to fully accept this as he has to also deal with Mark, who constantly makes both Connor and Nathan feel inadequate. You're meant to infer that Connor and Nathan's regular hikes were their way of straddling the border of having romantic feelings but never acting on them out of fear. Nathan becomes upset because while he's still paralyzed by fear instilled by society and Mark, Connor managed to beat those fears and break through that wall with the help of Adam. In the end, seeing Nathan almost cry but still decides to leave gives a sense of his regret in not opening up to Connor in the many times he had a chance and now he has to, in a way, let him go.

It would've been nice if the relationship between Nathan and Connor was explored to its fullest potential. Although every movie doesn't need a happy ending, a simple acknowledgement from Nathan of his feelings for Connor in the end while still having things go the way they did would've created a more well-rounded script. If the creator is willing, a sequel/prequel could be a very nice way to round things out now that this is out.

I was going to give this movie a miss after some of the reviews on here and I am glad I watched Mates.

The film has beautiful English countryside.

It was refreshing to see a film where the chemistry between the characters was intense and does often mirror some shy personalities. Conor is clearly not a brash, openly gay man.

It didn't bother me that the acting wasn't Oscar award standard but it moved me and made me think how some people even today struggle with their sexuality.

Conor tries to impress his walking companions in his journey but in the end he realises that he just needs to be himself.

The story is quite slow and the writing is poor. The lead character is clearly socially inept. The 2 friends are a juxtaposition of sorts; one is very friendly and liberal, the other is quite toxic. There's one scene where Mark interrogates Nathan as to why he goes running with Connor when they both live quite far away. The whole kiss scene with Adam is incredibly weird and not well written. It's like they intended for Nathan to bring Connor out of his shell but the execution is poor. The character of Mark takes issue with everyone in the movie at some point and it serves no purpose other than for the other characters to repress themselves. If anything he's a bully. It doesn't serve the story in the long run. Take my advice....swerve it.

I disagree with the reviewer who found nothing to like in this film. Maybe I am Arno Crous' target audience? I really enjoyed his earlier short, "Happy Families" which I found to be well-conceived and actualized.

I found the characters in Mates to be well-drawn by the various actors, and I found the characters and situations quite believable. The various dynamics around the new-and-old friendships at the center of the story seemed quite real to me. Hierarchy, attractions, affinities, jealousies--all very believable to me in the way these themes are explored and expressed. Sam Law's Nathan, the character whom at first blush might seem the least interesting among the four leads, actually is quite complicated and maybe the most mysterious. Law managed to create a different flavor of awkward sexual tension with each of the three others. I look forward to seeing him in other roles.

To be fair, I thought ALL of the leads were quite good, and the ensemble seemed natural. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of the dialogue was improvised.

As far as the low budget....so what? I thought the camera work, framing, editing, music were all rather artfully and tastefully done. Sort of a cinema verite vibe.

There is a lot of talent on display here. Crous is a helluva writer, and a promising young director. There are four actors I find worth keeping on the radar.

Nothing Hollywood here, including the ending. If you are looking for Hollywood, look elsewhere. If you are willing to meet this movie on its own terms, I think you will find a lot to appreciate. I sure did.

This is the longest 81 minutes ever. Slow. Boring. Terrible dialogue. Bad acting. Even the chance for showing the beautiful countryside isn't exploited. So many missed opportunities.

Mark is an insufferable twit. But his character is also all over the place. At one point basically telling Nathan he'd would be OK if Nathan were gay and the next minute talking about beating the gay guy.

You get the feeling Nathan may be gay too, but maybe he's just a good guy. We'll never know for sure.

Connor is confused and that turns into 90% brooding his way through the trip.

The best thing was learning about what backpacking is like in England. But it leaves me with a question: where did all that beer come from?

I'm sure the higher scored reviews are genuine... questionable more like... but I just had to struggle warming to this film.

Connor is just an awkward, closet "not" gay guy training with a very touchy feely... sexually confused straight fitness guy.. who let's admit this... was FIT!

His mate Mark was the only half decent funny/ish actor who seemed relatively real and sarcastic.

And what I don't understand was... was Nathan genuinely upset that Connor didn't want to leave him and was Nathan constantly trying to flirt with him in a not-so gay.. inconspicuous straight way?

I didn't quite understand where that was going and was he jealous that Adam.. the persuar actual only out gay character there.. was getting in there first with Connor?

I wouldn't exactly say any of the scenes were "electric" or.. enthusiastically gripping a captive audience.

There just needed to be some more... urrrrggghh.. ummmph!