Mala Noche (1986)

Directed by Gus Van Sant 

This is Gus Van Sant's debut film.  Set in late '80s grungy Pacific Northwest, it has a certain appeal to fans of that era.  I didn't know much more than that when I watched it.  So, the story is basically about a gay guy that pines after a completely uninterested straight latino dude.  So, that's OK, it seems like it could be something edgy and different.  At some point it might get onto something interesting. 

No. 

Unfortunately most of the characters in the movie are fairly obnoxious and unlikable. The movie never works very well because there is no identifiable or even half-way interesting character to help give you your bearings. Why the main character, Walt, pursues this guy doesn't ever really make any sense and just makes you not like him even more. The object of his affection, Johnny, obviously does not care for him at all and on top of that he's an immature and childish jerk, what exactly this guy sees in him is just a source of near constant bewilderment and irritation throughout the movie.