Sorry, this movie sucks

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Joint headwords "gay", "Islam", "Arabs in Israel" are already so versatile and involving so much controversy that, based on them, one can expect a creation full of hatred, resentment and violence and with taking sides. But differently, Out in the Dark is a film dedicated to high human values (love, trust, friendship, loyalty), and the background and headwords mentioned are only the means to express them. Thus, the result is a pleasant, not strictly a gay film, with love pleasantly depicted, without domination of lust or gay clubbing, with political and social issues present, but without black-and-white approach or appeals to end the situation present in Israel by any means. Both the leading performers - Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni - do a great job, and the ambiguous ending let the viewers nicely ponder on and over the main topics of the film.Thus, Out in the Dark - with so relevant title - is a fine opportunity to become acquainted with modern Israeli cinema.

I was really blown away by this film. The script, acting and direction were of such a high quality that I am surprised its never been in general release. I think with the right kind of promotion this film would do very well in NYC, LA, MIA etc. And I don't mean just running the "gay" circuit. This film used the notion of two young men falling in love to make a much bigger point, a much more complex point. There are Isreal/Palestine points that are made but much more importantly are universal ideas about human decency and fairness; about what's really important in life and the fears both real and imagined that cause some people to hate. I wish I'd seen a movie like this when I was coming of age forty years ago. The two leading actors were especially noteworthy. If these two young men speak English then I have to wonder when we'll see them in mainstream American movies which need all the great acting they can get right now. If you haven't seen it watch it. I hope you will be as impressed as I was.

Out in the Dark is one of those movies that is a needle in a haystack and only comes along every once in awhile. The story follows a young Palestinian student and the battles he deals with on a daily basis; an ambitious, driven university student who is desperately trying to make a better life for himself. When he falls in love one night at a club in Tel-Aviv, his world is turned upside down and he is torn between two worlds; his desire and love for Roy, a young, handsome, Israeli lawyer and his tense closeted life in the West Bank. The director does a phenomenal job as does the lead actors (Nicholas Jacob as Nimr and Michael Aloni as Roy) at portraying the highly controversial themes of sexuality in the Middle East, and the extreme tension between Israel and Palestine. Through Nimr, the viewer is immersed in these conflicts, conflicts that many of us would not have exposure to otherwise. We as the viewer, get to witness the horrible realities that come along with being gay in modern day Palestine, along with what it means to be a Palestinian in Israel through Nimr's eyes.This movie brings along with it, tense, controversial topics and portrays them perfectly, on the basis of two individuals who will defy their country, religion, and family to be with one another. The story is an emotional one and will have you frustrated, happy, and sad throughout the scenes. Realistic, intense, and even gritty at times, Out in the Dark is definitely a must-see and will instantly become a favorite. By the movie's end it will leave you believing that despite everything in this world, love really can and will conquer all.

When I began watching this movie I didn't know anything about the story, I just knew it was a gay themed film. I will say that I have seen a great number of gay themed films so my only reference in this genre isn't the classic Brokeback Mountain everyone always praises about (which in my opinion is barely an average gay themed film, there are much better films out there that are less known). Out in the Dark belongs now to my Top 5 gay themed films and here are the reasons. This film represents the reality and how gay people are seen and treated in Palestine/Israel. If you thought that in western culture being accepted as a gay person was a difficult process, it is million times harder if you happen to born in Palestine. This film isn't trying to be "the best film of the year" nor it doesn't have the most "intelligent" storyline, but it is about showing how things can differ from our (western) way of experiencing and seeing things. Out in the Dark takes the viewer to a trip to the streets of Palestine/Israel and shows those moments most Hollywood screenwriters would not add to the screenplay since they are not what the "screenwriting manual" tells you to write. This is also what makes this film so appealing; you are following a journey of a person as it happens, aka "live", without any editing tricks or plot twists taking place all over the film. During the film I was constantly thinking how this could end and if the film can retain that level of intensity during the whole film, it means the film is well-made. At the end Out in the Dark is a film about love and how strong love can be between two people regardless of their sex. The ending will certainly divide people whether they like it or not, but I would have personally loved to see more, but I will not tell more since I would otherwise spoil it for you.Out in the Dark shouldn't really be compared to films like Brokeback Mountain since this has a completely different narrative mindset as a film. Brokeback Mountain is a classic Hollywood polished love story just made with well-known actors and a director, but I personally feel that Brokeback Mountain gets praised more than it should. Films like Shelter (2007) and Just a Question of Love (2000) are million times better than Brokeback Mountain and I would recommend them anytime for anyone who wishes to see a well-done gay themed film. Even though by itself Out in the Dark isn't in my opinion as good as these two I just mentioned, it is still best gay themed film when it comes to this type of films; films which represent reality as it appears in a current day. Brokeback mountain is simply a reality sugared with all possible drama elements when in Out in the Dark the main thing is not to go through the "beginning, middle and end", it's the part of the journey one person must take to survive.