DTF? (2024)

Crazy8s: DTF? (2024)

One of the standout short films from 2024’s Crazy8s Gala was Sam Krochmal and Jess McLeod’s queer romantic comedy, DTF?

The story takes on the world of dating apps through the lens of two gay men who are in entirely different stages of their lives.

We are first introduced to Jonah, a college student who is in a continuous loop of swiping through dating apps, which leads to a life of sexcapading through town. Following each sexual experience, you witness the diminishing returns of not only his personal enjoyment but also the toll it’s taking on his own self-worth. That journey is juxtaposed against his middle-aged college professor, Terrence, who has fully realized the traditional relationship ideals of marriage and children to now find himself divorced and allowing himself the freedom to be who he always was, a gay man. The two end up matching on an app and connecting over a night filled with thoughtful conversation until they hit a roadblock that forces both men to reassess why they’re dating in the first place.

As a straight dude who has gay friends, hearing how they use dating apps has always been shocking but simultaneously hilarious because you know if straight men had that option to find intimacy for a night in a swipe, they’d jump at the opportunity. Obviously that’s a subtle stereotype, but showing an in-your-face highlight reel of Jonah’s sexcapades was the perfect way to shock audiences and grab their attention before unpacking the layers of complexities when navigating the dating scene.

Whether you’re gay or straight, this story showcases the reality many people face when trying to find someone they can partner with through life while entrenched in the limitless potential possibilities presented to users on dating apps.

Seeing Jonah become numb to the fact he had become the DTF guy but not the let’s go on a date guy is something both men and women can relate to. Then there’s Terrence, who is a middle-aged man that is clearly out of his element in the online world yet is trying to adapt to fit the needs of others while forgetting his own.

This does a tremendous job of highlighting how quickly looking for the love of your life can have you lost in the hookup culture of it all and how tough it can be to get out of that cycle.

None of this works without the incredible scriptwriting, which is emboldened by a fully realized story and the impressively committed performances of both Sam Krochmal and Garfield Wilson.

DTF? starts off with a comedic flair full of cliches that slowly matures into an empowering statement-making romance story of remaining true to yourself regardless of what the dating world expects from you. 

Enjoy!

8.9/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 15mins

Where: Crazy8s Gala (2024)

Crazy 8s DTF? Short Film Review (2024) The Richmond Reviewer

#ShortFilm #MovieReview #Movie #Crazy8s