Brazil has had some fascinating cinema coming out of the country in recent years, often taking on political and social issues due to its conservative government. Raquel 1:1, Medusa, Bacurau are just a few examples, and Night Stage makes a very interesting entry amongst the others. Night Stage is an erotically charged thriller that takes on queer relations and the intersection of arts and politics.
Mattias (Gabriel Faryas) is a young artist who wants to make the jump from theater to television. Rafael (Cirillo Luna) is an up-and-coming politician who has a promising career but struggles to hide his sexual orientation. The two of them meet on a gay hookup app and find that they share a love of having sexual relations in public. The thrill of getting caught amps up to increasingly dangerous locations, potentially threatening both of their careers.
It takes a little while to get on board with the overall tone of Night Stage. It has some cheesy erotic thriller vibes, like its musical score, that give it a sleazy made-for-TV Skinemax vibe. But once you get a chance to get used to it, it makes for a very interesting ride. While it does not succeed at pulling off the tenseness of other queer thrillers of recent years like Femme or Stranger by the Lake, it does have its own unique mood. And it succeeds at exploring how many queer people who are closeted have to play a role and constantly act to pass as straight.
One thing is for sure: Night Stage succeeds at bringing the sex. As Mattias and Rafael grow closer in their romantic relationship, they take more and more risks to heighten their sexual gratification. Which means you get to enjoy several steamy sex scenes throughout the movie. It also succeeds at unfolding in such a way that it is very hard to tell exactly where the story is going. It takes many twists and turns and culminates in some shocking final moments. And it reminds you that it is dangerous for queer people to be themselves, especially in more conservative areas. Not only does getting caught potentially mean the end of their careers, but it could also have its own violent ends.
The film is beautifully shot and feels like a chaotic neon fever dream. Several scenes, including dance sequences and excerpts from the experimental stage play that Mattias is working on, are stunning to watch. And it is a reminder that while many might crave the spotlight, people often forget how scary it feels when all eyes are actually on you and the borders between private and public life become blurred. While some elements, like its strange humor and stiff performances, make it hard to totally tap into the film, it is a fascinating journey to go on.
Night Stage had its Texas premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025 on 20 September
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