MICHAEL D. AKERS

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB. 

USA, 2003.  Screenplay by Michael D. Akers.  Cinematography by Jennifer Derbin.  Produced by Michael D. Akers, Sandon Berg.  Music by Shaun Cromwell.  Film Editing by Michael D. Akers, Justin Shumaker.  Podcast:  Bad Gay Movies

Another indie gay film done in by a zero budget and less-than-stellar direction. Forest ranger Drew saves hiker Mark from a nasty fall and later befriends him in the hospital. Mark can’t remember anything previous to his accident, at first not even remembering his own name, but gradually warms up to Drew and takes him up on his offer to go stay with him in a cabin in the woods to recuperate. Recuperating, as always, leads to hand-holding, which leads to a whole mess of trouble between these boys as they enjoy some fine nights in front of the fireplace. When Drew’s brother, also a ranger, finds Mark’s car in a ravine, its license plate leads him to Mark’s home life…with his wife. A potentially smart and sensitive film is completely undone by mawkish dialogue and performances that are struggling to be good but just can’t make it under these conditions. Its first half is a hell of a lot more appealing than most of the zero-budget indie gay films you’ve seen, but when it tries to get to the point of high drama it falls apart.