The Living End (1992)

TOMATOMETER

57%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

61%

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Movie Info

It my be easy to describe The Living End as a gay Thelma and Louise, but that seems to be what director Gregg Araki was aiming for. Luke (Mike Dyti) is a hustler and Jon (Craig Gilmore) is a movie critic. They meet on the highway, or, as Araki puts it in the script, "the desolate, quasi-surrealistic American Wasteland." Both have recently learned that they are HIV-positive, so they do the only reasonable thing and go on a violent cross-country spree. Guided by the inspirational slogan "F*ck the world," our heroes kill gay bashers, insult lesbians, and do a lot of drinking, swearing, and urinating.

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Cast

Craig Gilmore
as Jon
Mike Dytri
as Luke
Mark Finch
as Doctor
Mary Woronov
as Daisy
Johanna Went
as Fern
Darcy Marta
as Darcy
Nicole Dillenberg
as Barbie
Scot Goetz
as Peter
Bretton Vail
as Ken
Paul Bartel
as Twister Master
Stephen Holman
as 7-11 Couple
Magie Song
as 7-11 Couple
Peter Lanigan
as Three Stooges Member
Jon Gerrans
as Three Stooges Member
Jack Kofman
as Three Stooges Member
Christopher Mabli
as NeoNazi
Michael Now
as Tarzan
Michael Haynes
as Jane
Peter Grame
as Gus
Craig Lee
as Arguing Couple at Ralphs
Torie Chickering
as Arguing Couple at Ralphs
Sidney J. Bestwick
as Buddhist
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Critic Reviews for The Living End

All Critics (7) | Top Critics (1)

It is visually vibrant (in a wonderful on-the- cheap kind of way). But its insightful fury is undercut by thrashes of immaturity. It's engaged with culture and angry at it.

Apr 4, 2008
Denver Post
Top Critic

Unfortunately, like so many Warhol films, The Living End ultimately becomes tedious and self-indulgent.

May 29, 2018 | Full Review…
Hartford Courant

Probably more valuable as a cultural artifact than a movie.

Mar 14, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
Las Vegas Weekly

Self described by its director as "my most desperate movie," this road movie about two HIV-positive runaways and imposible love in th face of death, put Gregg Araki at the forefront of indie directors.

Jan 23, 2007 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com
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Audience Reviews for The Living End

½

I remember really liking this movie back in the 90's. Was excited to see it on DVD for rental. Well, I have to say I had forgotten most of the story apart from it being a road trip movie about two men living with AIDS, so I was interested to see if it was as good as I remembered. Though it's obviously dated now, I still found it quite compelling viewing with a unique style. Craig Gilmore in particular is great as Jon. Very sympathetic character. Won't be for all, is pretty bleak and confronting, but I found it worth the rewatch.

Nicki Marie
Nicki Marie

Super Reviewer

½

Araki brings great ideas to the table, but his execution leaves a lot to be desired. The two lead actors are consistently unconvincing, so their love story has no emotional resonance. Since the film relies heavily on a connection with the doomed lovers, the low performance quality hurts it badly. Nevertheless, it's very much a product of its time, and that works in its favour somehow. This is a cult classic with lots of bright possibilities, but most of them are unfulfilled.

Mike T.
Mike T.

Super Reviewer

A gripping road trip with the unique angle of having two HIV positive men take to the road to come to grips with their unsure future. Very good.

John Ballantine
John Ballantine

Super Reviewer

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