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Gay Horror-Comedy ‘I Don’t Understand You’ Debuts with Strong Performances but Unsettling Tone

Based on the directors’ adoption struggles following a misadventure in rural Italy, the film crafts a queer tale critics say can’t find its comic or chilling footing.

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Overview

  • Directors David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano drew on a personal adoption fraud ordeal and a rainy Italian car-ditch mishap to shape the film’s premise.
  • Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells portray Dom and Cole, whose anniversary vacation in rural Italy devolves into a chain of miscommunications and dark developments.
  • Critics commend the leads’ palpable chemistry and emotional sincerity but criticize the film’s uneven blend of horror and comedy as jarring.
  • The movie aims to subvert traditional gay cinema tropes by featuring flawed LGBTQ+ protagonists navigating parenthood rather than focusing on coming-out narratives.
  • Backed by producer Joel Edgerton and shot on-location in Italy, the film boasts polished visuals even as its narrative cohesion divides reviewers.