Review of House of Boys (2009) by Roxanne R — 21 Feb 2013

Surprisingly good film! It is a coming of age story that takes place in Amsterdam during the mid 80's. Frank (Layke Anderson) is a totally gay and out of the closet teen who has issues living with his traditional family so he leaves home one rainy night and ends up at a go-go boys place called House of Boys.

There he meets Madame (Udo Kier) who runs the place and decides to hire the boy initially as a bartender, later on as a dancer/stripper. While at this home he meets other boys such as Angelo (S. Webb) who desires to undergo a sex change surgery to become a woman, Jake (B.

Northover) who is straight and only "gay for pay", and a few other guys. A friendship develops between Jake and Frank that will test them as time goes by. Acting was good, the music score was nice as well and the writer/director did a fine job with this one.

So many teens and even adults fall into the lure of easy money, sex and drugs without realizing that there is a heavy toll to pay and actions have consequences, some detrimental and even fatal. I dare not reveal anything more otherwise I will give it away but rest assured that House of Boys indeed gives a real, raw and deep understanding of the true meaning of love.

Recommended and available on Netflix instant streaming on HD.