A serio-comedy about the gay porn biz titled The Fluffer was leaving me cold. I expected a dim-witted and—dare I say it?—fluffy movie made by a superficial queen. But hey, expectations are made to be broken. And this movie is actually a pretty funny film that offers up some cool plot twists. In obvious part due to its subject matter, the film has proven a hit on the fest circuit and now on DVD and VHS.

Michael Cunio plays a young gay man who’s aspiring to make his own movies. Hard up for work, he takes a gig as a fluffer (someone who keeps the porn star stimulated in between takes). Soon enough, he’s fallen madly in love with the wall-to-wall muscled Scott Gurney (who plays porn star Johnny Rebel). The film begins innocently enough, with some light jabs at the absurdity of the porn industry. But things get dark in the second act, as Gurney and Cunio take off for Mexico after a murder is committed.

Co-directors Wash West and Richard Glatzer (Grief) keep the film moving along at a clip, and raise some intriguing questions about desire and self-loathing. Also of note are the fantastic supporting casting calls, including Robert Walden (Lou Grant) and the divine Deborah Harry, the latter having become something of a casting staple on the indie film circuit. : » Matthew Hays