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Daddy DVD review

Daddy
Credit: TLA Releasing

Colin McCormack (Gerald McCullouch) thinks he has everything; a top job in TV, devoted best friend Stew (Dan Via) and plenty of casual hook ups with much younger guys. His lifestyle is thrown a curveball when cute new intern Tee (Jaime Cepero) starts working for him and Colin finds himself developing feelings. Following a night drinking, Colin makes a move on Tee and the two end up having sex. As their relationship progresses, it drives a wedge between Colin and Stew, and Tee starts to become very territorial. Teeā€™s behaviour leads Stew to question the relationship but as he digs deeper, he pushes Colin further away and risks losing his best friend.

Daddy is Gerald McCullouchā€™s directorial debut and was written by his co-star Dan Via. Youā€™d be forgiven for reading the premise and thinking ā€˜seen thatā€™ but trust me when I say you definitely havenā€™t. The filmā€™s third act will have you shouting ā€˜say what now?ā€™ and thatā€™s pretty much all I can say about it without ruining anything. Once you see the movie a whole lot about it starts to make sense but I highly doubt any one will see whatā€™s coming.

Up until that point Daddy seems to be a bog standard romantic comedy with the focus on an age difference and an inappropriate work place relationship. Colin and Tee escalate their relationship quickly as they start to spend all of their time together and really get to know one another. This pushes Stew out and tensions quickly arise between Stew and both Colin and Tee. Does Stew secretly harbour long unfulfilled feelings toward Colin? Is Tee up to something and trying to get rid of Stew? I couldnā€™t possibly give you the answers to those questions.

Daddy
Credit: TLA Releasing

McCullouch impresses pulling double duty as star and director. Heā€™s a popular actor in gay cinema having built a fan base for his role in the BearCity movies and heā€™s well known to TV fans for his recurring role in CSI. Itā€™s his directing though that really impresses here and he acquits himself very well. Heā€™s only previously directed a short but he handles the task here with ease. McCullouch gets great performances from his cast and he frames the whole film in a surprisingly sweet and lovely way.

Jaime Cepero, best known for his role in the short-lived musical drama Smash, gives a more nuanced performance than Iā€™ve seen from his before. He begins the film as a nervous intern but he allows Tee to grow and shows many sides to the character over the course of the movie. Also worthy of a mention is Dan Via as Stew and itā€™s his moments with Colin that provide some of the best in the film.

Daddy is a film you will either love or hate and itā€™ll likely all come down to the last half an hour of the movie. Personally I thought the film was very bold and it certainly didnā€™t go in the direction I was confident it would within the first 10 minutes. McCullouch and Via have crafted a bold and emotional film with Daddy and itā€™s one that is likely to cause debate and likely upset. I think the film handled its subject matter incredibly well.

[brid video=”39069″ player=”531″ title=”Daddy Official Trailer TLA Releasing UK”]

 

Cast: Gerald McCullouch, Dan Via, Jaime Cepero, Mackenzie Astin, Leslie Easterbrook Director:Ā Gerald McCullouch Writer:Ā Dan ViaĀ Released By: TLA Releasing Certificate: 15 Duration:Ā 89 mins Release Date:Ā 9th May 2016

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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