King Cobra is one of those films that feels like it could only be thought up by some over the top writer in Hollywood. There is no way a story like this could really happen, right? Well, color yourself surprised because it did happen. The film is based on the book Cobra Killer by Andrew E. Stoner and Peter A. Conway which depicts the 2007 murder of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis (named “Stephen” in the film and played by Christian Slater) by two aspiring producers Joe (James Franco) and Harlow (Keegan Allen) after their unsuccessful attempt to buy out Brent Corrigan’s performing contract.
Corrigan, whose real name is Sean Paul Lockhart, became an instant star in gay porn at the age of 17 and it was believed by Joe and Harlow that they could make a fortune off of his star power. What results is a lurid tale of power, control and greed that, while over the top at times, is grounded in reality because there are elements of real human emotion that become even more tragic than the murder at the center of the story.
Director and writer, Justin Kelly, manages to blend high camp with raw emotion with the greatest of ease. There is no denying the tragedy of the story but some of the film is handled with a bit of sly dark humor. From the recreation of the scenes depicted in gay porn, to the fact that a porn producer is making a fortune on the industry in the middle of his very quiet suburban neighborhood, there is some humor here that can’t be denied. I feel like this part of the story could lose some people because they may not get the balance of humor (and some of the scenes are intense to watch) but if you stick it out, you also get a film that has a high level of deep feeling for all of the central players involved.
The murder is actually a small part of the film. It’s effectively executed as it blends sex and violence to pack a true emotional punch but the most interesting, and sad part of the story are the unhealthy relationships that form between the porn producers and the boys they are trying to make an object of desire. Stephen, who is given true emotional depth from Christian Slater, is a lonely man who wants to feel wanted. There is no denying the lurid aspects of producing young guys in an industry ruled by sex (even though he believes Brent to be 18 due to fake identification) but what is more prevalent is there is a loneliness in this guy’s personality that is only subdued when he feels desired by Brent. In a sense, he’s buying his affection which works for Brent until he realizes Stephen isn’t paying him as he should based on how much money is coming in. The great thing about Slater’s performance is that he makes Stephen sympathetic despite the salacious business he’s in. He just wants to feel wanted and this is the only way he can do so.
A similar, albeit more dysfunctional, relationship exists between Joe and Harlow. Joe is clearly in control of Harlow but uses him to boost his self-esteem while also using him as a vessel to figure out his own sexuality (there is one moment when they hook up and Joe insists on no anal as if everything else they’re doing isn’t an indication of his true sexual preference). Harlow is a pretty tragic player in all of this. He has no direction and is led blindly by the affection he receives from Joe. There is one powerful moment where Harlow is about to do a scene with a guy and has to stop it because the situation reminds him of past sexual abuse. Joe comforts Harlow but what makes the scene truly sad is Joe is abusing Harlow as well, but in a different way. He vows to protect him from anything and anyone while he is essentially keeping him in a vicious cycle of his very own abuse.
All the actors deserve kudos for their work. The subject matter isn’t easy and they go all in for these roles to make them effectively authentic. Garrett Clayton, who is far away from the squeaky clean image he essayed in the Teen Beach franchise, is quite good here. He mostly has to be an object of desire but it’s in the more quiet moments where he shines. If he did this role to show he has true potential, then he achieved his goal.
Faring even better is Keegan Allen as Harlow. I believe he’s primarily known for his role on Pretty Little Liars, a show I’ve never watched, but he shows great range and makes Harlow instantly memorable and tragic. Lastly, James Franco proves why he’s the most reliable actor out there in terms of going all out for a role. Joe is wonderfully psychotic but mixed in with all of that is a character who is also struggling with insecurity. Franco is able to portray all aspects of this character without missing a beat.
King Cobra isn’t going to be for everyone. In fact, as I did research for the movie, I came across some pretty homophobic user reviews on various sites that saddened me because I think that attitude will keep people away from seeing a pretty solid effort. You don’t have to embrace the subject matter to appreciate what the film has to say. It is driven by basic human emotions that we all deal with and the fact that the emotion remains intact against the over the top backdrop, is a testament to the film’s impact.
Reel Talk gives King Cobra 3 Reels
