ROTTING IN THE SUN -- The Sun isn't the Only Thing to Overstay its Welcome

Review by Joseph Fayed

Sebastián Silva in ROTTING IN THE SUN. Courtesy of Mubi.

Queer cinema doesn't have many mystery comedies under its belt. So, when director Sebastián Silva announced his latest film Rotting in the Sun, I was excited to discover how his take would heavily feature elements of satire. There are loads of laughs in its first half but falls short of living up to the same standards of parody in its second act. 

Sebastián (playing a fictionalized version of himself) is in a career slump. He becomes suicidal and to take his mind off everything he goes on a beach getaway. While there, he meets Jordan Firstman (also playing a fictionalized version of himself) and the two agree to collaborate on a screenplay. Soon after, Sebastian goes missing and Jordan begins to wonder if the cleaning lady (Catalina Saavedra) in Sebastián's building in Mexico City is involved. 

The tone of the film remains consistent throughout. Its dry sense of humor is always present, never backing out from the film with plenty of uncomfortable moments. Meta in nature, its humor knows exactly what audience it is trying to appeal to. Jordan, best known for his social media impressions, plays the role of the chronically online influencer very well, understanding what exactly it entails. Sex and sexual innuendos are all over the place, as Jordan and Sebastián's characters are mostly rooted in hyper-sexualized behavior. That behavior consumes them like the number of penises that consume the screen during the beach getaway scenes. 

(L TO R) Sebastián Silva and Jordan Firstman in ROTTING IN THE SUN. Courtesy of Mubi.

None of the characters and their actions will be widely accepted as redeemable. Based on that alone, the film could have leaned into developing more toxic personalities for the main three characters. None of them had to serve as the catalyst when mischief is a plot device. Vero fades in and out of having a conscience over Sebastián's disappearance, when the film never allows itself to have a complex narrative to justify a range of emotions. Jordan's storyline is about nothing more than personal gain from Sebastián, so with him seemingly out of the picture he has nothing else to embrace. It ultimately felt that two key characters forgot they were supposed to be in the satire the first hour set up. 

Rotting in the Sun, well, rots in the sun for a bit too long. Its meta commentary will bring laughs to the table as do the lead performances, even if they become a bit tiresome by the end. Sebastián Silva directs a satire that where everyone behaves badly, it really does not need more substance than that. At the end of the day, there are 32 penises on screen throughout this film so if that pleases you more than anything, ignore my critiques and get yourself a Mubi subscription if you haven't already. 

Rotting in the Sun will release in theaters on September 8, and will stream exclusively on Mubi starting September 15.

Rating: 3/5
​