Swallowed is the latest from filmmaker Carter Smith (of The Ruins and Jamie Marks Is Dead fame). It follows two best friends, Benjamin (Cooper Koch) and Dom (Jose Colon), who are spending one last night with each other before Benjamin makes the big move to Los Angeles, where he is getting into gay porn. He’s obviously excited and nervous about the opportunity, but there is a a bittersweet feeling on leaving his old life with Dom behind. Dom, being the loyal friend that he is, wants to give Benjamin some extra cash to help him out, but in doing so, requires participating in a drug exchange.
This quick drug run unfortunately needs to be done on this very same night. The two drive out to meet the dealer Alice (Jena Malone), who forces Dom and then Benjamin to swallowing the small pouches of mysterious substances to avoid any potential issues crossing border lines before making the stop where the exchange is supposed to happen. The crossing is a success, but once they make it to the rest area where they have to try passing the drugs in the bathroom, an encounter with a local homophobe leaves Dom injured, and one of the pouches ruptured, resulting a bad trip that Alice has to come and help resolve.
Smith offers a lot to chew on with regards to exploitation, queer identity, and the things we do to help the ones we love. Sometimes the more allegorical sequences result in an experience that doesn’t feel quite as strongly when looking at the whole picture. It is a very character focused script, which helps you connect with these characters as they go on this very bizarre journey, and it does get quite bizarre, as it starts to lean into some body horror elements in regards to the nature of the mystery drug. I won’t give it away, but it’s pretty gnarly.
However, I also want to stress that the film isn’t necessarily the most gonzo as a piece of horror filmmaking. It is definitely more in line with films in the queer cinema space as opposed to the genre space. It utilizes genre elements to explore its ideas, instead of using them as a formula, or even a framework. The film takes a rather sharp turn in the latter half that will likely divide folks, especially among horror fans who might want something more straightforward, but I think there was value in how that shift honed in on its themes. Plus, this is where we get a very memorable turn from horror icon Mark Patton, who plays Alice’s boss.
Swallowed is definitely one of the more unique horror films you’ll likely see this year. Smith is operating on his own wavelength, and it’s up to you whether you are willing to vibe with it or not. While I do think some of the theming could have used some more fine tuning, especially in the way it transitions from the arc of the first half into the dynamics of the second half, it’s still a mostly effective, and above all, consistently tense affair that had me on edge for a good chunk of the film. This is the kind of film where you go for the promise of body horror, but you stay for its affecting exploration of friendship, which I was quite moved by. The emotional hook definitely carries the film, and if you are able to go with the film on its strange detours and subdued genre elements, then you are very likely find something in here that is fulfilling and interesting and fresh.
Swallowed is now available On Demand and various digital platforms.