There is nothing enjoyable about writing a negative review for a film that was clearly meant to be well-received. We all remember the beautiful “Call Me By Your Name,” directed by Luca Guadagnino—a marvelous experience and, in my opinion, one of the best love stories ever told. Perhaps having that in mind set my expectations higher than they should have been. Unfortunately, what I saw in “Queer” was something entirely different, something I can barely describe and probably never will.

Adapted by Justin Kuritzkes from William S. Burroughs’ novel, “Queer” follows Lee (Daniel Craig), who spends his days in postwar Mexico City wandering from one street to another, from one bar to the next, mostly drunk. He meets a young man named Allerton (Drew Starkey), with whom he becomes infatuated. Though Lee’s pursuit of Allerton intensifies, eventually leading to some sort of outcome, their journey together seems destined to an uncertain end—one that may or may not benefit either of them.

The film’s biggest issue is its poorly written screenplay. Even though the source material is a semi-autobiographical novel, I am not convinced it needed to be adapted in the first place. The story feels flat and offers little substance. Despite having two excellent actors, Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, doing their best to bring depth to what is missing in the script, it simply isn’t enough. The heavy-handed sexual content feels unnecessary and, frankly, annoying.

I understand that this may have been a role of a lifetime for Daniel Craig, potentially earning him long-overdue recognition. I genuinely hope he achieves that—but not with this role and not in this film. I have no issue with stories told through a sexual lens, but here, all I saw was two grown adults engaged in a passionate affair that ultimately leads nowhere in terms of character development. Not a single graphic scene serves any real purpose. Perhaps Luca Guadagnino should have consulted with Halina Reijn, who did an outstanding job with Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl.”

That being said, “Queer” is the most disappointing film of the year, offering nothing but dark visuals, a poorly written screenplay, and two great talents who were ultimately wasted. It’s a missed opportunity on every level, a film that feels like it doesn’t quite know what it wants to be or what story it wants to tell. For a director known for his emotional depth and nuanced storytelling, this film falls flat, leaving us with little more than a shallow exploration of desire and emptiness. In the end, “Queer” is a forgettable misfire that fails to resonate or leave a lasting impact.

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