Jules, a black drag queen, is assaulted by Preston, a white bigot. When he finds Preston cruising in a gay sauna he plots revenge. Femme was written and directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. They introduced the characters in a short film in 2021. Vengeance in the short was swift and brutal. The 2023 feature takes a twistier path. One that has fascinated some audiences and repelled others.

The attack sent Jules into a spiral. He’s questioning his self-worth and his identity. He soon realizes that Preston doesn’t recognize him out of drag. More than that that, Preston desires him. Their subsequent relationship is emotionally abusive. Full of rough sex and awkward silences. Jules uses it to carefully study his foe. In emulating Preston’s demeanor, he finds a new confidence. While Preston gradually reveals the frightened boy underneath the rage and resentment. Jules grows conflicted as he ponders his options. Should he out his assailant? Should he try to “fix” him? Or simply enjoy the challenge of turning a rough trade dom into a sub?

Nathan Stewart-James and George MacKay throw themselves into their emotionally draining roles. John McCrea and Aaron Heffernan make vivid impressions as toxic friends who stir the pot. The film makers generate scenes of terror and heat as they blend genres of neo-noir, revenge tragedy and erotic thriller.

To what end? Is it a surprise that black and queer people must code switch in hostile environments? That some abusers have been abused themselves? Should we show empathy to a monster if he’s sad and hot? If your answer is an immediate “no” than Femme may seem a time waster at best and offensive at worst. Several Letterboxd users have criticized the filmmakers for romanticizing the white predator and disenfranchising his black victim. I doubt this was their intent. But, by the ambiguous end, it’s not clear what message they hoped to convey.

Queer villainy is having a moment on streaming services. Capote, Ripley and Mary & George showcase bullies, crooks and murderers. So why did I find them so boring? Perhaps because, in the early episodes, they don’t seem to want anything. For all their boasting and scheming they come across as indifferent. This could be a side effect of dragging their stories across multiple chapters to satisfy the streaming algorithm. Femme runs a swift 99 minutes. Nothing feels wasted. Jules and Preston have conflicting desires. They are at war with themselves and each other. Whether you watch will depend on your tolerance for using real world trauma to generate genre thrills.

You can find more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.