Based on the 1995 novel by Matthew Rettenmund, BOY CULTURE balances its tale of relationship misadventures among the young – with some sharp insights into the way age, race, sex, money and lust shape the lives of good-looking 21st-century gay men.

Derek Magyar, referred to only as “X”, is the narrator of BOY CULTURE – a highly sought-after escort.

“X” carefully manages his exclusive client list of 12 (which he calls his disciples), invests his money wisely and always keeps sex and sex-business separate. He has separated them so successfully that he hasn’t had sex with anyone other than clients since his teenage experience with an older cousin that opened his eyes to his sexuality. He has since then been saving himself for someone he loves. Derek Magyar’s character establishes early on that he is unavailable – symbolically placing his jacket on the empty seat next to him at a bar, showing that he will not allow anyone to get too close.

Living with Derek Magyar are two boys that don’t pay rent: Andrew (Darryl Stephens of Noah’s Arc fame),

and the barely legal, very promiscuous twink “Blowy Joey” (Jonathon Trent). “X” has a huge crush on Andrew, and Joey has a huge unrequited crush on X, which makes the apartment a volatile place at times.

The spark that ignites change in BOY CULTURE is a relationship “X” has with a new client – wealthy and aging 70-something Gregory Talbot (Patrick Bauchau – best known for the character of “Sydney” on the television series “The Pretender”). Gregory tells “X” that he will not sleep with him until “you want me half as much as I want you.” BOY CULTURE is a film that examines how gay men interact as friends, lovers, or an uncomfortable combination of the two. Most of the men in Boy Culture are unable to commit to one person – they are always looking for someone better.

BOY CULTURE has the potential to become a gay cult classic. I enjoyed the film so much that I ordered Matthew Rettenmund’s novel. The next question would be – will the story be continued? Is BOY CULTURE star Derek Magyar up for X-squared?

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