Good concept, poorly executed.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I enjoyed this movie more than I expected to but less than other reviewers. My biggest problem is the relationship between the two lead characters -- I never believed in it. It was ACTED, not EXPERIENCED, by the two actors.Their love scenes were so tightly choreographed to the cloyingly sweet soundtrack that they came off as cold and mechanical. It was like watching ballet dancers, not lovers. That may be either because the straight actors needed a rigid scenario to follow since there was no genuine sexual dynamic between them or because the director didn't know how else to stage those scenes. Either way, it's the director's fault.They were more believable outside the bedroom. There the actors were somewhat freer to be themselves and allow the characters to interact as persons, not having to try to force themselves to act like lovers. The story is fairly interesting but not quite believable.

"Out in the Dark" tells the extraordinary love story of a Palestinian student and an Israeli lawyer. They fight against all odds , crossing all boundaries and societal rules just for love. Words cannot describe how dramatic and emotional the film really is.The film starts off light hearted, with the two guys meeting and hitting it off. They enjoy a good time until the painful reality starts to strike. How are they going to maintain a relationship that is separated by societal, cultural and geographical barriers? The development of the story is very well done. I feel for all the characters. I feel their pain and their sorrows. It is unusual for a gay film to touch on tough topics such as prosecution, espionage and the constant threat of death, and "Out in the Dark" does it in outstanding style. The second half of the film maintains constant thrill and urgency. I could hardly catch my breath most of the time.The prosecution, blackmailing and surveillance portrayed in "Out in the Dark" would be unbelievably contrived in other films, but it is so believable in this context. It is because of these very harsh conditions that make Nimr and Roy's love even more precious. It is the type of love to die for. I was in synchrony and resonance with the Nimr and Roy. I was so touched by their love and dedication for each other. Just by typing these, my eyes well up again."Out in the Dark" is an outstanding film. I think it is a must watch, and I will check out more Israeli films when I have the chance.

When I began watching this movie I didn't know anything about the story, I just knew it was a gay themed film. I will say that I have seen a great number of gay themed films so my only reference in this genre isn't the classic Brokeback Mountain everyone always praises about (which in my opinion is barely an average gay themed film, there are much better films out there that are less known). Out in the Dark belongs now to my Top 5 gay themed films and here are the reasons. This film represents the reality and how gay people are seen and treated in Palestine/Israel. If you thought that in western culture being accepted as a gay person was a difficult process, it is million times harder if you happen to born in Palestine. This film isn't trying to be "the best film of the year" nor it doesn't have the most "intelligent" storyline, but it is about showing how things can differ from our (western) way of experiencing and seeing things. Out in the Dark takes the viewer to a trip to the streets of Palestine/Israel and shows those moments most Hollywood screenwriters would not add to the screenplay since they are not what the "screenwriting manual" tells you to write. This is also what makes this film so appealing; you are following a journey of a person as it happens, aka "live", without any editing tricks or plot twists taking place all over the film. During the film I was constantly thinking how this could end and if the film can retain that level of intensity during the whole film, it means the film is well-made. At the end Out in the Dark is a film about love and how strong love can be between two people regardless of their sex. The ending will certainly divide people whether they like it or not, but I would have personally loved to see more, but I will not tell more since I would otherwise spoil it for you.Out in the Dark shouldn't really be compared to films like Brokeback Mountain since this has a completely different narrative mindset as a film. Brokeback Mountain is a classic Hollywood polished love story just made with well-known actors and a director, but I personally feel that Brokeback Mountain gets praised more than it should. Films like Shelter (2007) and Just a Question of Love (2000) are million times better than Brokeback Mountain and I would recommend them anytime for anyone who wishes to see a well-done gay themed film. Even though by itself Out in the Dark isn't in my opinion as good as these two I just mentioned, it is still best gay themed film when it comes to this type of films; films which represent reality as it appears in a current day. Brokeback mountain is simply a reality sugared with all possible drama elements when in Out in the Dark the main thing is not to go through the "beginning, middle and end", it's the part of the journey one person must take to survive.

When Nimr, a Palestinian student, sneaks across the border into Tel Aviv he meets Israeli lawyer Roy in a nightclub. Despite an initial hesitation on Nimr's part, the two meet again and quickly fall in love. However, despite their burgeoning romance, the two must face the fact that Nimr is caught between a rock and a hard place - unable to be openly gay in Palestine and unable to live with Roy in Tel Aviv due to the political situation. Set against a backdrop of personal and political tensions, 'Out in the Dark' is a beautiful and tender piece of film-making which, while setting itself within the Israel/Palestine conflict, avoids being preachy or overly-political.With the exception of one slightly heavy-handed subplot involving Nimr's brother, the film chooses not to delve too deeply into the Middle Eastern conflict, instead focusing on how it affects those who are born into it and cannot escape or evade their backgrounds.The two leads, played by Israelian actor Michael Aloni and relative newcomer Nicholas Jacob, are utterly compelling and will leave audiences wanting the two to succeed despite knowing that, in all likelihood, their romance is doomed.The cinematography is also excellent; often filmed digitally and using only natural and available light sources, the film is lent a gritty, moody and bleak tone which only adds to the film's realism and atmosphere. It also, in the film's third act, helps to heighten the frenetic and tense pacing as the two lovers race to find a way to stay together while avoiding the forces which would tear them apart.'Out in the Dark' is a moody and atmospheric debut feature from director Michael Mayer which transcends the 'LGBT film' genre to provide a gripping thriller and an engaging love story.