Swallowed (2023) Review

From director Carter Smith, Swallowed is a Queer body horror that will linger with you long after the credits roll.

Cooper Koch (also starring in the hotly anticipated They/Them) stars as Benjamin, a starry eyed up and coming porn actor, as he takes his friend Dom (Jose Colon) out for a fun night before his big move to LA. Looking to make some fast cash on the way home, Dom agrees to transport drugs for his cousin, only to realise he has signed up to so much more than he bargained for.

The violent coercion is clear from the moment initially sweet and innocent Alice (Jena Malone) pulls a gun on the pair, coaxing them to ingest the packages. Though the men comfortably assume this is the worst thing to happen that evening, we quickly learn it is only the beginning.

Stopping at a shady rest stop shortly past the border, Dom finds himself in an altercation that leads to a vicious punch to the gut. Not knowing whether the impact has perforated the packages, he begins to feel increasingly uneasy and physically unwell. When the pair find their tyres slashed they face the notion of being stuck in the middle of nowhere as Doms condition worsens, too afraid to call for help given the circumstances.

An unlikely saviour appears in the form of Alice who takes the pair to her bosses cabin to pass the packages before taking them to hospital. Despite her adversarial and antagonistic approach, as things develop it appears Alice too is having second thoughts, her own behaviour potentially the result of acting under duress. When we are introduced to the unnamed ‘boss’ (Mark Patton), we begin to question where the real threat lies – outside or in.

The feature is unabashedly queer and utilises a number of LGBT cliches to highlight the very real danger that lurks under the trope. Swallowed plays out as a cautionary tale for young men, highlighting the predatory nature of some individuals that exist within the scene which overall feels like a metaphor for the abundance of abuse in the adult industry. Though I can see what it was trying to do, there were certain scenes that felt a little too ‘on the nose’, and without a clear direction the impact was somewhat diluted.

Though set up as a potential creature/body horror, the film was actually very lacking in this area – in a way that almost makes the slight inclusion feel unnecessary.

Close to the films conclusion there is a poignant quote that leans heavily into the overarching message of the film. In reference to the drugs ingested, it is noted that ‘it keeps your dick hard, but what is the point if you can’t feel anything’. Whilst this relates quite literally to Dom’s lack of feeling in his extremities, it takes on a bigger meaning in the context of the desensitisation of individuals within the adult industry.

The acting throughout the feature is fantastic, particularly from the amazing Jena Malone, who if anything I wanted more of. As the film concludes there is a hard and somewhat questionable swerve that seems to ignore all the characters have been through and it means the piece almost loses its message a little.

Whilst it is a strong piece with great performances, it is derailed slightly by its ultimate confusion over its aims, but none the less is well worth a watch.

Movie Rating:

Swallowed trailer