In Cuddle, Arron Blake wonders whether the act of intimacy is enough to be actual intimacy.
Oliver (Arron Blake) is an artist who can’t remember the last time another person actually touched him. Sure, he’s had sex, but it was just sex. Starved for connection and too tired to chase it the normal way, he downloads an app, Here 2 Hug, which matches individuals with professional cuddlers who show up and hold you for an hour while you pretend it’s someone who cares. Better than nothing, I suppose.
Oliver (Arron Blake) stands in a dimly lit room in Cuddle.
“Then he’s matched with Nate, who explains the terms and conditions and lets the cuddling commence.”
Then he’s matched with Nate (Théodore Sylvain), who explains the terms and conditions and lets the cuddling commence. For Oliver, the experience with Paul was a revelation, and he wishes he could hire Nate 24/7. For Nate, is there a connection with Oliver? But most importantly, is the physical act of intimacy actually intimacy?
First, writer/director/star Arron Blake absolutely nails the right tone for Cuddle, with Darius Shu bringing cinematography that gives us a dark, cold feel to match Arron’s story and performance. I felt the absolute inauthenticity of Oliver’s desire for love and connection, which was exactly the performance he needed to give. Cuddle is an LGBTQ story, but his emotional story is undeniable.
As a film, Cuddle has something universal to say, and Blake uses the camera as his paintbrush to convey all the subtext he needs to get the point across.
For more information, visit the Cuddle official Instagram page.
"…Sure, he's had sex, but it was just sex."
