“Given
the opportunity to find fame and
fortune as a world class supermodel,
an attractive young photographer’s
assistant gives in to temptation, careless
of the horrific price he is going have to
pay in Dorian...”
DETERMINED TO FULFIL HIS AMBITION to be a top photographer, Louis (Ethan
Erickson) is working as an assistant in 1980's New York for the respected
Bae (Jennifer Nitsch), who has made a name for herself shooting top brand advertisements.
Bae's manager Henry Wooten (cult favourite Malcolm McDowell: A Clockwork
Orange) spots Louis and photographs him when he calls to see Bae, whom he
discovered and with whom he seems to have a very special relationship
A New York socialite and manager to the stars, Henry's influence over the beautiful
youth with a simple dream is all-encompassing and Louis finds his life is completely
out of his control, with the unthinkable happening to those he loves.
Manipulated by Henry, who is watching his every move, Louis becomes obsessed
with fame, fortune and eternal youth; thereby sacrificing his soul to his desires.
Oscar Wilde's classic tale of narcissism and hedonistic indulgence, The Picture
of Dorian Gray, is updated to late Twentieth Century/early Twenty-First
Century Manhattan, where the sinister and callous Henry convinces Louis that
he is the 'Face of Tomorrow' and that he should live for today. "Beauty is a
form of genius," says Henry. "It makes princes of those that possess it."
Louis, a natural in front of the camera, loves to be photographed. Henry tells
him the story of Dorian Gray. "Age makes me rather sad," he tells Louis. "When
you get old, you'll curse Bae every time you look at her photographs. Of course,
you could always turn the tables on it like Dorian Gray…" He gives Louis a new
name: Dorian.
Louis has been captured within a framed picture and Dorian, a self indulgent,
self destructive, forever gorgeous supermodel, emerges. Henry drives a wedge
between Louis and his fiancée, actress and former drug addict Sybil (Amy Sloan),
buys him a new apartment in Manhattan and arranges for his seduction by Trina
(Bonwen Booth), who gets him hooked on hard drugs.
By the autumn of 1990, Dorian is growing increasingly more paranoid as he becomes
ever more depraved. Out partying every night and heavily into drugs, sex and
rock 'n' roll, Dorian is still beautiful. But the photograph's increasingly-grotesque
disfigurement reflects the unconscionable acts born of Dorian.
Henry arranges a six-figure book deal for Dorian with publisher Dinah Baxter
(Ellen David); but Bae warns Louis that Henry is not all he seems. Henry introduces
Dorian to Mariella Steiner (Victoria Sanchez) and her wealthy husband Rolf (Chrisoph
Waltz), but his decision to go back to Germany with them has dire consequences.
Is there a way back for Louis? Trapped inside Dorian's flawless body, he wants
out. But in a pact with the devil, there may be no escape…
Beginning with very quirky, interesting and evocative music accompanied by fast-moving
traffic through the bright lights of New York, Dorian is a well constructed,
suitably chilling retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The film bears
the acknowledgement: In memory of sound designer Glenn Tussmann (1967 to 2002).
Dorian also features: Ron Lea as Detective Giatti; Karen Cliche as Christine;
Carl Alacchi as James; Henri Pardo as Cop at Crime Scene; and Daniela Ferrera
and Jane McLean as girls in Dorian's apartment.
Music Score is by Larry Cohen; Director of Photography is Eric Moynier; Producer
UK is Harry Alan Towers; Co Producer UK is Maria Rohm; Screenplay is by Ron
Raley and Peter Jobin; Producers are: Luciano Lisi, Christine Kavanagh and Charmaine
Carvalho; Produced and Directed by Allan A Goldstein.
• Allan Goldstein directs cult favourite Malcolm
McDowell in the ultimate psychodrama, Dorian — available on DVD
courtesy of Network Releasing on 3 October 2011. Certificate: 15 | RRP: £12.99.
"Dorian is a well constructed, suitably chilling retelling of The
Picture of Dorian Gray" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“Given
the opportunity to find fame and