HOOKED - Synopsis

Hooked is a documentary film exploring the “online cruising” phenomenon through the stories and reflections of gay men from around the country.

Within the gay culture, online cruising - going online to meet other men and arranging an immediate, real-time sexual encounter - is rapidly emerging as a prime pastime.

The implications of this Huxlian game range from simple, “no-strings”, libido-fulfilling sex to deeper, darker issues concerning how we relate to other men, as well as to society in general. Further, depression, loneliness, and addiction seem to be recurring themes in the stories of men becoming “hooked” on online cruising.

In the summer of 2001, I began seeking interviewees for the documentary. Via gay-oriented cruising chat rooms on the Internet, I put out the word that I was looking for participants. Within two weeks I had received over 1,200 responses.

Eventually, these were paired down to a few dozen men, which ultimately led to Internet-based interviews (via NetMeeting) and an 11,000 mile road trek around the country for in-person interviews.

The film begins by looking at the “lighter side” of the phenomenon. That is, we explore what makes this place so seductive, alluring, and, for many, so habit-forming. From “stats,” techniques and liars to the thrill of the anonymous hook-up, the online cruising realm has its own set of rules, and we learn them from some of the pros.

From here we illuminate the darker areas beneath the Internet veneer. From the “party and play” online drug scene to sexual addiction, the men come clean, sharing their stories and exposing their struggles. Further, we look at how the emerging gay generation’s attitudes toward sex and intimacy are being influenced by the online-cruising phenomenon.

Ultimately, the film's progression forces us to ponder how the online cruising realm, (or technology in general), with its appeal of instant connection and gratification, in fact leads to our feeling more alone, more isolated, than ever.