Touch Me balances laughs with sheer alien weirdness

In the opening minutes of writer/director Addison Heimann's Touch Me, Olivia Taylor Dudley's character Joey gives an expansive monologue in front of the camera. She describes to her therapist an encounter she had with a track suit-wearing alien named Brian (Lou Taylor Pucchi). This goes on for about a good ten minutes, and it's a riveting opening. It also underscores what this movie does really well. There's an absurdity to Joey's monologue. After all, she's talking about a hip-hop dancing extraterrestrial, and yet, there's a danger that underscores the sexual interaction she had with Brian. At one point, she describes the blood in her brain and how she pleaded with Brian to stop but he wouldn't. It makes viewers question whether or not Brian is a friendly alien or has nefarious intentions.

Joey lives with a gregarious roommate named Craig (Jordan Gavaris). When their bathroom has a severe plumbing issue that costs $10,000 to repair, the two struggle to come up with a solution and find money. Though Craig's family is wealthy, he's certain they won't keep bailing him out, and he's never held a job. At one point, he jokes about having a degree in philosophy. Joey attempts to land a job at a local coffee shop but fails miserably after smacking a customer in the face. It's another great dash of humor within the film.

Another one of the film's strengths lies in the relationship between Joey and Craig. The two simply have great banter, and a lot of jokes they make land. The casting of Dudley and Gavaris as the roommates really works. It's a great time watching them on screen together.

Soon, they find a solution when Brian invites them to stay at his place. Because their plumbing doesn't work, they have no choice. Everything about Brian turns on Craig and Joey. The two can't get a full night's rest without dreaming of Brian, and eventually, he seduces both of them. There's one scene between Joey and Brian that's by far one of the gnarliest sequences I've seen in any film this year. All I can say is tentacle alien sex. This movie frequently floats in and out of the truly strange and unusual territory. This may be off-putting to some viewers, but just go where Heimann's film leads, no matter how bizarre. This is a movie that really requires an open mind.

Meanwhile, even though the sex is fantastic, and Brian manages to turn the roomies on in ways they could have never imagined, there's still an undercurrent of danger regarding Brian. Initially, he told Joey he was visiting Earth to stop climate change, but that turned out to be bogus, and she suspects he just wants to use her sexually. Additionally, there's also the semi-hostile Laura (Marlene Forte), who lives with Brian and takes care of some of the basics, like cooking. However, Craig and Joey don't trust her and Joey frequently has dreams in which Laura tries to kill her. Forte plays the part well. She's cunning and mysterious, and viewers don't know the full intentions of her character until late in the runtime.

Brian also requires that Craig and Joey frequently share their trauma. As they face the camera and each give a painful monologue several times, it really grounds the film and opens the characters to more than humor. These scenes are incredibly well done and add a seriousness that the film really doesn't have otherwise. But again, it raises the question about Brian's true intent and if he plans to use Craig and Joey's expressed traumas against them.

Overall, Touch Me is a strange trip and one heck of a wild ride. This movie won't be for everyone, as it may be too weird for some. That said, for those open to something absurd that's unlike other alien movies, then give Touch Me a chance.

Touch Me is currently streaming on Shudder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWDJScsSuY