‘Lookin’, written and directed by Cooper Dalbo, is a gay-themed short film that cuts deep into a very familiar experience within the queer community. It’s about that anonymous hookup we think might be something worthwhile, until reality hits.
Teenager Lachie, played with understated honesty by Liam Trumble, lies in bed at night, glued to Grindr. A profile marked “Lookin’” draws him in. They message, they meet. There’s barely any dialogue, which works – this is about body language, curiosity, tension and, later, regret.
Dalbo’s writing and direction is excellent. He understands the silences and half-glances that tell the story better than words. Martine Wolff’s cinematography is a perfect match, giving the film a dark, seductive look that mirrors Lachie’s headspace.
The film hits a raw nerve in the gay community. Anyone who’s chased a moment of connection through a screen knows this story. The impulse. The hope. The fast-moving reality check. Lachie’s final moment – that sinking “what have I done?” is brutally relatable.
The production values are high across the board, but nothing is flashy. The tone stays grounded. Trumble’s performance is all the stronger for its subtlety. ‘Lookin’ is a smart and compact coming-of-age film and a solid reminder of the push and pull between what we want and what we get. Dalbo nails it here.
