The new film Bad Together shares the evolution of a relationship between two seemingly opposite gay friends as Robbie and Cameron learn to accept and love one another (and themselves) over the course of four years. “I really wanted to explore the idea that a lot of the expectations we hold for ourselves and others can lead to sadness and conflict,” filmmaker Jono Mitchell explains. Andrés Erickson and Queer Niro (photo: Lola Scott) The story begins with Robbie (played by Andrés Erickson), newly dumped and in such deep need of companionship that he’s willing to embrace the company of anyone who extends a hand. Enter Cameron (played by Queer Niro), the life of the party who appears to revel in the admiration he receives from others. However, behind the happy-go-lucky exterior is a guy seeking validation and struggling to find purpose in his life. The two are desperate to connect with one another, but they each offer their own version of love and affection. As they chase the ideal of what each deems to be true friendship, they create a relationship that may not be healthy for either one of them. Queer Niro and Andrés Erickson in BAD TOGETHER (image via Dekkoo) Mitchell explains he was inspired to write the story based on a similar friendship he experienced a few years ago. “I have an incredible friend who changed my life. He is so special to me, but circumstances within our current stages of life drove us apart,” he recalls. “When everything changed, I had to accept the version of friendship that I idealized didn’t exist anymore. What we became is just as special, but I think I’ll always grieve for what we had.” Erickson commended Mitchell on penning a script that focuses on queer friendship. “It’s not something we see a lot of in queer cinema. There’s often a tendency to focus on the romantic aspects, when in real life things are much more complex and nuanced.” Produced by Dekkoo Films, Bad Together is available now on digital/VOD platforms, and will stream on Dekkoo beginning in 2024.
