Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Chad Allen who faced and weathered a scandal about outing a prominent gay actor has once again brought to cinematic life, gay private detective Donald Strachey. In On The Other Hand Death, Allen is working two cases and then realizes just how much they are connected. Not unlike the classic Farewell My Lovely from the hand of Raymond Chandler.On The Other Hand Death, has Strachey brought in for questioning after it's found out he's been hired to trail an undercover cop working an assignment. At the same time Allen's partner Sebastian Spence's ex Daman Runyon asks that Allen look into some bias related incidents involving a long time lesbian couple, Margot Kidder and Gabrielle Rose.Kidder and Rose leave way out in the rural part of Albany county and when Kidder who is a school guidance counselor finally came out of the closet, several of the neighbors became pretty hostile. Especially one whose son is experiencing those same sex urges. It would make things more convenient all around if Kidder would sell the family farm which has been in her family for generations.Maybe a little too convenient as Allen investigates and finds more than just your garden variety homophobia at work here.On The Other Hand Death will never approach Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler's work in the genre, but why does it have to? If the protagonist was straight this would just be another routine detective story that got a good film made from it. But Allen has done four Strachey stories and may yet do more if the demand is there.Hopefully the demand will be there.

Okay, I have to admit, I've been a Chad Allen fan ever since I caught him live in an off Broadway play called TEMPORARY HELP. I thought he was not only handsome but an excellent actor as well. It's always good to see his work and commitment to a film, play or whatever he promotes. In this film, the last of the four part series, he once again plays gay detective Donald Strachey assigned to a case, or rather several cases at the same time. As the story unravels, you find yourself caught up with the plot and begin guessing who did what to whom. But along the way there are secrets unraveled and dark pasts revealed. It's quite a journey.The gay theme is incidental and done with respect to the gay community by not making it the issue. And yet there are thoughts and statements that cover the subject in a delicate and touching way. Not preached at you but simply told. One of the tenderest scenes involve two young teen aged boys having a secret affair. When discovered by accident by our hero, he tells them such beautiful things and gives them purpose for caring about each other and to stand tall and believe in each other. I just cried when that scene happened. When I was young, how I would have relished that someone in my life to tell me the same things.There are gay relationships abundant in this film. But the subject of the film is greed and land ownership, not being gay. I loved that about this film. You just accepted the relationships. Director, Ron Oliver, did a remarkable job in bringing it all together. You could tell it was he and Chad Allen's dedication to telling the story honestly that made it a real human experience. Oliver does brilliant work in this film.Not to be forgotten are the superb supporting cast; Sebastian Spence as Strachey's lover and partner is a perfect foil for Allen. Being straight doesn't keep him from playing opposite gay actor Allen in any way. In fact you can see the chemistry between the two actors as they are working. Add the legend Margot Kidder as the other half of a lesbian couple who are centered in the story for not selling their farmhouse. Kidder is unpredictable as an actress. But she almost always gives a performance worth watching. In this film she does. As the other half of the partnership, Gabreille Rose is fantastic. Quality exudes from her throughout. She's also a beautiful woman. I hear she did a masterful job as Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williams' play THE GLASS MENAGERIE. Nelson Wong brings comedy and a freshness to his role as Starchey's helper. Some funny moments. Damon Runyan is another handsome hunk, playing the only nude scene in the picture, and brings an honest performance. Then Lori Ann Triolo, Barclay Hope, David Orth and Kerry James all are good in their roles.I loved this movie and look forward to more of the same. And Chad Allen, if you read this, don't ever stop your crusade for gay rights. I can't tell you how much that means to those that need to stand up and claim their identity.

This film is about Donald Strachey investigating the harassment of a lesbian couple, and he uncovers a lot of dark secrets along the investigation."On the Other Hand, Death" maintains the mystery and thrill throughout the film. It has a complicated plot, with a lot of unexpected twists. Though it is refreshing to see such a nicely written mystery, the various parts of the mystery needs a lot of explaining and building up. This makes the first half of the film confusing and seems leading to nowhere. When everything finally falls into place, I am marvelled by the storyline.The plot's inclusion of confused teens and people with a dark past make the characters more real. In addition, the relationship between Donald and Timothy is loving, not based on sex as other gay films would jump into at once. This is affirmative and encouraging to people who long for lifelong relationships. I enjoyed watching "On the Other Hand, Death", and I look forward to watching more Donald Strachey films.

while watching this movie on the HERE! network, I came to realize that no one else could play the lead role except Chad Allen. While the movie pace is relatively slow in nature - it must after all build to the ending - it does so in just slow enough pace to make you want to pull your hair out.Casting is decent all around - his up-tight husband is borderline annoying, and the gay secretary is becoming more annoying than in the last movie. The hot ex of the husband plays into the gay fear of the hot ex putting the make on the current husband...but it rather backfires on him as he becomes a target himself.The last 40 minutes of the movie are the best part of the movie - you can almost skip through the first part as the pacing is too slow. But once the shooting starts and the music quickens - the pace of the movie goes into a much needed overdrive! They are currently filming another movie in the series - let's hope that they can pace the next one better - but this one is not too shabby all around - just needs a slightly higher quality of scripts!