Executive Overview
Set to receive a limited theatrical release on November 6, Jordan Firstman’s feature directorial debut, Club Kid, has emerged as one of the most self-assured, critically discussed independent gems of the year. Following its acquisition by A24 out of the Cannes Film Festival, the film has generated substantial buzz for its unique tonal tightrope walk: it is simultaneously a gentle, deeply affecting family drama and a sleazy, neon-drenched New York indie.
Firstman stars as Peter Green, a washed-up, gay Jewish club promoter navigating a personal and professional low point. Just as his life threatens to completely unravel, Peter discovers he has a ten-year-old son, a revelation that violently collides his hedonistic, drug-fueled underground lifestyle with the sobering realities of unexpected fatherhood.
Shot on 35mm film, Club Kid evokes the dim celluloid haze and gritty texture of 1970s and 1980s American cinema—evoking comparisons to William Friedkin’s Cruising—while filtering that vintage aesthetic through an upbeat, contemporary lens. The movie unfolds within and around New York City’s bustling, ever-shifting queer underground, serving as a vibrant backdrop for an intimate story of emotional discovery, subdued heartache, and the transformative power of seeing oneself through another person’s eyes.
Detailed Chronology & Narrative Arc
The Prologue: A Decade in the Shadows
Club Kid opens ten years in the past, capturing all the energy, mystique, and illicit allure of classic midnight thrillers. Utilizing authentic 35mm stock, cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra establishes a dark, smoky visual grammar that pays homage to New York’s cinematic past. In these opening sequences, we are introduced to a younger, hyper-ambitious Peter Green orchestrating a massive, hedonistic underground rave.
It is here that the film establishes its eccentric, catty ensemble of supporting characters who will orbit Peter’s life for the next decade:
- Sophie (Cara Delevingne): Peter’s pragmatic, fiercely protective business partner and promoter.
- Devon (Nigil Whyte): Peter’s deeply supportive, level-headed ex-boyfriend.
- Saffron (Saturn Risin9): A ferocious, commanding trans DJ whose presence anchors the city’s radical nightlife.
The prologue culminates in a drug-fueled threesome—an evening of blurred lines and forgotten details that Peter writes off as just another hazy night in the big city. Little does he know, the chickens are destined to come home to roost a decade later.
The Inciting Incident: Enter Arlo
Fast-forward ten years, and Peter is in a state of arrested development. His drug problems have worsened, his finances are in shambles, and he is barely clinging to relevance in a rapidly gentrifying New York nightlife scene. Right as a professional falling out with Sophie strips away his primary source of income, an acquaintance from London drops off a surprise visitor: Arlo (Reggie Absolom), Peter’s ten-year-old biological son.
Arlo’s mother has recently passed away, leaving the boy completely orphaned with no other family to turn to. Despite the morbid, heavy premise, Club Kid refuses to sink into unmitigated misery. Instead, it floats on a fabric of lurid, self-effacing comedy deeply rooted in its community. This includes Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov), a gay Azerbaijani teen and wannabe philosopher whom Peter houses despite his own empty bank account.
The Collision of Two Worlds
As Arlo integrates into Peter’s chaotic orbit, the worlds of narcotics-fueled found family and inescapable blood relation crash together. Peter is a thirty-something man-child with zero direction, forced to suddenly reorient his life around the demands of parenthood. Ironically, the polite, emotionally guarded 10-year-old Londoner seems remarkably more prepared for stability—even if he frequently disguises his deep grief behind a brave, stoic facade.
Compounding the tension, the magnetism of the nightlife refuses to let Peter go. The musically talented Arlo soon begins showing up at the clubs, eventually working early-shift DJ sets alongside Saffron. The lines between parental responsibility and countercultural indulgence blur dangerously.
The Therapeutic Turn and Legal Complications
As Peter and Arlo spend more time together, organic conversational moments begin to chip away at their respective emotional armor. Long-hidden, volatile feelings are gradually unlocked through late-night chats, domestic disagreements, and Arlo’s sessions with child therapist Oscar—a smoldering professional played by Diego Calva, who quickly becomes the object of Peter’s romantic interest.
However, the sweet, taboo humor and domestic comedy eventually give way to higher stakes. Legal complications surrounding Arlo’s cross-border adoption introduce a rigorous, bureaucratic layer to the narrative. This forces the film’s salacious comedy to subside, replaced by a piercing buildup of emotional tension that mounts steadily until it overflows in a cathartic climax.
Supporting Context & Metrics
Cinematic Craftsmanship and Aesthetics
Club Kid stands out in the current cinematic landscape through its refusal to rely on generic digital aesthetics. By shooting on 35mm film, the production team successfully conjures the tactile, grainy warmth of New Hollywood cinema while maintaining a thoroughly modern pulse.
Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra utilizes freewheeling handheld camera movements that nestle into tight, claustrophobic spaces. This technical approach makes every scene of overlapping dialogue feel intensely intimate, pulling the audience directly into the crowded apartments and pulsing green rooms of New York’s underground.
Cultural Authenticity and Camp
The film’s humor draws heavily from postmodern, internet-meme-as-camp-culture queerness—a sensibility increasingly prominent in digital spaces and reality television like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Yet, Club Kid avoids feeling derivative or cynical. Its authenticity is anchored by naturalistic performances. Jordan Firstman’s portrayal of bumbling, self-aware vulnerability matches perfectly with Reggie Absolom’s deadpan, matter-of-fact delivery. This comedic mismatch subverts traditional family dynamics, forcing Peter to fundamentally evolve to bridge the generational and experiential gap between them.
Official Statements & Production Insights
While A24 has kept promotional rollouts targeted ahead of the November 6 limited release, early festival reactions from Cannes provide critical insight into the film’s genesis.
"We weren’t interested in making a sanitized ‘prestige’ film about gay parenting," notes director and star Jordan Firstman in early production notes. "The queer underground isn’t a museum exhibit; it’s messy, it’s drug-addled, it’s brilliant, and it’s exhausting. I wanted to show a character who is addicted to the high-wire act of youth culture, and how a child—who is dealing with his own profound grief—forces that person to finally look in the mirror."
Firstman’s transition from internet satirist and acclaimed writer to feature-length director has been closely monitored by industry analysts. A24’s acquisition of the film out of Cannes signals strong confidence in Firstman’s distinct directorial voice, positioning Club Kid as a potential player in the upcoming indie awards conversation.
Future Outlook
As Club Kid prepares for its limited theatrical rollout on November 6 before a wider platform expansion, industry projections suggest strong word-of-mouth performance among younger cinephiles, LGBTQ+ audiences, and admirers of gritty urban dramas.
The film’s ultimate trajectory will likely depend on its ability to cross over from festival darlings to mainstream cultural discourse. With standout supporting turns from Cara Delevingne and Diego Calva, alongside a breakout performance by young newcomer Reggie Absolom, Club Kid has all the necessary components to become a cult classic. In a mere two-hour runtime, Firstman manages to deliver an emotional marathon—proving that when cinematic realism meets New Hollywood grit, the result is an unforgettable exploration of love, heartache, and the messy beauty of growing up, no matter your age.
