27th-year-old Willam Spetz made his name in his native Sweden as a TikTok star but now he has created, written, and starred in TORE a superb quirky queer drama that is shockingly good. He plays the lead character who is awkwardly closeted and in the very first episode is left orphaned when his father is killed in an accident.
It sets the mood/pace for what is essentially a comic drama, yet is unafraid to tackle more serious issues like grief, loneliness, and coming to terms with his sexuality. We see Tore going to his first gay club and getting picked up by rough-looking Viggo (Victor Iván) who helps Tore throw himself into the world of alcohol, sex, and drugs for the first time.
By day, Tore works for his late father’s Funeral Home Business, although what he actually does there is never made clear, nor is the fact that his father was about to fire him. There are several incidents throughout the drama that have loose threads to them, which not only add to the charm of the piece but keep you totally engrossed.
The apple in Tore’s eye is (very handsome) Erik (Hannes Fohlin) a florist who he meets when he is delivering to the Funeral Home. Even though he has no idea if Erik is gay, he decides there and then that he is to be his (first) boyfriend. He almost makes this happen, but right at the point of consummating it, Erik’s ex-boyfriend turns up to ask him back. Tore’s insistence on avoiding reality as much as possible, makes him both vulnerable and at the same time, attractive
Kudos to both director Erika Calmeyer and cinematographer Karl Erik Brøndbo for some innovative camerawork particularly in the scenes where Tore is tripping (on LSD).
Tore’s emotional story actually questions not only how to handle grief but also the options about moving forward. It is easy to see why this may not sit well with everyone, but we took such a shine to him that we have all our digits crossed that Netflix will commission a second series
Review : Roger Walker-Dack
Editor in Chief : Queerguru
Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) and NLGJA The Association of LGBT
Journalists. and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributing Editor The Gay Uk &Contributor Edge Media
Former CEO and Menswear Designer of Roger Dack Ltd in the UK
one of the hardest-working journalists in the business' Michael Goff of Towleroad
Labels: 2023, Netflix, swedish, TORE, TV series, Willam Spetz
