One of director Jerry Douglas' best-known titles from early in his career. Some of the most intense, sensuous moments of Ryan Idol's career are perfectly captured in the amazing Trade Off, and all you closet voyeurs and bi/gay-curious dudes will be in hog heaven. Ryan plays a seriously closeted 'mo, who spends his time watching (i.e. obsessing) over his next door neighbor, the hunky blonde piece Axel Garret (in one of his first roles). These two pieces of beefcake spend a ton of time staring at each other through their apartment blinds and whacking off together - all under the guise of being "straight." (They share the same porno mag while playing with their Hefty Cinch sacks; aww... it must be love!)
Sure this has been used as plot device countless times, but director Douglas keeps the pace up, and uses some terrific camera moves to convey a real sense of erotically charged sex about to happen. And make no mistake: happen it does. No self-hating bullshit here, just some really hard-on inducing fantasy stuff. That's all this is supposed to be anyway, right? Bi curious dudes will have a field day with this one, and as previously stated all you certified homos out there will be in drool heaven over Trade Off. An essential classic of the era. --Keeneye Reeves
