Now Showing: Hideaway

 

Hideaway

Genre: Drama / Erotic

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Writer: Roy Horne 

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Charlie Heaton, Madison Iseman, Jharrel Jerome, Charles Melton, Taylor Russell, Rachel Sennott, Suzanna Son

Plot: March, 2020. Alex (Timothee Chalamet), a wealthy social media influencer with his own content brand, paces around his upscale New York City apartment. He looks at the banking apps on his phone, angry that the sudden shutdown of the city is hampering his ability to make new content to bring in new cashflow. He looks out the window, down to the empty streets below. He takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of isolation. He starts a video call with his friend Sophie (Madelaine Petsch), suggesting a retreat in the Hamptons for them and a few friends. Sophie, sick of being cooped up indoors, immediately leaps at the idea. Alex begins sending out texts to make the arrangements. Once all the invites have been made, a sly smile spreads across Alex's face.

Jordan (Jharrel Jerome) is seen in the sleek office of his tech startup, now eerily empty after all the other employees have been sent home to do their work remotely. As he codes at his workstation, the invitation from Alex pops up on his screen. Excited, Jordan closes out of his workstation and quickly leaves the office.

Eli (Charles Melton) wears scrubs and a mask, tending to emergency room patients in the hospital. He clearly feels overwhelmed by the environment. He finds a moment for himself, taking his mask off to breathe unfiltered air. He takes a glance at the notifications on his phone, seeing the invitation from Alex. He takes off his scrubs, throwing them in the trash. He walks out of the hospital, throwing his name badge on the ER intake counter on his way out the door, silently quitting his job due to the stress.

Ryan (Charlie Heaton) strums at his guitar in a dimly lit recording studio. As he struggles to find the right melody, he is interrupted by a call from his manager to inform him of more gigs being canceled due to pandemic shutdowns. Feeling defeated, Ryan checks his phone and sees the invite from Alex.

Sophie's apartment is filled with travel memorabilia and photos she has taken all over the world in her job as a travel blogger. She's in the process of editing a video from the last trip she took before everything began shutting down. She finishes her video blog on a hopeful note, suggesting that every adventure is going to feel even more important once the world opens back up. 

Mia (Suzanna Son) is working on a graphic design project in a small, cluttered art studio. She hums to herself as she works. She sees the invite on her phone from Alex, but selects 'Maybe' as her response. This prompts a call from Sophie, who convinces Mia to break out of her shell and come have some fun with her. After a moment of contemplation, Mia finally agrees to come along.

Lena (Rachel Sennott) is leading a virtual protest rally, speaking into her webcam about how the COVID outbreak is showing how poor the U.S. healthcare philosophy is working compared to other countries. Messages of solidarity flood her screen. After the rally, she sees the invite and a message from her on-again off-again boyfriend, Jordan. Lena clicks 'Yes' on the invite and begins packing.

Eva (Taylor Russell) sits at her desk in her cozy apartment, surrounded by books and notes for her novel. She stares at a blank page, clearly struggling with writer's block. She receives a call from Mia, asking if she is coming up to the Hamptons as well. Eva looks at the blank screen of her laptop's word document as she ponders the idea. Eva then closes the laptop and agrees to take the trip.

Alex is at the location, a lavish mansion in the Hamptons that he has rented. He installs hidden cameras and microphones all around the masnion's property - bedrooms, common areas, the pool. He checks the monitors he has set up in a secret room in the house to make sure that all of the camera angles are exactly what he requires. He answers a call, assuring the person on the other side of the call that he will get great footage during the retreat.

Alex throws a lavish pool party to celebrate the arrival of his guests.  He has them each sign a form, claiming it is in case there are any damages to the mansion during their stay. They all sign the paper without reading it. As the sun begins to set, the group has all arrived. While everybody gets loosened up with a round of tequila shots, Alex pulls out a stash of marijuana and some edibles, which the group indulges in. Alex invites Sophie into the hot tub with him where they share a passionate kiss, igniting Eli's jealousy as he watches from a distance. Alex and Sophie playfully splash water on each other as Eli continues to seethe, downing more shots of tequila to the point that Ryan cuts him off.

Hangovers abound as the group wakes up late in the morning. Jordan and Lena explore the mansion, finding a hidden wine cellar in the basement. They open a bottle as they discuss their romantic relationship. Lena asks Jordan why they broke up this last time again. Jordan says that Lena broke it off because she was disappointed that he doesn't care about social issues with the same passion she does. Lena confesses that wasn't a very good reason and climbs in Jordan's lap. The two have quick but passionate sex in the dimly lit wine cellar. Alex watches the scene from his monitors, pleased with the footage he is capturing in the house.

Sophie goes for a swim and is soon joined by Ryan. As they flirt in the water, Mia watches from her bedroom window. Soon the flirting between Sophie and Ryan becomes more, and the two swimmers take off their bathing suits. Mia, aroused, begins to touch herself between her legs as she watches Sophie and Ryan skinny-dipping. Eva walks into the room, startling and embarrassing Mia, who rushes off.

Lena, looking for a quiet place to reflect, discovers a secluded garden filled with blooming flowers. She is soon joined by Alex, and their conversation quickly turns into a flirtatious game of cat and mouse. They playfully chase each other through the garden. Finally, Alex manages to catch Lena, taking her down to the grass for a kiss, but not before making sure that they are in view of the nearest hidden camera. Lena breaks away, revealing that she is trying to make things work with Jordan again. Alex assures Lena that he understands and lets her go.

After dinner, the group gathers for a game of Truth or Dare. Alex quickly dares Eva to kiss Mia, breaking down Mia's shyness. The two women share a slow, lingering kiss.  When it becomes Alex's turn, he dares Ryan to serenade Sophie. Ryan takes out his guitar and begins singing, causing Eli to once again storm off. Alex watches Eli storm off, satisfied.

Sophie finds Eli in the mansion's sauna smoking a joint. She confides in him that she has complicated feelings for Alex and Ryan, in addition to her old feelings for Eli. Eli tells Sophie that he misses being with her, and that not being with her has made him truly realize how much he hates being a doctor. Sophie is surprised by the confession, having witnessed the effort he put in during medical school. Eli reveals that he only went into the medical field to please his father. Sophie is touched by Eli's vulnerability and kisses Eli. He begins kissing her harder and undressing her. She doesn't stop him at first, but soon pulls away. Sophie tells Eli that things between them as lovers have come to an end, but she still cares about him as a friend.

Mia, feeling restless, decides to paint a mural in the mansion's garden. Eva joins her, helping her with the painting. Soon Eva confesses that she liked kissing Mia. Eva caresses Mia, kissing her amidst the paint splatters. Their hands and bodies become covered in paint. They laugh as they smear paint on each other, at first playfully, then more sensually. 

Lena and Jordan sneak off to a cozy nook of the mansion. Lena tells Jordan that she wants to have a serious conversation with him. Jordan nervously agrees. Lena tells Jordan that she finds their constant break-ups and make-ups exhausting and gives him an ultimatum. She wants to know if Jordan truly wants to be with her by the end of the retreat. 

Ryan and Sophie continue getting to know each other in the hot tub. Sophie reveals a tray of strawberries and a bottle of champagne. They feed each other strawberries, the juice dripping down their chins, which they proceed to lick off each other's skin. Alex watches the live footage of this from his monitors. Eli is still uneasy over Sophie's rejection of him. Alex tries to console the heartbroken Eli, but Eli senses something inauthentic about Alex's behavior. Eli grabs a bottle of whiskey from the bar, rejecting Alex's council.

For the finale of the time at their little hideaway, Alex announces that he has a special treat for everyone that should hopefully help give them perspective as the world changes around them. He pulls out an ornate tray holding eight doses of LSD, one for each of them. After the doses are passed out, Alex watches them all with a mix of fascination and detachment as his trip takes over. He sees himself as a conductor of a surreal symphony. Sophie finds herself overwhelmed by her inability to choose a romantic partner, finding herself glancing between Alex, Ryan and Eli. Jordan and Lena's trip is intensely connected as they hold each other lovingly, hands intertwined. Ryan loses himself in a sensory overload. Ryan rushes to find his guitar, believing he has finally found the melody for his new song. Mia and Eva retreat to the garden where they make love in front of their mural. Eli strips down naked, shedding himself of the expectations and pressures that have been imposed on him by others, and dives into the pool.

On their final day in the mansion, the group begins packing up their belongings. Mia stumbles upon one of the hidden cameras in her room. Shocked and horrified, Mia gathers the others to show them her discovery. The group, minus Alex, begin to search through the mansion and find more hidden cameras and microphones, realizing that all of their private moments, conversations, drug use and sexual activity have been captured on video during their time at the hideaway.

The group goes to confront Alex, who tries to defend his actions, arguing that the recordings were meant to create an art project about like during COVID and claiming he has no malicious intent. Sophie yells at Alex, telling him that he had no right to invade their privacy. Lena threatens legal action against Alex for recording them without permission if he releases the footage. Alex turns things around on Lena, informing her and the rest of the group that the waiver he had them sign when they all arrived gave him permission to record whatever he wanted - they would know this if any of them bothered to read the fine print. Mia asks why Alex really did it, wondering if it was money, fame or something else. Alex stutters, failing to come up with an answer that will satisfy the group. Sophie pleads with Alex to not release any footage online. Alex is non-commital. They all leave the property, vowing to cut ties with Alex and to never speak of the retreat again. Once everyone else has left, Alex begins rounding up the rest of the cameras and microphones his former friends didn't find. 

Weeks later, Sophie discovers that Alex has begun releasing the footage of the retreat online against their wishes, editing it together to create a salacious documentary series that instantly goes viral, hurting the reputation of everyone except for Alex.