Mates *** (2023, James Wiles, Rafe Bird, Sam Law, Jonathan Cobb) – Classic Movie Review 13,412

The thoughtful and sensitive 2023 romantic drama film Mates stars James Wiles as a young man who sets off on a hiking trip with his friends in the British countryside and meets Adam (Jonathan Cobb), who tries to seduce him.

Writer/ director Arno Crous’s thoughtful and sensitive 2023 British romantic drama film Mates stars James Wiles as Connor, a sincere and handsome young man who sets off on a hiking trip with his friends (Rafe Bird as the bully Mark, Sam Law as Nathan) in the scenic British countryside.

The unsuspecting Connor meets Adam (Jonathan Cobb), who unexpectedly attempts to seduce him, forcing Connor to confront his feelings about his sexuality and masculinity. Steevan Glover turns up as the amusingly caring whiskery father John.

This low-budget film has its problems as a movie, indeed it feels like a home movie at times, with the performances pleasingly eager on a high am-dram level and production values virtually non-existent, but its text is earnest, sincere and heartfelt. The very likeable film lightly entertains and challenges, and says the right things about identity and relationships, and that’s quite enough.

It is shot at Lullingstone Country Park, Eynsford, Kent, England. Yes, the countryside is beautiful, providing some visual distraction, but that is not the point. It helps the film to feel relaxed, escapist and old fashioned so that it can persuade you about its good-natured, not-very-controversial messages.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,412

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