“A poetic reflection on chemsex, laced with satire, critique, and beauty” A typical Berlin scene unfolds complete with typical Noel Alejandro stylings. Fingers move over piano keys, then to skin. What time or day it is became irrelevant to this group of queer men at some point, where chemistry and hedonism took over. RAID: Episode 1 – Guardian Angels, the first of four parts in Noel Alejandro’s new film series – available now!
“This is the first time I am not explicitly putting my cinema at the service of sex-positivity. The tone is darker, with touches of black humour, and a desire to observe without judgement. We start in the middle of a party. Some guests are doing floral arrangements while others are having sex, techno plays in the background. There is someone constantly knocking on the door, no one seems worried. But in the end, it is the police who interrupt the night. Meanwhile, something irreversible is happening in the bathroom. In a way, the film becomes a poetic reflection on chemsex, laced with satire, critique, and beauty. There are growing raids on gay sex spaces and clubs, using the excuse that substances commonly used in queer nightlife are new and unregulated. Behind this there’s something darker: a systemic effort to dismantle spaces where we’ve long felt free. The jaws of fascism are reopening across the globe with major right parties taking power, which I represent with the “time twist” at the end of the movie. ” – Alejandro
Alejandro recently launched noelalejandrofilms.com as a monthly subscription service, and is releasing a new film to subscribers every two months. The site is like a dedicated Netflix for gorgeous, story-driven gay erotic film.
Alejandro is well-known in his own right to fans of artistic, independently produced adult film for his own brand of visually rich erotic film, but Noel initially got his start working with Erika Lust. He fell in love with the vision there which he interprets as “making a great film where you let the sex happen”. You can clearly see this interpretation in the way he refuses to let himself settle in the world of erotic cinema, always offering audiences something that is a little distinct from either porn or typical straightforward indie filmmaking, while clearly borrowing from both worlds.
Q&A WITH NOEL ALEJANDRO
Do any of these episodes revisit similar themes to past Bedtime Stories?
Not exactly. This is the first time I am not explicitly putting my cinema at the service of sex positivity. Instead, I wanted to document certain real scenes I have witnessed in queer spaces across Europe. The tone is darker, with touches of black humour, and a desire to observe without judgement. I was drawn to exploring some of the habits and dynamics in gay culture that are only now beginning to be openly discussed – controversial ones, with both critics and defenders.
What does this specific episode focus on, and what made you choose this theme?
I wanted to tell the story non-linearly, starting almost at the end, moving back, then sideways. Like handing the viewer a box full of puzzle pieces, spilling them out in front of them, and trusting their brain to do the work overnight. I am more interested in what stays in the mind than what happens on screen in order. It is a structure I explored in Remember I’m Dead too, but this time it is less about suspense and more about psychological processing.
What made you want to split this film into four parts?
Originally, I imagined four separate stories. But the apartment we found for the shoot was so atmospheric and charged that we decided to stay there and let one story unfold over four episodes. That space dictated the narrative. It became the perfect setting for a party-turned-nightmare.
How did you approach casting?
I have a contact list of people I have been meaning to work with. Some had written to me before. The casting came together fast, though we did have to make changes last minute due to the major blackout in Spain at the time. Some actors could not make it due to power outages, so we reshuffled on the spot. Luckily, the final cast gave it everything.
Was there anything unexpected during filming that changed the story?
Honestly, not really, which I am proud of. The shoot went smoothly, though we did not have time to rehearse much. Still, that rawness worked well, given the minimal dialogue and chaotic atmosphere. It made everything feel more real and spontaneous.
What about post-production?
I always edit with my heart – I am an editor first, so this is true even when I am supervising editing. My focus is on making something beautiful and meaningful for me, not worrying too much about how it will be received. Working in adult cinema gave me freedom to do that, to speak directly without filters. I follow my instincts. That said, I have recently realised I do not have as much freedom as I thought. Payment platforms like Visa and Mastercard impose significant restrictions on adult cinema. For example, we are not allowed to depict characters who are drunk or hallucinating, nor show any kind of weapon, even as a prop. These rules place huge limitations on me as a filmmaker, especially when working with complex or dark narratives. We have had to find imaginative ways to work around these constraints. Some of the elements that might confuse the viewer actually came from those limitations, and ironically, they ended up becoming some of the best creative choices in the film.
What is the general arc of the four episodes?
We start in the middle of a party. Some guests are doing floral arrangements while others are having sex, techno plays in the background. There is someone constantly knocking on the door, no one seems worried. But in the end, it is the police who interrupt the night. Meanwhile, something irreversible is happening in the bathroom. In a way, the film becomes a poetic reflection on chemsex, laced with satire, critique, and beauty.
Is there also a political context to this film?
The jaws of fascism are reopening across the globe with major right parties taking power, which I represent with the “time twist” at the end of the movie. Pointing to Spain, there are growing raids on gay sex spaces and clubs, using the excuse that substances commonly used in queer nightlife are new and unregulated. Behind this there’s something darker: a systemic effort to dismantle spaces where we’ve long felt free.
RAID – Available on www.noelalejandro.com
Directed by Noel Alejandro @noelalejandrox / www.noelalejandrofilms.com – x.com/noelalejandrox
Actors: Sunny Mike @sunnyxmike , Brandon Jones @jonzu , Lars Skov
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