Looking for love in the city that never sleeps is a Herculean feat, as seen in filmmaker Taylor Ghrist’s feature film Dangling Carrot. Ghrist writes, directs, and stars in this complicated story about a young man searching for love in all the wrong places. This dramedy isn’t afraid to get graphic as it dives deep into the messiness of the NYC millennial dating scene.

The Downside of a “No Strings Attached” Dating Scene

Taylor (Ghrist) is a queer, sober, and unemployed millennial who is always searching for the next guy. He should be job hunting, but instead is app-swiping. Our introduction to Taylor is extremely memorable, as we see him servicing random men for the thrill of it. It’s obvious that this type of one-sided sexual behavior is demoralizing for Taylor, but it’s become a pattern he seems to not be able to break. Throughout the film, Taylor meets up with a variety of men. Two of them initially stand out as decent guys with long-term potential; however, Taylor quickly learns that both are emotionally unavailable. Adding to his spiraling situation, these relationships also threaten to derail his mental health and sobriety.

A Big Story Told on a Micro Budget

Dangling Carrot is full of raw and intimate experiences between our protagonist and his dates. Conversations quickly turn into graphic, physical acts that always leave Taylor feeling empty. It’s sad to see how this cycle continues to destroy what little self-respect he has left, but nevertheless, we continue to root for him to find his strength and confidence. Filmmaker Taylor Ghrist channels a Sean Baker-type of energy with the raw subject material. Aiding in this is the electric score by composer Donald Cumming.

Director’s Statement

Says Ghrist, “An urgency following multiple heartaches, a frustration with sex culture, and a much-needed self-introspection was the advent for Dangling Carrot. In a sense, it’s my New York City love letter for the times we live in and an unabashed depiction of a young gay man’s life, mostly sourced from experiences of my own, while not entirely factual. I have always struggled to connect with many gay characters in cinema, and thought writing my own experience would not only be cathartic but be a great film.

As a gay man myself living in Manhattan, I have always had a puzzling relationship with sex and, yes, my own gay identity and connection to other men… In a way, Dangling Carrot is a (late) coming-of-age story that touches upon these subjects. My intention is to portray a certain millennial ache where it’s so easy to meet people but so hard to get to know someone, especially in a city like New York.”

Takeaway

Regardless of sexual orientation, Dangling Carrot offers a universal statement on the importance of human connection and the lengths some go to attain it. In today’s world of growing isolation, it resonates now more than ever. The film made its World Premiere yesterday at the Downtown Festival in New York City.