One false preconception of gay guys is that they are uniformly fey fellows who wilt like under-watered lilies at the first sign of physical confrontation. Self-proclaimed "queer" director Christian Calson is a buff boy with balls. Violent, confrontational, defying expectations and stereotypes, his Shiner (2004) is not afraid to stand up and provoke a punch. The freaky and conflicted relationships of three interconnected couples--each of whom toys with some degree of active or potential violence--provide Shiner's bare-bones plot, which is fleshed out with disturbing and revealing glimpses into the hidden motives that drive our desires and sabotage our needs.