Club Kid review: TIFF 2026
‘Club Kid’ is the moving story of a man who must choose between partying or raising the son he never knew he had.
In Club Kid, a single gay man learns that his partying a decade earlier resulted in more than a hangover.
Peter Green (Jordan Firstman) is a 30-something that parties every week like he’s still in his 20s. But getting wasted all the time is taking its toll on his mental health. Just as Peter hits a low point, life delivers one more gut punch: a party hookup he barely remembers got pregnant. Now, she’s unfortunately passed away and her best friend, Edison (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), has brought Arlo (Reggie Absolom) to Peter to finish raising.
When the film begins, it’s difficult to know what to expect. But something unexpected happens when Arlo arrives. Peter’s once-in-a-lifetime hetero slip during a narcotic-induced haze gives him the opportunity to be a father. When he realizes there’s nowhere else for Arlo to go, it’s like a switch flips in Peter’s brain. Suddenly, he’s willing to do anything not to mess the kid up.
It turns out to be a very sweet story. Arlo gives Peter a reason to be a better person. In spite of his issues, Peter is unexpectedly accepting of fatherhood. He’s also surprisingly emotionally open. However, their ability to have honest conversations seems like a bit of a fairy tale. Nonetheless, it’s difficult to be cynical about such a heartwarming story.
At some point, Peter inevitably needs to prove he’s the right person to raise Arlo. There’s always someone that challenges the man’s guardianship in these narratives. This is where reality re-enters the story for better or worse.
Club Kid had its Canadian premiere in the Special Presentations programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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Director: Jordan Firstman
Starring: Jordan Firstman, Cara Delevingne and Reggie Absolom
