What would you do if a mysterious invitation landed in your inbox, promising a sun-soaked weekend at a clothing-optional resort in Palm Springs surrounded by gorgeous men, bottomless drinks, and zero expectations?
If you’re like most gays, you’d book the flight immediately. (And let’s be honest: you wouldn’t bother packing much.)
But in Laid Bare, what starts as a fantasy getaway quickly spirals into something far deadlier and far more entertaining.
Premiering today exclusively on OUTtv, the new darkly comic mystery series from writer-director Tim O’Leary (Demonhuntr) blends camp, suspense, satire, and an unapologetically queer gaze into a whodunit that feels tailor-made for its audience.
Paradise, with a body count
The chaos begins when wealthy, deeply closeted businessman Nikos Lambrakis (Kevin Scott Allen) dies suddenly only for ten men to receive invitations from beyond the grave to gather at his secluded Palm Springs resort.
Among them are Nikos’s two adult sons, both queer:
- Alistair (Ethan Daniel Corbett), and
- Aaron (Robert Rice), who now manages the resort following his father’s death.
The remaining guests? A deliciously messy mix of men who all share one thing in common: they attended Nikos’s infamous 60th birthday sex party shortly before he died and each allegedly blackmailed him.
Meet the suspects (and potential victims)
The guest list reads like a queer Agatha Christie fever dream:
- Cassidy Raines – an Olympic athlete with secrets (Jason Caceres)
- Barron Hemmings – a polished socialite with sharp edges (Zack Rocklin-Waltch)
- Bryan Byrne – a publicist who knows where the bodies are buried (Jaymes Hayden Rodriguez)
- Montana Briggs – a fashion model used to being watched (Marval Rex)
- Liam McKay – an animal rights activist with moral contradictions (Michael Deni)
- Jesse Steele – a porn star who’s seen it all (Nicolas Zuluaga)
- Eric Barnard – Jesse’s partner and a former professor (Ephraim López)
Rounding out the group is Jacques, Nikos’s devoted valet (Alex Ringler) whose survival prospects don’t look great from the jump.
When the group learns that Nikos’s inheritance will be split evenly between them, the stakes become crystal clear. If one of them dies? Everyone else gets richer.
And soon enough, men start getting “whacked off” murdered, not pleasured one by one.
Camp, carnage, and cheekbones
Laid Bare knows exactly what it is and never pretends otherwise. It’s a murder mystery with a wicked sense of humor, overflowing with attractive suspects, sly dialogue, and genre-savvy twists.
As O’Leary himself joked on social media, the show is giving:
“Clue meets The CW meets Falcon Studios.”
And honestly? That’s not an exaggeration.
The series balances genuine suspense with playful self-awareness, allowing its mystery to remain compelling without sacrificing fun. It’s sexy, yes but also smart, silly, and sharply observed.
A boldly queer approach to the body
Like the resort it’s set in, Laid Bare is refreshingly relaxed about nudity. Bodies are treated not as spectacle for shock value, but as a natural part of queer storytelling desire, vulnerability, and physicality all coexisting onscreen.
It’s a notable step forward in genre television made by and for queer and trans men who love men, presenting eroticism without apology and without flattening its characters into stereotypes.
Even fans of Heated Rivalry might blush.
Why this whodunit works
Beyond the eye candy, Laid Bare succeeds because it understands its audience. It leans into camp without undermining its mystery, delivers satire without punching down, and centers queer characters without sanding off their messiness.
It also helps that the series was filmed on location at the Desert Paradise Resort Hotel, lending the show an authentic, sun-drenched atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with its increasingly dark turns.
How to watch
- The first two episodes are streaming now on OUTtv
- New episodes drop weekly
- A censored premiere is available on OUTtv’s YouTube channel
- For the fully unblurred experience, a subscription is strongly recommended 😉
If you’re looking to kick off 2026 with mystery, camp, and more abs than a fitness convention, Laid Bare might just be your next obsession.