April 20, 2017 | Arts / Entertainment

"King Cobra" now on Netflix

Netflix quietly added a new gay-themed feature film to its menu that porn fans may be interested in checking out. It's called King Cobra, and it explores a darker time in the early career of porn star Brent Corrigan.

He was not, of course, involved in the murder of porn producer Bryan Kocis. However, two other producers -- Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes -- violently killed Kocis and set his home on fire, hoping that his death would free up Corrigan to work with them.

On December 8, 2008, Kerekes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and criminal conspiracy; he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Cuadra, however, fought the charges and pleaded not guilty. He lost, and on March 16, 2009, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The movie, which stars James Franco, Christian Slater and Garrett Clayton, was neither a critical nor commercial success. The movie rated a 5.3/10 on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48/100 on Metacritic.

"King Cobra is all smut and no soul," wrote Variety's Peter Debruge.

"A sleazy dark comedy that aspires to be a low-budget, all-male answer to Boogie Nights," declared Stephen Holden of the New York Times.