Dynamic triad Frankie, Patrick, and Sutton put their relationship to the test in Kill the Monsters, a comedic American allegory that will appeal to U.S. history buffs and to fans of hunky guys in three-way relationships.

When young, pretty, and charmingly aloof Frankie (Jack Ball, Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party, Frameline39) falls mysteriously ill, his older and wiser partners — overthinking, practical Patrick (Ryan Lonergan) and impulsive, fiery Sutton (Garrett McKechnie) — agree that it’s time to head west, begin new adventures, and seek holistic treatment. From here, the highs and lows of the triad’s journey mirror key points in United States history, from hot sex in their luxurious New York City apartment (Chapter 1, 1776) to a road trip that results in a civil war and possible breakup (Chapter 3, 1861) to an all-out (poker) war involving scheming, sophisticated, and calculating German and Russian lesbians (Chapter 8, 1945).

Director, writer, and star Ryan Lonergan’s ambitious concept works beautifully here, with a script that deftly utilizes the woes of debt, condo boards, and trust issues to hilariously and poignantly examine both modern-day relationships and well-known historical turning points. With a bold score that ties it all together and gorgeous black-and-white cinematography that highlights urban, rural, and body landscapes, Kill the Monsters is a truly striking and promising feature and the perfect date-night film for any and all potential partners.