In the movie Cruising, Steve Burns, played by Al Pacino, is a relatively inexperienced police officer who is assigned to investigate a series of gruesome murders that have occurred in New York City's gay community. The killer has been targeting men who frequent the city's S/M and leather districts, and the police are struggling to find any leads.
In an effort to catch the killer, Steve is sent undercover to pose as a gay man and try to blend in with the community. He is given minimal support from the police department and is pretty much on his own as he tries to learn the customs and signals of the S/M and leather scene.
At first, Steve is reluctant to take on the assignment, but he eventually becomes deeply immersed in the world he is investigating. He starts to develop relationships with some of the gay men he meets, even as he begins to suspect that one of them might be the killer.
As Steve delves deeper into the community, he confronts his own prejudices and assumptions about homosexuality. He begins to understand that the S/M scene is more complex and varied than he had previously believed, and that there is a rich culture and history behind it.
The movie is controversial and has been criticized for its portrayal of homosexuality. Some members of the gay community felt that it unfairly depicted their community as twisted and perverse. However, others have lauded the film for its unflinching portrayal of the S/M and leather subculture.