THEY/THEM

With October and the Halloween spirit under way, that means that I'm watching pretty much horror cult classics and horror favorites for the month. I'm a horror fanatic too, watching them with a glass of wine and candlelight, wrapping up in a throw. This past weekend, imagine my surprise to come across, of all places, SyFy, a film called They/Them. Why was this special you ask? The whole film and cast was about the LBGT crowd!!!! While not as cheesy as the early on gay horror films, this was not bad I have to say. Was it well written and the best of storyline? Hell no, but what a long way to come!!! This cast of characters had every part of the LGBTQ covered, and it was quite impressive. I can't think of any other horror film with trans and non-binary characters in them and in one where, for once, we aren't the bad guys, or all getting killed. On the contrary it is the complete opposite.

They/Them is definitely a slasher flick, and is written and directed by John Logan, the film premiered at the Outfest film festival in 2022. Most critics applauded the film for the acting, subject matter and its wide inclusive cast, but of course they found the execution of the story lacking, and I would agree. But who cares...it was just simple horror fun and made better by seeing US on the big screen. It was even more impressive most of the cast was played by gay, bi, trans and non-binary actors in our community, which to me is huge. Hot out gay actor Cooper Koch plays the sexy jock, and trans actors, Theo Germaine did a great turn as the lead Jordan...as did Quei Tann and exotic Brazilian nonbinary actor, Darwin del Fabro, who mildly got me turned on with his sex scene in the lake with Cooper Koch. And then there is the hot sex scene between the lesbians on the dock!! All of us represented here kids. And did I mention it also stars, Kevin Bacon, who I adore in the movies. 

The movie pronounced "they slash them,(one of the cleverest titles ever) centers on nonbinary Jordan, one of the LGBTQ teenagers sent to Whistler Camp for conversion therapy, which obviously, none of them appear to want. But Whistler and its overly jovial director Owen, play by Kevin Bacon are far more macabre than even your everyday religious fundamentalist organization, and these woods hide a long history of secrets, lies and-by the end of the film, at least- more than the average number of dead bodies. Though the plot beats themselves to look to be classic slasher fare, the film also hews close to psychological thriller territory, especially when Jordan comes face to face with his "therapist" played by Carrie Preston of True Blood fame and does a very crazed and eerie performance. I wanted to slap the bitch a few times!!!!

Is this a ground breaker? No, but it is a huge step in seeing us and our representation in the cast and the characters. It seems like the slasher racking up bodies at Whistler Camp might not end up being the biggest villain of this movie. This is a film about child abuse and the twisted moralities that justify it, but also one about queer resilience despite generations of hatred. The horror genre may just have a new instant classic. And refreshing that we weren't the villains for a change. Why not make your Halloween viewing more fun by checking this one out.