Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge did not achieve a lot of mainstream success, but it’s a cult classic, especially with the gay community. The subtext is not subtle. It’s not hard to read Mark Patton’s Jesse Walsh trying to repress his “evil within” as a young man repressing his homosexuality, especially when his body violently rejects his attempt to sleep with his girlfriend. There’s also the gay leather bar, and the scenes with his coach with heavy S&M imagery. They knew what they were doing.
The documentary, Scream, Queen! explores these themes with film historians, fans, and the team behind the film with a focus on Mark Patton, who came out as gay not long after the film. The film not only analyzes the movie, but also looks at its legacy, Hollywood’s gay subculture in the 1980s, and Patton’s struggles with the industry that ultimately led to his quitting.
Horror has always been a genre that explores taboo subjects (queer readings of Jekyll and Hyde for example), and I think this documentary will bring about dialogue that couldn’t happen 30 years ago and hopefully introduce people to an iconic film. You can head to their Kickstarter page to learn more.
What do you think about Scream, Queen!, any memories?
(via Birth Movies Death)
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