This article contains spoilers for They/Them (2022)The recent release of the slasher film They/Them has sparked a lot of discussion in viewers, with some saying that the movie doesn’t quite work while others say it’s a new twist on the genre. This queer-centered horror film does have a lot of redeeming qualities– the talented cast, the diversity, and honesty of the characters – but even still, the movie is lacking in a lot of places. What most complaints from viewers say is that They/Them isn’t truly a slasher film as it promotes itself to be. Here are some of the main points where the film falls short as a slasher.
Focuses More on Queer Struggles Than Slasher Elements
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There are many, including the movie’s creator John Logan, that would argue how horror genres are perfect for queer characters and viewers. The set-up for They/Them is perfect as a spoof on summer camp horror movies with a summer conversion camp as the background. However, even though the story is set up with a great premise and setting that creates the right atmosphere for a good slasher, that’s about where the slasher qualities end. There are only a handful of killings that happen at the camp, and they all happen surprisingly fast. There’s no sense of danger or urgency, or even that a killer is loose and stalking the characters. The audience feels no suspense or care over the killings that happen. Instead of focusing on the slasher qualities of the film as their marketing did, the film focuses on the struggles of the queer kids at the camp. The issues that come with queer identities are something that should be highlighted in film and definitely help to make the audience understand and sympathize with the characters, but these aspects of the story overshadow all slasher aspects. It not only makes the movie feel as if it’s split between two stories, but makes the audience feel cheated out of the darker slasher story they were expecting.
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Pointless Side Characters
The film also unfortunately has some pointless side characters that only act as fillers. These characters get the classic sidekick/side character treatment, and are overshadowed by the named characters. They/Them centers on a handful of the campers there, but shows plenty more getting off of the bus at the beginning. These unnamed characters can even be seen in the backgrounds of other scenes, but never get any speaking lines or attention from the main characters. They are probably meant to make the camp feel more full, but to viewers they just feel unnecessary – they feel more like set dressing than people. It would have been better to simply focus on the named characters and their stories and struggles, as opposed to having other random members that provide nothing to the overall story or even interact with the main characters.
Oversexualization of Queer Young Adults
In line with the lack of focus is the oversexualization of queer young adults. Cinema is notorious for oversexualizing and fetishizing queer people and relationships, which not only gives them a bad image but makes them feel unnecessary to audience members. To see such intense sex scenes like the ones in They/Them with full nudity makes audiences uncomfortable– especially when they were expecting a scary movie, and not soft-core porn. The film also depicts two of the camp counselors having sex together while looking at pictures of two of the campers. The scene is meant to show the internalized homophobia these conversion camp counselors are motivated by, as well as show their villainy. However, it doesn’t really read for the average viewer; it simply feels perverted and further reinforces the negative feelings surrounding queer characters and struggles (even internalized homophobia).
Unconvincing Killer
Then there’s the unfortunate aspect of the movie’s ultimate villain. The masked killer creates no urgency or sense of high stakes throughout the story. The killer’s actions don’t seem to have much impact on what’s happening or make the audience worry about the characters in any way. The deaths that happen have a clear pattern and lead any viewer that’s paying attention to the fairly obvious conclusion, which shows the audience they don’t need to be worried about any of the kids at the camp. Every slasher needs a good killer, and the one in They/Them just doesn’t quite cut it. Even when the killer’s identity is revealed, and they divulge their purpose, the lines the character says are unconvincing. Their words ring false as they try to get Jordan to be on their side. The killer’s sense of justice and revenge feels trite and overdone, their claims disingenuous, even with the queer background and motivations. Having the killer be barely present during the film only to fall short in the end really seals the fate of this film being an insufficient slasher.
This film has a lot of good qualities, content, and messages in it, and is worth a watch for those looking for something related to LGBT film content. They/Them has a very unique setting and concept that is brought to life by a talented cast of queer actors. It reveals a lot of fears and horrors related to living as a queer person, but the only true horror aspects of this film are from the real life aspects. In terms of a slasher movie, it doesn’t hold up. And no one looking for a scary movie should expect to find it here. Even though the film didn’t live up to all of its promises and potential, it still has a lot of value as an entertaining queer-centered movie.
