They/Them - Review Thread

Given the subject matter of the new Blumhouse horror film, They/Them, it's perhaps very ironic that this movie winds up being one that's very unsure of its identity/confused about what it wants to be. From the trailers and various promotional material, one would rightfully assume that this would be a rather straightforward slasher film set at a gay conversion camp, but it's barely even that. Instead, writer/director John Logan (who's previously proven himself VERY capable with horror through his masterful show Penny Dreadful) chooses to focus on the inherent tension and uncertainty that individuals attending a gay conversion camp must go through. And while there's nothing inherently wrong with that approach, this just feels like a VERY off-day for John Logan, who's normally able to provide something of value. For one, nearly all of the characters in this film feel cliched or uninteresting in one form or another, and their interactions with each other feel forced and a lot of scenes come off as awkward. Like, why does one sequence randomly culminate in a shoehorned-in pseudo musical number? I can perhaps understand Logan's most likely genuine intentions in wanting to craft something that taps into a natural fear/terror, and I can also appreciate what he ultimately decides to do in terms of the underlying purpose behind the slasher angle, but the inclusion of the slasher angle to begin with feels forced -- not to mention lacking and completely without thrills or tension. Occasionally, the film will touch upon some intriguing ideas with its basic premise, but will then soon revert back to being a movie that's unsure of itself. Not to mention underdeveloped. Kevin Bacon gives a somewhat creepy and entertaining performance, but even he soon falls victim to the movie's suffocating sense of disappointment. When looked at on its own, the overall premise of a horror film set at a gay conversion camp DOES have some potential, but it would require a LOT more conviction than what They/Them has to offer. In a time where the horror genre is seeing a bit more creativity and freshness injected into it, They/Them is an unfortunate reminder of just how stale these kinds of movies can get.