lasher@via.DEC (Lew Lasher - DTN 381-2651) (08/19/85)
Recently I saw the film "Fright Night", a comic-horror movie aimed primarily at a teenage market. Overall I enjoyed the movie; it succeeded as light entertainment by being both a horror movie and a parody of a horror movie. I was disturbed, however, by the film's sub-textual anti-gay message. The "new neighbors" who move in to renovate the old, charming, haunted house next door are a gay couple. (One of the two appears to be bisexual.) It is not unknown for vampire movies to suggest sexuality, and it is even quite common for contemporary teenage horror movies to be anti-sex (Woman goes out alone seeking sex; woman gets brutally murdered "getting what she deserves"). (Incidentally, the only roles played by women in "Fright Night" are as mother, girlfriend, or murder victim.) The message of "Fright Night" seems to be: Beware those attractive gentrifying gay men; benign by day, at night they purvey mayhem, recruiting adolescent boys to their ranks and killing innocent women. With all the blood spilling around in this movie, I was half-expecting an explicit reference to AIDS. Nonetheless, the gay man who saw the movie with me did not share my view. I was curious whether others in net-land agreed with me, or whether I am just super-sensitive to this sort of garbage.
davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel) (08/21/85)
In article <3738@decwrl.UUCP> lasher@via.DEC (Lew Lasher - DTN 381-2651) writes: >Recently I saw the film "Fright Night", ... >I was disturbed, however, by the film's sub-textual anti-gay message. > >Nonetheless, the gay man who saw the movie with me did not share my view. >I was curious whether others in net-land agreed with me, or whether I am >just super-sensitive to this sort of garbage. Have not seen that film but your response strikes a chord with me. I saw Dune with a group of gays and I was repulsed by the fact that in the film the Barron (the fat ugly guy who flies around thinking and doing gross things) just happens to show his homosexual side a couple times - of course the point being that his homosexual tendencies are no less sordid or disgusting than his other quirks. After the show I couldn't believe the response from the others. They took absolutely no notice of all of this. If this was the only movie I could dismiss it. But I've noticed it with others as well. There was a film out about 2 years ago (don't remember the name) about a triangle with a gay guy and het couple. I didn't go see it because of the teaser (show poster) which they used in an advertizement. It showed the two guys with the women in the middle. And there was little mistaking which guy was gay. Slightly unshaven face. Subtle disheavelment to the hair. Half hidden angry look. Roughed up clothes. All in all it reminded me of someone who might have just been let out of a jail or the pen. Somebody I wouldn't be quite at ease with if they approached me on the street. A gay acquaintence saw the film and said he liked it and saw no prejedice. Since I didn't see it that may well be the case. But what bothered me was that when I pointed out to him which one was gay in the advertizement he was quite suprized that I knew. I tried explaining to him why one guy looked "grungier" than the other but he said he just couldn't see any difference. Now the fellow is a bright guy and he's been out for several years. I refuse to believe that he is not capable of seeing the biases in the looks. The only conclusion I can come to is that it may be quite easy to put up a mental block such that negative suggestions about gays become transparent. A psychological balancing to promote a positive self-image? Any ideas? -- Dave Trissel {ihnp4,seismo}!ut-sally!oakhill!davet