When Kevin Bacon first appeared in John Logan’s “They/Them” as Owen Whistler, a counselor at a gay summer conversion camp, he exuded an easy-going, charming charisma, and an air of worry. Rather than coming off as a bigoted tyrant, Owen appears kind and open-minded, using social justice terms to tell someone he’s heterosexual. I promise I’m not trying to force you to be, but simply want to help them “find the truth.” Jordan (Theo Germaine) is a non-binary teenager of his who is quick to be suspicious of Whistler’s approach. As this is a slasher film, Whistler’s overly polite demeanor brings an edge of potential threat to the audience, after all, this is his LGBTQ story about his teens at a conversion camp. It’s a horror movie. It can’t be that easy.
Whistler’s benevolent facade eventually slips away, and “They/Them” accelerates the familiar slashing violence as a masked, ax-wielding maniac begins killing various people around the camp. But Logan, who also wrote the screenplay, was very reluctant to get involved in the nasty political ramifications inherent in the material, having to negotiate a cast of gay, transgender, and nonbinary characters in a horror context. The whole thing feels pretty tame. A slasher movie requires a willingness to be provocative or even tasteless. A little fanatical enthusiasm is essential to the effect. “they/they” want so badly to avoid offending anyone that they struggle to avoid behavior that could be seen as problematic. It’s a horror movie that doesn’t flow.
they/them
Unrated. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Look at the peacock.
