Director of New Scary Movie Reveals the Horror of Gay Conversion Therapy
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In his new movie They/Them director John Logan reveals the devilish manipulation of “Gay Conversion Therapy.”
John Logan has written many devilish characters for the screen, like Sweeney Todd, Silva from Skyfall, and The Aviator’s take on Howard Hughe. But Logan has created a more ambiguous con man in his new Blumhouse’s movie, They/Them: Owen Whistler, leader of his family’s LGBTQ+ conversion camp, is portrayed by Kevin Bacon. He soothes his suspicious queer campers by using calm, therapeutic rhetoric; he does it to disengage the campers and earn their trust.
Or — as Logan tells MovieMaker — “using the language of the angels to serve the devil.”
They/Them isn’t about any ordinary summer camp. Its counselors throw campers for another loop when they say conversion as optional, but those who engage in the therapy experience a “new sense of freedom.” The facade of “choice” reveals itself when Whistler’s counselors proceed to psychologically break down each camper, even those unwilling to participate. A final threat emerges when a mysterious killer starts claiming victims, forcing the campers into a battle for their identity and their lives.
John Logan is one of Hollywood’s most in-demand writers, but had surprisingly never directed a feature before They/Them. He spoke with us about his lifelong obsession with horror movies, and why he chose They/Them as his first stab at the genre. Logan talks about his discovery that not all LGBTQ+ conversion camps are religious, and why, as a gay man, he thinks writing trans and non-binary characters isn’t a cancellable offense. He also opines on “elevated horror” and how some LGBTQ+ people find themselves going along with the fraud of conversion therapy.
Watch the trailer below.
Read the full interview here.
They/Them is currently streaming on peacock.
