A Good Idea but Needs a Little Ironing Out

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MOVIE REVIEW
They/Them
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Genre: Horror/Thriller
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 30m
Director(s): John Logan
Writer(s): John Logan
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Anna Chlumsky, Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Austin Crute, Monique Kim, Anna Lore, Cooper Koch, Darwin del Fabro
Where To Watch: premiere on Peacock on August 5

So there’s a lot to take in here; first and foremost, I loved the idea of the film. Unfortunately, it just didn’t connect the dots. I liked a lot of elements, but as a whole, they didn’t end up being strong enough to make a great experience in the end. It felt like they were almost trying too hard.

I can say that I love how inclusive the cast was; they went for it, and while the cast performed wonderfully, the overall story seemed lacking. It’s hard to explain because, on the one hand, I would start to enjoy the story, and then it would veer off into something else. The They/Them storyline is long overdue in modern film and storytelling, but it deserves something more critical.

Kevin Bacon felt like he phoned this performance in for a paycheck for most of the film, but outside of his performance, I was impressed. Anna Chlumsky (MY GIRL) won me over, even though I wasn’t too sure because of her character progression. The cast of the “campers” was a blast to varying degrees, and I loved the personality they brought to the characters. I wonder how much of their personality shone through versus the ones written for them.

If you couldn’t guess by the title, the film features several LGBTIQA+ characters, many of who go through a lot of character growth through the film. I didn’t feel anything specifically distasteful, but there were a few moments that made me question if that was the best decision. I’m an ally but am not part of the community, so I cannot speak on the authenticity of the characters or the way their characters were handled. I hope to hear from some others who are, and who could let me know their opinions once they watch the film. Ultimately it will show actual progression when a movie like this doesn’t have to be “different.”

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