Captain’s Log: A little over a year ago we were met with the news of yet another Black Christmas remake was coming our way. I wanted to do an episode that would cover all three versions of the film and have guests that were women in the comic industry who specialized in horror. Among the three guests, I had the pleasure of meeting an Irish artist by the name of Donna Black. Donna was the first guest to get back to me and to my surprise, she chose the 2006 remake - the one that was dreaded by most. Since her initial appearance, Donna has returned to our show for The Devil All the Time. As well as being featured as one of our Top 10 Comics You Should Know for 2020. Donna resides in Ireland with her girlfriend. She is a sponsored female skater and she is also the artist on the book, The Soul of the Sea and Nightmare Theatre. She is an extremely talented artist who can be found on these various platforms. Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
It was an honor and pleasure to bring her on board to review this cult classic and bring her worldview to you. -Captain Nostalgia
This wasn’t my first viewing of this film; as a gay woman in the early noughties this was one of the first queer films I saw, so I was more than happy to review the new director’s cut.
As soon as the film starts the cheesy music ensues and I immediately know I’m in for a corn-filled romcom, and the one huge thing this film has, even though it does tackle some hard-hitting subjects, is that it handles it in an over-the-top camp way, that if not handled well could be a recipe for disaster. This film also has a lot of queer actors involved which lends to the sincerity of the subject and characters.
Some of the serious issues this comedy tackles include homophobia and heteronormativity, gay shame, and conversion therapy, a practice that is still legal in many countries. I have had queer friends sent to such places so how this film handles the subject is a standout. The film’s protagonist Megan is a teenage woman who is closeted even to herself. Surrounded by heterosexual expectations and conservative parents and friends, she is confronted with her ‘lesbian tendencies’ and swiftly driven to a conversion camp called “True Directions”.
RuPaul does a great job as one of the camp employees who, even though proclaiming himself to be “an ex-gay”, obviously still very much has same-sex attraction, constantly flirting with the muscled and handsome son of the owner of “True Directions”.
The characters of the residents of the camp are all brilliantly played and diverse, showing teenagers from all walks of life but all on the same path of rejection, homophobia, and wanting to fit in so they can feel loved by their parents, a desire we all have, and something gay kids often have to work harder to gain and keep.
Once Megan admits to herself she’s gay she starts the “True Directions” warped path to heterosexuality that starts with numbered steps. The humour in all of these scenes comes from stereotypical ideas on gender, sexuality, and what it is to be “normal”. We laugh along with eye-rolls at the hilarity of believing in these outdated and farcical ideas.
The heart of this film is very much based in love rather than rejection though, as these teenagers start to find friendship and love amongst themselves, and in this place they were sent to out of a lack of love is where they may find the one love that saves and enlightens them.
The protagonist, Megan (Natasha Lyonne), has the classic rom com romance - something often overlooked for queer characters, particularly at the time this movie was released. At first she and her love interest, Graham (Clea DuVall), act like they can't stand each other, but once they are paired together in the camps steps program, an attraction and kinship soon develops.
The chemistry between Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall playing these characters is believable and easy to watch and root for, and as soon as they have their first kiss you want these two to end up together.
Most of the camp's residents prove that they can pretend to be straight, almost fooling themselves at the same time, showing the lengths a person will go to for their parents to say “I’m proud of you” and how they can damage themselves on that journey. But love eventually wins for some of the characters in the final scene, with a last dash romantic gesture by Megan and a fellow former resident to convince their respective love interests to be true to themselves and escape the shame of “True Directions”. The love-struck Megan, dressed in her cheerleader outfit, does a cheer to win over Graham just as she is “graduating as heterosexual”, with her abusive father and step-mother watching on. It's a moment where you cringe and get a knot in your stomach hoping it works out, almost convincing yourself it won't because gay people rarely get a happy ending in film, a trope that is unfortunately still common, but was even more frequent in the late 90s/early 00s. But our stomach knots and desire for a happy ending are rewarded as Graham chooses Megan. In doing so, not only has she chosen love with Megan, she has chosen to unbind herself from the crippling need to please her father, or to conform to a heteronormative view of the world and of love. She has truly chosen herself and her own freedom.
This is a gay rom-com that I always recommend to my queer and straight friends alike and re-watching it again has reminded me how brilliant it is and why I will continue to recommend it to everyone I know.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: Ultimately the teenagers that chose to leave “true directions” or were cast out have been spared more years of mental ill health, as gay shame is a powerful tool for self torture and torment, the rates of teen LGBTQ suicide is still incredibly high so even though this is very much a light hearted comedy but at the very root of it it’s telling the LGBTQ people watching. You already are your true self and you’re more than good enough.
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