Documentary about ‘gayest slasher ever’ ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 2’ acquired by Virgil Films
The 1985 sequel starred then-closeted Mark Patton
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A documentary about the legacy of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge told through the eyes of then-closeted star Mark Patton has been acquired by Virgil Films.
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street tells the story of Patton’s difficulties making the 1985 horror sequel – which has been dubbed the ‘gayest slasher of all time’.
During production, Patton was put through a range of salacious on-screen ordeals in a bid to whet the homophobic appetites of the 1980s audiences, Deadline reported.
The film – directed by Jack Shoulder and written by Scott Chaskin – was shot just for a few million dollars but ended up grossing around $30 million and extended the global franchise.
Now the documentary – directed by Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen – follows the former actor, who quit showbiz due to the trauma of the production, as he tries to make peace with the experience.
Patton will also confront the rest of the cast and crew for the first time and will feature interviews from Robert Rusler, Kim Myers and Clu Gulager as well as Robert Englund, who made his career playing villain Freddy Krueger.
The sequel sees young Jesse (Patton) become gradually possessed by the dream-based monster after he moves into the house Nancy vacated in the first film.
Chaskin has said that, in his script, it was supposed to be subtext that Jesse might be struggling with his sexuality and that Freddy might be metaphor for him exploring his desires or even shame. However, it’s not very well hidden.
In one scene, Freddy takes Jesse to a leather bar to whip his sadomasochistic PE teacher to death. In the shower. Nude.
Later, after snogging Kim Myers’ character, Jesse freaks out and legs it to his pal Ron’s house where he begs to stay with the line: “Something is trying to get in my body!”
Watch the trailer below: