If you're a fan of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge and all that goes along with it, I can't imagine you being bored or underwhelmed by this terrific documentary that finally brings that film's infamous lead actor, Mark Patton, into the spotlight and lets him tell his side of the story and why he left show business. The results are harrowing and frequently moving.
26 Reviews
More than you would expect
rivertam2615 March 2020
Chronicling the gayest horror movie ever made, Nightmare on elm street 2 Freddy's Revenge. The documentary centers around Mark Patton who at the time was not an out gay actor and how the reputation stalled his career. But even more than that the film chronicles the outlook of Hollywood on it's gay artists and the effects of the industry people had to endure. Surprisingly the movie also investigates the Aids epidemic. Although it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I loved that the makers weren't afraid to go into the darker stuff. I wish it could have touched a little deeper with Patton himself. But the film does give me a new found appreciation for him and the struggle he went through. As a kid I never picked up on the in your face subtext. And if I'm being honest although I liked it I never counted this entry as one of my favorites. But over the past few years and understanding it more I definitely have a new love for it.
4/5
4/5
Jessie Lives!
marcialyon6 March 2020
A compelling spotlight on reclusive actor Mark Patton who disappeared right after he seemed to be getting put on the Hollywood map. Scream, Queen deals with his fall from the graces of Hollywood due to the fear of AIDS and homophobia.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 has been one of the black sheep of the franchise for awhile and, in some ways, the hate is justified. The script has its weak spots, but let's get one thing straight - Mark Patton was never one of those weak spots. He turned in a committed, memorable, and game performance, going places that a lot of male actors are too scared to go. He wasn't scared to appear weak or genuinely frightened. Unfortunately, the world wasn't ready for it (and some would say they still aren't) and he paid the price.
For any gay horror fans or Hollywood historians, this is a must watch!
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 has been one of the black sheep of the franchise for awhile and, in some ways, the hate is justified. The script has its weak spots, but let's get one thing straight - Mark Patton was never one of those weak spots. He turned in a committed, memorable, and game performance, going places that a lot of male actors are too scared to go. He wasn't scared to appear weak or genuinely frightened. Unfortunately, the world wasn't ready for it (and some would say they still aren't) and he paid the price.
For any gay horror fans or Hollywood historians, this is a must watch!
The horror of the closet.
morrison-dylan-fan5 June 2020
After recently seeing the excellent Sun Choke (2015-also reviewed)I decided to check spookyastronauts channel again. Catching a video about Horror titles out in June,I was intrigued to learn about a upcoming Horror doc, leading me to learn about a Scream Queen.
View on the film:
Going right back to Mark Patton's (who is also a co-producer) early years on stage being directed by Robert Altman, directors Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen claw the most fascinating aspects of the doc from the archive footage of homophobia in Hollywood and the press in the 80's,with the directors layering press clippings and TV clips, (from A-List stars demanding everyone takes a blood test before productions began, to magazines attempting to whip-up fear of gay people,after the death of Rock Hudson) across the screen.
Travelling with Patton to Horror conventions, the directors present a positive image on the Horror community, with Drag Queens who watch A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 for the "Camp" aspect,sitting as equals with those who have come for the gore. Mentioning in the film that he had decided to quit acting,despite getting some roles after Elm Street 2, the up close and personal approach the directors take,leads to the personal hardship Patton has faced, (losing partner Timothy Patrick Murphy) being crossed with a bitterness towards Elm Street 2,thirty years later.
Building up to reunions with the cast and crew of Elm Street 2, the directors leave the impression of only featuring a small snippet of the exchanges which took place, most noticeable in the one on one discussion Patton has with Elm Street 2 script writer David Chaskin, who apologises over claiming for years that he had not written a gay subtext in the script,and blamed it on Patton, but points out that parts of Elm Street 2 Patton blames him most for (the "girly scream") were the director's decision not his, which gets oddly dissolved to a friending ending to the chat,as Freddy comes out of the closet.
View on the film:
Going right back to Mark Patton's (who is also a co-producer) early years on stage being directed by Robert Altman, directors Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen claw the most fascinating aspects of the doc from the archive footage of homophobia in Hollywood and the press in the 80's,with the directors layering press clippings and TV clips, (from A-List stars demanding everyone takes a blood test before productions began, to magazines attempting to whip-up fear of gay people,after the death of Rock Hudson) across the screen.
Travelling with Patton to Horror conventions, the directors present a positive image on the Horror community, with Drag Queens who watch A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 for the "Camp" aspect,sitting as equals with those who have come for the gore. Mentioning in the film that he had decided to quit acting,despite getting some roles after Elm Street 2, the up close and personal approach the directors take,leads to the personal hardship Patton has faced, (losing partner Timothy Patrick Murphy) being crossed with a bitterness towards Elm Street 2,thirty years later.
Building up to reunions with the cast and crew of Elm Street 2, the directors leave the impression of only featuring a small snippet of the exchanges which took place, most noticeable in the one on one discussion Patton has with Elm Street 2 script writer David Chaskin, who apologises over claiming for years that he had not written a gay subtext in the script,and blamed it on Patton, but points out that parts of Elm Street 2 Patton blames him most for (the "girly scream") were the director's decision not his, which gets oddly dissolved to a friending ending to the chat,as Freddy comes out of the closet.
The Scream Queen Shines
sammymayson31 May 2020
I'd been interested in whatever happened to Mark Patton since I was a kid and fell in love with the Nightmare on Elm Street series. This documentary brings him out of seclusion and, it turns out, he had a pretty compelling set of reasons for leaving the business altogether.
For Patton, what should have been an exciting time in his life (he was young, attractive, and starring as the lead in a huge horror sequel) became a literal nightmare when he found out his lover with HIV positive and he might be infected as well. Add in the Hollywood homophobia and fear that he'd be outed at any minute and have his dreams shattered and one can see why he decided to leave Hollywood before it discarded him.
It's nice to see this film and performance, often cited as nothing more than a quirky footnote in the Nightmare series, getting a full length documentary treatment. There are tons of interesting facts that fans of the film will enjoy.
For Patton, what should have been an exciting time in his life (he was young, attractive, and starring as the lead in a huge horror sequel) became a literal nightmare when he found out his lover with HIV positive and he might be infected as well. Add in the Hollywood homophobia and fear that he'd be outed at any minute and have his dreams shattered and one can see why he decided to leave Hollywood before it discarded him.
It's nice to see this film and performance, often cited as nothing more than a quirky footnote in the Nightmare series, getting a full length documentary treatment. There are tons of interesting facts that fans of the film will enjoy.
Mark's Hollywood Nightmare
gwnightscream24 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary features Mark Patton, the star of the 1985 horror sequel, "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge." Mark played Jesse Walsh, the new kid on Elm Street
who gets possessed by Freddy Krueger. Mark gives his compelling perspective of his life from growing up, his sexuality, becoming an actor, the fear of the media, the 80's Aids Epidemic, filming the nightmare sequel and walking away from Hollywood to embracing his cult status of becoming a male scream queen. There's also interviews with his spouse, assistant, fans, and Nightmare 2 cast, Robert Englund, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, Marshall Bell, Clu Gulager, Joann Willette, director Jack Shoulder, and writer David Chaskin.
I thought this was an emotional yet insightful documentary. I met Mark at a convention a few years back, he's a great guy and I don't blame him because the media can be very cruel. If you're a fan of Mark, Nightmare 2 or horror in general, check this out.
Simply Excellent
arthurconnor5 March 2020
A wonderful, insightful look at the life of reclusive A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 star, Mark Patton. Groomed to be one of the next big young actors in the mid-80's, Patton disappeared from the scene after his agents were fearful that his performance as Jessie would turn him into a character actor who couldn't play straight. Considering this was at the height of 80's AIDS panic, Patton left the industry.
Patton finally gets his moment in the sun here and he's able to confront the filmmakers (some of whom blamed him for some of the criticisms the film received) and gets to finally tell his side of the story.
It's part coming of age story, parts AIDS saga, part love letter to horror fans, and 100% entertaining and even a bit moving. This one is definitely something horror fans and 80's gay historians will eat up.
Patton finally gets his moment in the sun here and he's able to confront the filmmakers (some of whom blamed him for some of the criticisms the film received) and gets to finally tell his side of the story.
It's part coming of age story, parts AIDS saga, part love letter to horror fans, and 100% entertaining and even a bit moving. This one is definitely something horror fans and 80's gay historians will eat up.
You Can Hardly Call It Subtext
boblipton26 November 2022
Mark Patton is gay. He had a hit in COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART TWO. The gay subtext -- if you can call the blatant activity there subtext -- ended his career for thirty years. He showed up for a Nightmare sequel, and his career revived. This documentary covers his career in the midst of the AIDS plague and his personal life, his anger at the director and writer of the movie claiming that there was no homoerotic component in the film.
It's overt, it's honest, and although I find the reaction of the gay community to the movie overblown, I can understand it in the context of the lack of open homosexuality of the movies of the era.
It's overt, it's honest, and although I find the reaction of the gay community to the movie overblown, I can understand it in the context of the lack of open homosexuality of the movies of the era.
A Beautiful Film
Batman-522 November 2019
I'm 37 and a lifelong Elm Street fan. Anytime someone from the Elm Street Family has a new project, I always like to support it, because they've brought me such happiness my whole life by being a part of a series that has, oddly enough, helped me get through some very tough times. I've followed Mark Patton on social media for a while now, and have been following the making of this documentary, as well, so I knew some of his story, but certainly not the whole story. I jumped at the opportunity to be able to see a screening of this, because for someone like me, it was required viewing (the good kind of required viewing, of course). However, here's the thing; it's not just a documentary for someone like me. It's also for someone like you, or someone like your neighbor, or someone like the stranger waiting to catch the bus. What I'm saying is that it's for everyone. The story it tells is something everyone should hear. But story is probably the wrong word, because I hear the word story and works of fiction come to mind; however the subject matter of "Scream, Queen" is all too real, true, and heartbreaking. It also shows the importance of closure, and how finding it can be a painful process, but ultimately worth it, and inspiring for others. Watching this doc will be worth it for you, too, so if you have a chance to watch it, please, do yourself a favor and jump at it like I did. It's an emotional ride, but a wholly satisfying one, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of Elm Street. -Joe Altomere
Frustrating!
mdbourke-282-89997318 May 2020
This was a really frustrating watch! On one hand, it highlighted what we already know about "Showbiz" and its view of homosexuality and treatment of minorities (Really, has much changed?) On the other hand it presented us with Mark Patton, who for 30 years has remained bitter and much like the character he played a "victim". For me, on some level I could empathise, but then part of me just wanted to shake him and say "Get over it" As he says, he made the decision not to pursue acting, his choice. As a gay man I too have been called names, but this did not stop me, in fact it made me stronger and more determined that ever. I agree with Jack Sholder (Director of Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2) when he says to Mark, move on, get over it and stop blaming David Chaskin (Screenwriter) for his decision to leave showbiz. At some point, we all need to take responsibility for ourselves.
Mark is a presented as a fragile human being, and he even states that at the time of the movies release and backlash, he was a closeted gay actor with a dying lover, so he had so much going on and needed to compromise to much to work in the Hollywood system! This movie may have done him a favor, and acted as catalyst that sees him, alive and happy today, despite his personal setbacks.
I personally am grateful for his generation of activists who have paved the way for me, and others to live and breath is a less prejudiced world. This documentary, to me, was just OK, a little preachy in places and uneven.
Worth a watch? Yes! But not brilliant by a long shot
Mark is a presented as a fragile human being, and he even states that at the time of the movies release and backlash, he was a closeted gay actor with a dying lover, so he had so much going on and needed to compromise to much to work in the Hollywood system! This movie may have done him a favor, and acted as catalyst that sees him, alive and happy today, despite his personal setbacks.
I personally am grateful for his generation of activists who have paved the way for me, and others to live and breath is a less prejudiced world. This documentary, to me, was just OK, a little preachy in places and uneven.
Worth a watch? Yes! But not brilliant by a long shot
Important story to tell-I hope everyone has a chance to watch it.
frank-c-giugliano10 June 2020
The information has been circulating for years but we finally hear the truth in this excellent documentary that gives insight into A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge. It can now be laid to rest. Never a more pertinent time in American history than right now to understand how oppression affects individual lives and society as a whole. I enjoyed seeing Mark Patton being so honest as well as getting to know what an amazing man Robert England is. Thank you for this documentary. I hope everyone has a chance to watch it.
Jesse Forever.
leeleesmom047 July 2020
I am a huge horror fan and have been since I was quite young. The Nightmare on Elm St. series has always been a huge favorite of mine. Freddy's Revenge has and will always be my favorite part of the franchise. This documentary explores the hurdles of which Mark Patton, who plays Jesse, goes through. It's an eye opener and a wonderful film!! Go give it a watch! You won't regret it.
An amazing story
bryan-2637 July 2020
I consider myself a cinephile and have seen more than my fair share of films. Being a fan of the horror genre, I was intrigued to see this documentary. After having the opportunity to see this film with the creators and its amazing star Mark Parton, I can say that the film was one of the most inspiring that I have seen. Learning about the behind the scenes issues and tragedies that were endured was heartbreaking and then uplifting. I cannot recommend this move enough. If you have any interest in horror, societal issues or how Hollywood deals with the LGBTQ world this is the film you need to see.
Breaking the Chains that Silence!
davisnoise16 September 2020
I loved this Documentary for I am one of many who saw part 2 at early age ( I was 8 or 9) and it changed me for the better (mainly not feeling alone, among my parade of baggage I already had at such an early age my mother suffered from severve mental disablities and my father wasn't far off from freddy.) aside from me. I watched this with my daughter earlier this year and she sat there wide eyed becoming informed on reality. The Doc allowed my daughter to see an honest look at rational and irrational people; The fame and the shame machine and it allowed for me to discuss with her about HIV and AIDS, for she asked me a lot of questions because of this documentary I am grateful beyond measure as being a compass to plethora of possiblities that surround one. Seeing Mark's strength has undoubtedly helped her. Love and Thank You's!
Gay Bitterness??
SamUnfiltered197913 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie at first as a Gay man and how I would feel if it happened to me. But when the director told Mark. "Why don't you get over it? It's been 35 years for God's sake". I was thought how true it is. He does need to get over it. But how much of this is Mark is trying to profit now? He spends much time selling t-shirts and autographs at shows. He comes across as quite pathetic as a person that people need to walk on eggshells around poor Mark, the long suffering victim. Move on with your life. For someone who hates Freddy 2, he sure spends a lot of time at showings and making money at horror con shows and doing appearances.
New light on a forgotten movie
ftrejo-807721 November 2020
I am not a fan of the franchise, but I can respect the impact that the nightmare films have been to pop culture.
I saw this premiere at a lgbtq film festival in Denver with the star mark patton in attendance along with the directors of the documentary.
The film explores a subject so clearly that it was a tragic story of inadvertently portrayal of homoeroticism into mainstream Reagan era 80's that was quickly shunned and forgotten.
My experience with a nightmare on elm street 2: freddys revenge was of frightening memories because the effects were shocking to my pre teen age. So much that I have not seen the rest of the franchise movies after the second movie, because of the shock factor. But as I am older I have revisited some things and find comical due to the silly effects that of the time was explored.
I saw the trailer for the film and saw that it was premiering and had to sum up the courage to face my fear of Freddy and know Mark's side of the story.
What a pleasant experience and the feeling of closure that was inadvertently put upon Mark thirty plus years is a thing to admire for a movie that subtly gave lgbtq community a rising voice in a horror genre.
My experience with a nightmare on elm street 2: freddys revenge was of frightening memories because the effects were shocking to my pre teen age. So much that I have not seen the rest of the franchise movies after the second movie, because of the shock factor. But as I am older I have revisited some things and find comical due to the silly effects that of the time was explored.
I saw the trailer for the film and saw that it was premiering and had to sum up the courage to face my fear of Freddy and know Mark's side of the story.
What a pleasant experience and the feeling of closure that was inadvertently put upon Mark thirty plus years is a thing to admire for a movie that subtly gave lgbtq community a rising voice in a horror genre.
Excellent Doc
mindyannfraizer18 December 2021
Actor Mark Patton finally gets to tell his story about the making of homoerotic horror cult classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. He shares his memories of the set, the reception of the film, his trials and tribulations in Hollywood, and his battle with AIDS. It's moving and an important story that deserved to be told.
touching and so sad
minchin-051379 March 2022
This touched me so much cause i love all a nightmare on elm street and to know this broke my heart i lost my uncle who was gay cause at the time gay wasnt accepted i lost a part of me when he left this documentary touch the very core of me.
Mark Patton is the true scream queen of the 80's
Corkscrew84productions28 September 2020
At times this movie is heartbreaking, sadden & at time made me very angry. To see what Mark Patton went through is truly heartbreaking to see his promising career turn to ashes after one film. I'm glad we see him take back and uses this as positive experience and go on tour to show people it's okay be yourself. To see him the get the closer he finally needed to move on. All in All this a great doc I would recommend to everyone.
Interesting
BandSAboutMovies3 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Back when we first discussed A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge, we touched on the story of Mark Patton, whose role as final boy Jesse was once said to be only subtext, but really is one of the first out gay characters in a mainstream American horror film. There's no subtext at all as you watch this movie with eyes beyond its 1985 release.
Patton - the star of this film - has struggled with his anger over his horror role for years, as he felt betrayed as the filmmakers knew that he was in the closet. That, again, was the world of 1985.
Director Jack Sholder (Alone in the Dark, The Hidden) claims that at the time that he made that film that he didn't have the self-awareness to think that the film had any gay subtext. Meanwhile, writer David Chaskin(I, Madman, The Curse) would state that Patton played the role in too gay of a way.
So what is the truth? And where do we go from here?
This film, directed by Roman Chimienti (who also worked on Wrinkles the Clown) and Tyler Jensen, this movie is at once a look back at 1980's horror films, an examination of the reassessment of them decades later, fan culture and Patton's story. Any one of these could have made for a great documentary, but I feel that the need to work them all into one story leads to somewhat of a lack of focus.
That said, the scenes of Patton finally confronting Chaskin are quite emotional and the examined thought that the star is finally getting the notoriety for the role that once ruined his life is pretty interesting.
I wanted to love this more than I did, but again, the lack of focus at times bothered me. Some may see Patton as someone who never got past his grudge against Hollywood, but I'm of the mind that we can't judge someone's life because we have not lived it. I may have grown up in the years of people being forced to stay in the closet and the aftermath of AIDS, but I never directly confronted either of these life events that obviously shaped who Patton is today. Of all things, he's a survivor, which is the most life-affirming part of this interesting film.
You can learn more on this movie's official website and Facebook page. It will be streaming on Shudder soon.
Patton - the star of this film - has struggled with his anger over his horror role for years, as he felt betrayed as the filmmakers knew that he was in the closet. That, again, was the world of 1985.
Director Jack Sholder (Alone in the Dark, The Hidden) claims that at the time that he made that film that he didn't have the self-awareness to think that the film had any gay subtext. Meanwhile, writer David Chaskin(I, Madman, The Curse) would state that Patton played the role in too gay of a way.
So what is the truth? And where do we go from here?
This film, directed by Roman Chimienti (who also worked on Wrinkles the Clown) and Tyler Jensen, this movie is at once a look back at 1980's horror films, an examination of the reassessment of them decades later, fan culture and Patton's story. Any one of these could have made for a great documentary, but I feel that the need to work them all into one story leads to somewhat of a lack of focus.
That said, the scenes of Patton finally confronting Chaskin are quite emotional and the examined thought that the star is finally getting the notoriety for the role that once ruined his life is pretty interesting.
I wanted to love this more than I did, but again, the lack of focus at times bothered me. Some may see Patton as someone who never got past his grudge against Hollywood, but I'm of the mind that we can't judge someone's life because we have not lived it. I may have grown up in the years of people being forced to stay in the closet and the aftermath of AIDS, but I never directly confronted either of these life events that obviously shaped who Patton is today. Of all things, he's a survivor, which is the most life-affirming part of this interesting film.
You can learn more on this movie's official website and Facebook page. It will be streaming on Shudder soon.
Comprehensive, earnest, and superb
I_Ailurophile4 November 2023
For as much as 'A nightmare on Elm Street' represents a classic horror franchise, like most franchises there came a point there it began to produce diminishing returns. Before it reached that point, however, the series was marked by one especial peculiarity. The second film, 1985's 'Freddy's revenge,' is pretty much right on par with its predecessor in terms of effects, vibes, and everything else including overall quality and entertainment value. It also broke with the tried and true formula that had been developed for horror cinema over time, upended certain norms, and was decidedly dubious insofar as it represented for star Mark Patton a nadir that rather forced him out of the industry. To simply watch there is never any questioning the bare-faced queer subtext that David Chaskin wrote into the picture, no matter how much he denied it over time; to read about the production, and reactions to it, it's readily evident how harmful it was for Patton, both personally and professionally. There is so much to dissect and discuss surrounding the movie that it's difficult to even organize one's thoughts about it. Enter filmmakers Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen, with 2019 documentary 'Scream, queen! My nightmare on Elm Street.' The do endeavored mightily to give consideration and treatment to all the minutiae one could possibly draw into the cultural moment of 'A nightmare on Elm Street 2,' and to their great credit, I think they handily succeeded, because this is fantastic.
One may reasonably say that this flick tries to weave together too many ideas, and in the process becomes a little scattered and unfocused. I think that's fair, though the truth is that it is all much more complex than just being a matter of what Chaskin wrote and how it impacted Patton, then and after. The very least that can be said, though, is that Chimienti and Jensen very shrewdly keep their feature grounded by centering Patton first and foremost: his childhood, his career, his life in subsequent years, his reemergence in media and at conventions in the past several years. With that core, 'Scream' becomes fascinating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming in turn while also speaking to a wide array of topics and questions: the development of the home video market, the explosion of horror cinema in the early 80s, and how these notions led to the desirability of horror roles for actors while having impact on broader society; the multiple ways in which 'Freddy's revenge' toys with expectations and norms of gender and sexuality; homophobia (and transphobia, and serophobia) in culture, society, and politics, above all as expressed in film, contrasted with past and present acceptance of the LGBTQ community; the hate lobbed upon the sequel in some corners, often paired with homophobic remarks, contrasted with how it would come to be championed by the queer community; the concurrent emergence of the AIDS crisis, and how it impacted Patton's life and the film industry; and much more. Despite covering so much ground, the picture remains cohesive in being about Patton first and foremost, with his biggest claim to fame just a small step behind, and the result is terrific.
Given the topics covered here it goes without saying that there are times when the proceedings are flush with ugly, bigoted language and imagery. This comes with the territory of confronting the dark side of our culture, however, which Patton himself touches upon in these one hundred minutes. Through it all the filmmakers illustrate an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge and research to make this as comprehensive as it is, and the sheer amount of archive material and clips, interviews, and footage they put together is substantial. Chimienti and Jensen are to be congratulated for managing to assemble 'My nightmare on Elm Street' into a form as cogent and compelling as it is - and it's very gratifying, furthermore, to see even within the length that the experience of participating here, and what he was able to do as part of it, was meaningful and constructive for Patton. It's so deeply unfortunate that his life trended the way it did, as the flick itself elucidates, yet it's very apparent that the man has made peace with it all, cementing that the documentary is an earnest portrait of an unsung icon rather than the seedy slice of exploitation that it might have become. When all is said and done this is very much worth watching entirely on its own merits, and it's so well done and interesting that it earns a firm blanket recommendation. It doesn't matter if one is or is not specifically a fan of or keen on 'A nightmare on Elm Street,' horror, documentaries, Patton, or the LGBTQ community: there is true, lasting value here that extends beyond any singular notion. It may not be an absolute must-see, but if you do have the opportunity to watch, then I'm pleased to suggest 'Scream, queen!' to one and all.
One may reasonably say that this flick tries to weave together too many ideas, and in the process becomes a little scattered and unfocused. I think that's fair, though the truth is that it is all much more complex than just being a matter of what Chaskin wrote and how it impacted Patton, then and after. The very least that can be said, though, is that Chimienti and Jensen very shrewdly keep their feature grounded by centering Patton first and foremost: his childhood, his career, his life in subsequent years, his reemergence in media and at conventions in the past several years. With that core, 'Scream' becomes fascinating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming in turn while also speaking to a wide array of topics and questions: the development of the home video market, the explosion of horror cinema in the early 80s, and how these notions led to the desirability of horror roles for actors while having impact on broader society; the multiple ways in which 'Freddy's revenge' toys with expectations and norms of gender and sexuality; homophobia (and transphobia, and serophobia) in culture, society, and politics, above all as expressed in film, contrasted with past and present acceptance of the LGBTQ community; the hate lobbed upon the sequel in some corners, often paired with homophobic remarks, contrasted with how it would come to be championed by the queer community; the concurrent emergence of the AIDS crisis, and how it impacted Patton's life and the film industry; and much more. Despite covering so much ground, the picture remains cohesive in being about Patton first and foremost, with his biggest claim to fame just a small step behind, and the result is terrific.
Given the topics covered here it goes without saying that there are times when the proceedings are flush with ugly, bigoted language and imagery. This comes with the territory of confronting the dark side of our culture, however, which Patton himself touches upon in these one hundred minutes. Through it all the filmmakers illustrate an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge and research to make this as comprehensive as it is, and the sheer amount of archive material and clips, interviews, and footage they put together is substantial. Chimienti and Jensen are to be congratulated for managing to assemble 'My nightmare on Elm Street' into a form as cogent and compelling as it is - and it's very gratifying, furthermore, to see even within the length that the experience of participating here, and what he was able to do as part of it, was meaningful and constructive for Patton. It's so deeply unfortunate that his life trended the way it did, as the flick itself elucidates, yet it's very apparent that the man has made peace with it all, cementing that the documentary is an earnest portrait of an unsung icon rather than the seedy slice of exploitation that it might have become. When all is said and done this is very much worth watching entirely on its own merits, and it's so well done and interesting that it earns a firm blanket recommendation. It doesn't matter if one is or is not specifically a fan of or keen on 'A nightmare on Elm Street,' horror, documentaries, Patton, or the LGBTQ community: there is true, lasting value here that extends beyond any singular notion. It may not be an absolute must-see, but if you do have the opportunity to watch, then I'm pleased to suggest 'Scream, queen!' to one and all.
Pretty Ridiculous
heatherbryan-7268613 June 2020
I think Mark Patton just needed some money. Come on dude, this movie ruined your life? And made you stop acting? More like the movie bombed and you couldn't get a job. So years later when the world noticed all the gay subtext, I guess it seemed like a good idea to blame your career ending on that.
This documentary is good if you want a "Where are they now" for the actor that played Jesse
This documentary is good if you want a "Where are they now" for the actor that played Jesse
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