They/Them (2022)

They/Them takes the familiar slasher setup and jolts it awake with a premise that actually has something to say, setting its scares inside the controlled cruelty of a conversion camp where every “therapy” exercise feels like a trapdoor. John Logan stages the film with a sleek, campfire-nightmare vibe—equal parts tense mystery and righteous catharsis—and the young cast gives the story a beating heart, with Theo Germaine anchoring it in quiet grit and clarity. Kevin Bacon is chillingly charismatic as the camp’s smiling authority figure, the kind who can turn a pep talk into a threat, and that contrast makes the dread sink in deeper. It’s not for everyone—its subject matter is raw and the violence is sharp—but if you want a horror film that pairs genre thrills with pointed, inclusive representation, this one earns your time.

They/Them clearly wants to mash up a righteous anti–conversion therapy message with a campy slasher setup, and you can feel John Logan aiming for catharsis and empowerment more than pure scares. The problem is the movie can’t decide what it is: the social commentary is blunt, the pacing drags, and when the killer element shows up it often feels like an afterthought rather than something genuinely tense or frightening. If you’re coming for a sharp, suspenseful mystery or a satisfying body-count thrill ride, you’ll likely find the climax limp and the horror surprisingly tame for the subject matter. Still, Kevin Bacon brings some menace, and the cast has moments of sincerity—so it may work better for viewers who prioritize the theme and representation over a tight, scary slasher.