Props to Justin LaLiberty for recommending this as an alternate to They/Them. In his words: the movie is "a bonafide slasher film that’s gay without being pandering, hateful or, well, a piece of shit."

Onto the watchlist Hellbent went, and now we just watched it for #SlasherSaturday™. LaLiberty is right. The film has its weaknesses, but it is such a breath of fresh air compared to the bot written disaster that is They/Them. Hellbent is at home in the same cinematic universe as Gregg Araki's Nowhere. It's like slasher-Araki, but set during Halloween. Etheredge-Ouzts's characters embody slasher character tropes, except all as gay men. I love that the characters are fully accepting of their sexuality and don't question anything homosexual. Also cool that the actors, all heterosexual, had no problems with playing gay characters.

For a LGTBQ slasher made in the 2000s, there is surprisingly little that has aged about Hellbent. It is authentic, and while the occasional plot hole appears, the movie is a pleasant surprise overall. The script is funny. It is formulaic, but the film is self aware and even toys with some of our genre expectations. Do we find out who the killer is? Watch and see.

"I love an ass in blue."

"Why'd the killer take the head?"
"Maybe he can't get head any other way."

"Four perfect naked asses? Who walks away from that?"

"Relax, this guy's about as dangerous as a carrot."