A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge; and the Monster/ Homosexual Relationship

The 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (ANOES2), includes themes of homosexuality and the queer to fully portray the role of Freddy Krueger. Before discussing the film and these themes it is important to summarize Harry M. Benshoff’s writings in ‘The Monster and the Homosexual’.

Benshoff begins his writings by describing homosexuality and its reception in English culture as monstrous. This can be seen through the societal treatment of homosexuals in the AIDS epidemic and generally in how they are treated. Benshoff then claims that often times the monster in horror films is metaphoric and can be equated with the homosexual.

When describing the theory of the monster Queer, Benshoff includes Richard Dyer’s points on how gayness in films is not present to express itself, but rather to express sexuality in general about society. This can be seen with the many instances with the interpretation of the monster as a product of misdirected or inappropriate sexual energy through the incest taboos, masturbation, and promiscuity included.

Benshoff lists the four different ways in which homosexuality intersects with the horror film; (1) The inclusion of identifiable gay/lesbian characters (2) The film being made by a gay/lesbian director, writer, or producer (3) The sub textual or connotative avenues in which the homosexual enters the genre (4) That any film viewed by a homosexual may be considered Queer. Benshoff denotes the third listing as the most important factor because of the way homosexuality characterizes the monster or villain.

Looking at ANOES2, homosexual elements strongly characterize Freddy Krueger and the methods and actions of his killings. In this film, Krueger possesses a teenage boy, Jesse, as a vessel for killing his selected victims. The idea of Krueger’s possession alone is queer, in that he is both metaphorically and literally inside Jesse. Krueger, being a former pedophile and murderer, combines sex and death through his killings. Benshoff discusses early film theory on monster movies claiming “the monster represented an eruption of repressed sexual desire.” With Krueger as a supernatural entity living in a dream-dimension, he is only able to act on his sexual desires through his torture and murders of people.

In ANOES2, the murders of Jesse’s friend Ron and gym teacher Coach Schneider have some sexual connotations involved. Coach Schneider is portrayed as a pedophile that gets off on punishing his students and is later shown approaching Jesse in a risque bar clad in leather. Schneider brings Jesse back to the school for punishment but is then murdered naked in the showers by Jesse/Krueger, shown above. As for Ron, he befriends Jesse after their mutual gym punishments forces them to talk to one another. Throughout the film, both are shown in locker-room changing and talking about girls with an intended homosexual tension. Jesse/Krueger, when spending the night in Ron’s room, murders his friend who is shirtless. Both these killings have some type of Queer attachment involved. Benshoff’s third way homosexuality enters films supports this, “homosexuality on screen has been more or less allusive: it lurks around the edges of texts and characters rather than announcing itself forthrightly.” This is precisely the method in which homosexuality enters ANOES2, through subtle clues and hints.

Another aspect that is Queer in ANOES2, is the love triangle between Jesse, Krueger, and Lisa (Jesse’s intended love interest), shown above. Lisa becomes a target of Krueger, but through the power of her love for Jesse, Krueger is defeated. While on the surface, this seems like a natural heterosexual relationship, it can be interpreted as Lisa’s jealousy of Krueger for possessing Jesse. Benshoff writes, “(Queer) ultimately is what opposes the binary definitions and proscriptions of a patriarchal heterosexuality.” This is shown through Krueger’s displacement in the film. Krueger ultimately is the only thing standing between Lisa and Jesse having an otherwise normal heterosexual relationship.

ANOES2 utilizes Queer elements and subtle homosexual elements to fully portray the monster of Freddy Krueger. The possession of Jesse and targeting of Ron and Coach Schneider show that Krueger has a combined lust for sex and death. Through his actions it is apparent that homosexuality is a large element in the film and character of Freddy Krueger.