Whistler Camp - What We Know So Far

Conversion therapies designed to turn members of the LGBTQ+ community heterosexual are inherently evil (via The Trevor Project). It goes by many names, whether you want to refer to it as "gender critical therapy" or "reparative therapy." Still, regardless of how you slice it, numerous studies have proven a person's sexual orientation is an inherent aspect of their identity. It is not a choice.

Despite the abhorrent practices that have taken place at these camps, many remain in operation. Dozens of states still don't have any laws on the books outlawing them. There are various loopholes the places can take to avoid overt scrutiny, and it looks like Blumhouse aims to draw greater attention to these locales in the form of a new horror movie. The film, which has the tentative title of "Whistler Camp" (via Deadline), now has a star and director attached, so here's what you need to know about a horror flick that may hit too close to home for some.

The Deadline article reports that "Whistler Camp" is currently in the midst of casting, so it could be a while until cameras roll on the project. No release date has been set yet, but one would assume the soonest it could feasibly come out is in late 2022. Keep your ears open for more details on the film as they become available.

Right now, most of what we know is that the film will be written and directed by John Logan. It will be his first time directing a feature-length movie, but he's written and co-written numerous screenplays in the past. Some of the most noteworthy examples on his resume include "The Last Samurai," "The Aviator," "Hugo," "Skyfall," and "Alien: Covenant." With decades of experience in the industry, it should make for a real treat to see what Logan can do when he's in the driver's seat. Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar will produce the picture.

As of this writing, the only actor to be cast in "Whistler Camp" is Theo Germaine. The actor's perhaps best known for their work on the Netflix series "The Politician." They played James Sullivan, who serves as Payton Hobart's (Ben Platt) campaign advisor and manager. Their credits also include "Holy Trinity," "Work in Progress," and "Adam."

It's monumental news for those seeking greater representation with LGBTQ+ actors portraying LGBTQ+ characters in film and television. Back in 2019, Germaine spoke with Logo about feeling like progress was being made when it came to that. They even talked about auditioning for a transgender director and how freeing that felt: "I remember going home after doing the audition and just crying, because I felt so comfortable being able to be vulnerable. I don't know how to explain how it feels when you get to work with someone who just gets it." If there's anyone up to the task of bringing the sensitive material of "Whistler Camp" to light, it's Theo Germaine.

Not much is known about the plot of "Whistler Camp" at this point. However, Deadline does offer the following description: "The movie is an LGBTQIA+ empowerment story set at a gay conversion camp." The use of the word "empowerment" is critical for this story, and it suggests the horror flick will forego some of the common tropes that have plagued LGBTQ+ representation in film and television over the decades. 

Often referred to as "bury your gays," many stories told over the years feature extensive violence toward members of the LGBTQ+ community. This goes back as recently as 2019's "It: Chapter Two," which features an extended opening scene depicting Pennywise killing a gay man. Considering that "Whistler Camp" is a horror movie, it'd be easy to assume that it would have extensive scenes of LGBTQ+ members facing horrors beyond imagining. The fact that it ends up being "empowering" in the end should indicate that the film ultimately will shed a positive light on the issues plaguing conversion camps and be kinder to all of the LGBTQ+ characters. We'll just have to wait and see until more information comes to light.