Analysis: Exploring the Challenges Faced by Queer Youth Through Kristen Stewart's Thriller

Noah Berlatsky (@nberlat) is a freelance writer based in Chicago, sharing his own views. Check out more opinion pieces on CNN.

Sadly, the main danger to LGBTQ kids often comes from their own parents who are homophobic. This fact is recognized in pop culture and politics, but it is also uncomfortably ignored. It's like a known secret that nobody wants to openly talk about, similar to the concept of being in the closet.

Noah Berlatsky

Noah Berlatsky

Rose Glass' "Love Lies Bleeding" tackles the themes of queerness and parental cruelty with a refreshing directness. However, it sometimes struggles to fully contain the intense emotions within the boundaries of a typical suspense thriller. The power parents hold over queer children can be incredibly harmful and oppressive, making it difficult to find traditional genre solutions for escape or empowerment. The film excels in highlighting the severity of homophobic family abuse and the long road ahead in addressing this issue.

In the film "Love Lies Bleeding", the main characters are Lou, a chain-smoking, depressed gym manager, and Jackie, a aspiring bodybuilding champion who works at a gun-range owned by Lou's father, Lou Sr. The gun range is just a side business for Lou Sr., as he earns his real money through illegal activities. As the story unfolds, a series of mistakes and disasters by Jackie and Lou puts Lou Sr.'s business in jeopardy, leading to dangerous consequences.

The storyline revolves around a heterosexual father threatening his lesbian daughter and her girlfriend. This is not a fictional Hollywood plot, but a sad reality that is all too common. LGBTQ youth often face higher rates of parental abuse and struggle with building close relationships with their parents. Research from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University shows that LGBTQ individuals are more likely to have experienced adverse childhood experiences, such as emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

Abuse often causes LGBTQ youth to leave their homes. A study published in the LGBT Health journal found that queer homeless youth are more likely to engage in survival sex, such as trading sex for shelter or food, compared to their straight peers.

In the movie, Jackie is initially homeless and resorts to trading sex to obtain a job reference because she is estranged from her homophobic family and feels limited in her options. Lou, on the other hand, reassures Jackie that her father's disapproval is not because of her being queer, but for other reasons.

Writer-director Rose Glass and actor Kristen Stewart in discussion on the set of "Love Lies Bleeding."

Writer-director Rose Glass and actor Kristen Stewart in discussion on the set of "Love Lies Bleeding."

In the movie "Anna Kooris/A24", the focus is on addressing the challenges faced by queer youth with homophobic parents. However, the film also shifts the attention away from this directly. While Jackie's parents, who are homophobic, are not prominently featured, Lou's father plays a central role in the storyline. The abuse faced by Lou Sr. can be seen as a reflection of homophobic abuse, even though it is not explicitly depicted as such. Interestingly, it is Lou's straight sister Beth who experiences the most explicit domestic violence from her husband JJ, rather than from her father.

Glass’s film does not shy away from addressing parental abuse, portraying it as a pervasive but elusive presence in the lives of children like Lou and Jackie. The violence they endure is so ingrained that they struggle to recognize themselves as victims. Lou even mentions how her father involves others in his harmful actions, symbolizing how parents can instill self-hatred in queer kids. (A study by the Trevor Project in 2023 revealed that a shocking 41% of LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 had considered suicide in the past year.)

Jackie’s bodybuilding is depicted as a complex reflection of her relationship with her body and self. Her intense workouts and steroid use are portrayed as acts of self-punishment, trapping her in a cycle of anger and aggression. However, these actions also symbolize her embrace of strength, defiance of traditional gender norms, and empowerment.

Lou imitating her father, especially by handling a gun, may suggest that she is either unable to break free from his influence or that she is trying to assert her independence. Children often learn about strength, independence, and self-love from their parents. This implies that developing autonomy and strength often involves emulating our parents, which can be challenging if they were abusive. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for free!

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David Lynch’s film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” and Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” both take unconventional approaches to storytelling in order to explore the themes of trauma and empowerment. Similarly, “Love Lies Bleeding” delves into the surreal to unravel the complexities of repetitive trauma at its core, ultimately offering a glimpse of hope and transformation beyond the bleak grit of noir crime.

The writers, Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska, make a bold and creative choice in their exploration of the power dynamics within families, particularly in relation to queer children. While the film may not entirely convince, it courageously sheds light on the often dark reality of parental influence and the potential for abuse, especially towards marginalized individuals. “Love Lies Bleeding” paves the way for future filmmakers to delve into the complexities of parental love and its capacity to both heal and harm those in its grasp.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Dial or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support.

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