[Pride 2022] The Bisexual Subtext of Stu Macher

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There are few things as enjoyable as watching Matthew Lillard on screen. Nineties Lillard, perhaps the peak of his Lillard-ness is the most enjoyable. A manic, often unhinged energy comes off the man and the characters he performs. None more so than Scream. As (spoiler alert) secondary killer Stu Macher, Lillard is able to give the full range of his manic energy for a role that has gone on to become one of his signature roles.

In re-evaluating Scream around the time of it’s 2022 legacy sequel one thing begins to come forth when watching the mostly tongue performance of Lillard. There’s serious bisexual energy coming off his turn as Stu. LGBT+ subtext is rampant in horror cinema, it’s always been there, but considering it’s written by a gay man, the Scream series seems oddly void of out and proud LGBT+ characters. How much, or how little, the bisexual coding in Stu is intentional only Lillard, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson can say but it is there.

From the outset Stu is presented as an outgoing, fairly flamboyant guy. His ease with men and women might be our first indicator that he is interested in both. Given this is the mid 90s when teen culture was still very much of the opinion that being gay was “wrong”, for a character to be as openly affectionate with men as women is somewhat noticeable. Stu is shown around his girlfriend Tatum (Rose McGowan) from the beginning, his arm around her.

Much of his interaction with Tatum is implied to be physical, one of Stu’s most obvious physical ticks is the use of his tongue. He frequently has his tongue out around people in response to anything. When Randy questions where Stu was the night Stu’s ex-girlfriend Casey is murdered, Tatum replies “he was with me” to which Stu adds “yeah I was” in an overtly sexual manner. He continues to make overtly sexual comment advances to his girlfriend throughout the film, and when confronting Sidney at the end comments that “I’ve always had a thing for ya”. He’s also shown on multiple occasions to be in the personal space of women around him, especially in his house towards the climax of the film.

It should also be noted that in conversation it’s made clear that Stu was once in a relationship with Casey before she dumped him, a fact he has lied about and claimed he broke up with her. This shows a case of fragility within his own male ego but also an ongoing interest in women physically and sexually.

In conversation with Randy ahead of the party, Stu immediately comes to the defence of Billy. This is the first suggestion that perhaps Stu is interested in Billy. In response to the defence Randy labels Stu a “lapdog” for his loyalty to Billy who is a high suspect for the murders. Moreover, as the scene progresses and Billy confronts Randy about his accusations Stu puts his around Randy from behind and plays with his ear in an affectionate manner.

Much of the case for Stu’s bisexuality is present in the climax of the film with his interactions with Billy Loomis. As Billy seriously explains the motivations for the killings, Stu stays close to him, often resting his head on Billy’s shoulder. Stu’s decision to join in on the killing plan is said to be “peer pressure” but, looking at his interactions with Billy, it could easily be that he wants to please the man to whom he is attracted. If his feelings for Billy have begun to dictate his actions it explains why he has lost interest in Tatum, feeling nothing when she dies.

Moreover, even as Billy turns on him and stabs him multiple times, and as he himself admits to feeling “woozy” he continues to do as he’s told by Billy showing his desire to be validated. When Billy explains the plan to frame Sydney’s father for the spree, Stu gleefully ads “that was my idea” as if to gain praise and acceptance from Billy.

A final moment of note is when Stu gives his reason for joining in on the killing spree he says “peer pressure, I’m very sensitive”. For many people who grew up in a time when being any other than straight was much less acceptable than it is now “sensitive” was often a stick to beat LGBT men with, it’s easy now to see the sea change in expressing emotions. But, in 1996 sensitivity was very much something that was deemed un-masculine, as was attraction to men.

In this throwaway line Stu alludes to an issue with the world for LGBT+ youths, certain words - “sissy”, “sensitive”, “different” even the often used “confirmed bachelor” took on new meanings to become euphemisms for the known sexual orientation of someone. Even if this is not what he means, reading it knowing that the history of horror is littered with LGBT subtext, the film was written by a gay man and the time was on the verge of a sea change it’s easy to draw an conclusion that perhaps Stu was a lovelorn teenager grappling with his own sexuality, and his own fears of being bisexual. After all bisexual people are often called “confused” and going with “peer pressure” just as Stu’s murder spree would be considered.

It might be reading too much into a flamboyant portrait of a serial killer but in the end drawing these massive conclusions help people feel a little more accepted by their favourite genres and above all - it’s a scream, baby!

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