Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 25, 2022

While there have been a few lengthy explorations of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series, “Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street” doesn’t have much interest in the screen wrath and pop culture influence of Freddy Krueger. Instead, filmmakers Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen quest to spotlight the life of Mark Patton, the star of 1985’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge,” who was set to hit the big time with his turn as Jesse, the boy tormented by the razor-fingered menace, only to find himself crucified by viewers for the gay overtones of the movie created by screenwriter David Chaskin. Patton was destroyed by the experience, erasing his desire to continue acting, but “Freddy’s Revenge” wouldn’t go away, growing in popularity and analysis as the years passed, giving the feature a second life, while Patton was singled out as the first male scream queen, complicating his relationship with a despised horror sequel he thought would rocket him to the big time.

Patton labels “Scream, Queen!” as a “testimony,” not journalism, permitting cameras to follow him as he embarks on a 2015 tour of horror conventions. Going around the country, Patton engages with fans, but these are people he never knew existed, as the actor elected to keep away from his grim reality in Hollywood, moving to Mexico to set up shop on a dusty road, finding peace far away from his past life. The Patton on display in the documentary is eager to be of service, taking the responsibility of these paid interactions seriously, greeting all sorts of “Fred Heads” who are quick to share their fandom and, most importantly, their gratitude. Amazingly, over the decades since the release of “Freddy’s Revenge,” Jesse has become a gay icon, with the saga of the meek boy possessed by the rage of a movie maniac becoming a beacon for LGBTQ viewers, with some experiencing the first stirrings of something special within while watching the feature.

While film nerds and horror hounds have been aware of this resurgence of interest in “Freddy’s Revenge,” the news comes as a surprise to Patton, who experienced hellacious mockery and bullying for his portrayal of Jesse, exposed to the worst criticism and, later in life, the full blast of online ugliness, with fans singling him out as the element that ruined the hotly anticipated follow-up to “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” “Scream, Queen!” explores his reunion with “Freddy’s Revenge,” but Chimienti and Jensen aren’t making a movie documentary, instead using the event to dig deeper into Patton’s life, which was filled with promise before participation in the sequel. “Scream, Queen!” tracks Patton’s upbringing with his troubled family and his initial move to New York City, using his naivety to land an agent, soon embarking on a career in commercials and eventually scoring a role on Broadway, working with Cher on “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” where he received his first taste of the fame he craved.

Patton was primed for the big time, but he was also a gay man in an industry that didn’t want to acknowledge such a thing, forcing him to lead two lives. “Scream, Queen!” inspects his private life, falling in love with “Dallas” actor Timothy Patrick Murphy, and it also details the experience of AIDS in the 1980s, with the disease destroying the gay community, forcing professionals to experience agony in secret, including Patton, who couldn’t bear the extraordinary homophobia of the era. A surprising amount of screen time is devoted to an understanding of the AIDS crisis and Patton’s own battles during the decade, which turned him into an advocate while taking on his own health issues. While “Scream, Queen!” deals with “Freddy’s Revenge,” Chimienti and Jensen also have something to share about the personal struggles of gay men facing a dire future of illness and condemnation, with Patton emotionally recalling his survival during a harrowing time.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers satisfactory detail as the documentary explores interviewee skin particulars and textured appearances of convention attendees. Colors are equally appealing, with bright primaries and assorted stylish hues with clothing and signage. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable, but some interview footage, especially with David Chaskin, looks very dark at times. Banding is periodically detected.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is largely frontal, with interview audio delivering crisp thoughts from the participants, with softer emotionality appreciable. Soundtrack selections and scoring cues are distinct, with some low-end thump, and they reach into the surrounds to provide a mildly immersive listening experience.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (six pages) contains an essay by BJ Colangelo.

• Commentary features co-directors Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen, and subject Mark Patton.

• "Backstage with 'Scream, Queen'" (5:03, HD) collects moments with the crew behind the documentary as they visit conventions and film festivals.

• "Bedtime Story" (2:58, HD) presents Mark Patton's tribute to the late Wes Craven.

• "Fireside Chat" (12:36, HD) is an extended discussion of "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2," with director Jack Sholder, and actors Marshall Bell, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, and Mark Patton.

• "Split Second" (3:16, HD) is a music video by Skeleton Head.

• "Femininity in the Horror Film" (40:21, HD) is a video conference panel discussion, hosted by Dr Andrew Scahill and featuring BJ Colangelo, Isa Mazzei, and William J. Nazareth Jr.

• "The Monster is Queer" (9:13, HD) is billed as "a look at horror genre studies" with Dr. Andrew Scahill.

• "The Psychic" (2:43, HD) is an alternate opening scene.

• Commercial (1:02, HD) is an ad for the "Scream, Queen!" soundtrack.

• And a Trailer (2:29, HD) is included.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Scream, Queen!" returns to "Freddy's Revenge," highlighting its resurgence of popularity and critical examination, with the filmmakers visiting a college classroom and revival screenings to capture this newfound excitement over what's now proudly considered to be classic by gay audiences, appreciated for its camp appeal (including Jesse's awkward bedroom dance) and dark fantasies. If there's a villain to be found in the documentary, it's Chaskin, who, for years, blamed Patton for the erasure of his "subtext," only to claim ownership of the material when the movie returned to prominence. Patton wants to confront the screenwriter, making the feature one long trip to this uneasy sit-down, which permits the actor a chance to share his complex feelings on the matter, purging himself of anger (director Jack Sholder coldly tells Patton to "get over it"). "Elm Street" fans are sure to enjoy this arc of the picture, which reunites Patton with his friendly co-stars (including Kim Myers and Robert Rusler), getting to the heart of issues surrounding "Freddy's Revenge," though curiously missing is Patton's own assessment of the sequel. "Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street" packs a lot of material into its run time, following extreme highs and lows, but the helmers never lose sight of Patton and his intimate journey, with the actor coming to terms with his position as Jesse the Scream Queen, finding closure as he finally deals with the role that forever changed his life.