In 1985, Mark Patton starred in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. He was a different kind of horror movie hero: a sensitive, feeling young man whose demons came from within.

Almost immediately people saw the film as having a gay subtext. Or “overtext,” for those who didn’t find it subtle. Patton, a gay man trying to make his way in homophobic 80’s Hollywood, really never worked onscreen again. His career was over and he left the limelight seemingly for good.

But as this documentary points out, Nightmare 2 soon became a cult favorite among LGBTQ fans, being the first time many of us saw someone onscreen that we could identify with. And, not insignificantly, pretty easy on the eyes, dancing around and flashing his tighty-whiteys (not to mention that shower scene!).

It was stretching for table scraps, sure, but at the time it was the best we could get out of a movie.

In the 80s, the permissiveness of the 60s and 70s came to screeching halt with the advent of the AIDS crisis and Reagan’s presidency. Gayness was once again demonized after taking only a few tentative steps into the light. In the midst of this, Patton was labeled — and contracted HIV/AIDS himself. Complicated by other health problems, his infection, though it came in the time of the “cocktail” treatment, was difficult and he was near to death before beginning to recover.

Patton, often listed among horror’s favorite scream queens,  lived in obscurity with newfound love in Mexico until years later when he was found and reintroduced to his fans. Now he tours conventions and speaks out against bullying, homophobia, and AIDS stigma.

In this documentary, his tumultuous career is followed, as well as his own growing self-image, and he faces off against the worst of his past — and the glorious joy he brings to queer fans in the present.

Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street hits theaters beginning on February 27th – March 4 in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Glendale Theater. 

SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET will roll out nationally following this one week engagement and will also have a VOD release beginning on March 3 on all platforms including Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, VUDU, etc.