Warning: This post will have slight spoilers for Emo the Musical.
Emo the Musical has a charming gay subplot and a beautiful song about overcoming gay cure therapy.
The Australian black comedy-musical titled Emo the Musical is currently playing worldwide on Netflix. The film follows the tension between a high school emo rock band called Worst Day Ever and a Christian band called Hope Group.
In the middle of all that conflict is a Romeo and Juliet-esque romance between Hope Group member Peter (played by Craig Hyde-Smith) and classmate Josh (played by Kevin Clayette),
In the film, we see Peter not only denying his sexuality, but also going through electroshock therapy to cure his homosexuality. Josh then tries to get Peter to accept himself and his sexuality. This all culminates into a love song titled “Electrified.”
While the moment comes off as loving and sweet, the lyrics give off a sad and alarming message.
Josh sings:
“If my love for you should somehow bring about
Global warming
I promise I will take the heat
If my love for you is responsible wars in the Middle East
I’ll go over there and I’ll make peace‘Cause I’d be drowned in Sodom
I’d be burnt in Gamorrah
I’d happily go to prison
Like Ugandans think we oughttaI’d go through years and years of conversion therapy
I would fill my body with volts of electricity.”
Meanwhile, Peter sings:
“I want a world where Jesus loves me
Where the kids at school don’t laugh at me and scorn
I fear the devil’s got a hold of me
How will I ever be reborn?But I’d be drowned in Sodom
I’d be burnt in Gamorrah
I’ll happily be castrated
Like Alan Turing thought he oughtta
I’ll take as many drugs as they wanna give me
I will tie myself up to a stake
And burn myself for witchery.”
Queer filmmaker Neil Triffett told Calgary International Film Festival that this movie was a passion project of his.
“I think the core is the same, being about a relationship between an Emo and Christian, but the story has grown bigger, with more characters and a bigger plot.
“The film is a ‘coming out’ tale and because we have eight characters we can do that in many sorts of ways now, from characters accepting they love a Christian, one accepting they’re gay, one simply owning up to liking basketball.
Hopefully, that makes it more universal. I think distance has allowed me to better understand why I wanted to tell this story – the further I got from high school (I’m still in my 20’s) the more I can see what a confusing time it was. Accepting others and accepting yourself isn’t as easy as it sounds.”
You can watch the scene for “Electrified” down below.
h/t: Pink News