Early on in CLOSET MONSTER the protagonist (played as a boy by Jack Fulton and as a teen by Connor Jessup) mentions his adoration for Joss Whedon’s television adaptation of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. This is not an innocuous reference. The bodily and psychological framework of BUFFY’s vampiric world is translated here into a coming-out story that is equally visceral.
Though supernatural baddies don’t stalk around at night in the world of CLOSET MONSTER, Oscar’s world is filled with violence, apprehension, loss, and surreal occurrences. Like the world of BUFFY, there are also breaks in its dark tone — moments of humor and teenage excitement that are exhilarating, not threatening.
This is one of the greatest achievements of writer/director Stephen Dunn. He manages to create a well-rounded queer experience that skillfully balances the harsh realities of Oscar’s traumatizing experiences with the thrilling feelings that accompany teen romance.
Also notable is the film’s spot-on soundtrack. CLOSET MONSTER is one of a line of recent films like 2014’s horror indie IT FOLLOWS or the 2011 Ryan Gosling star-vehicle, DRIVE who have brilliantly used music to build their tense atmospheres. Here, like in the aforementioned films, electronic music evocative of the 80s is used to construct a sensual and dream-like world.
CLOSET MONSTER is an undeniably confident film with narrative complexity and a strong aesthetic vision.
— Diana Martinez, Film Streams Education Director
