‘Family History’ by Mark J. Parker Review
Family History, written and directed by Mark J. Parker, takes on the form of a quintessential queer horror film. When Sam brings his new boyfriend, Evan, home to meet his conservative father, secrets are revealed about Sam’s past and the horrors of his unaccepting family.
The horror genre has been desperate for queer representation like that in Family History. By commenting on the trauma connected to not being accepted by one’s parents, Family History emphasizes the importance of acceptance and the repercussions of disapproval in a familial setting. Overall, I believe that Family History accurately represents the frightening reality of living with parents who disapprove of their child’s sexuality.
There are hints throughout the film that allow us to recognize the deeply seeded homophobia that is present in too many American households. A shocking twist leads the viewer to question the intentions of all the characters in the film, and it gives subsequent watches a new meaning with an equally unsettling conclusion.
Family History really explores the viewpoint of the typical ultra conservative family and how their worldviews affect their parenting- especially the parenting of gay kids- and ultimately how they affect their children’s lives and views of themselves.
Sam’s conservative upbringing prevents him from fully accepting his sexuality by subjecting other queer people to the horrors he had to face. By not feeling accepted, Sam was never able to accept himself, either, indoctrinated to believe that fitting a mold is more important than happiness…even if those confines are the one thing getting in the way of that happiness. The events depicted in Family History are a cautionary tale for homophobic households that would just be better off loving their children for who they are.
Mark J. Parker’s work and recent updates can be found on the MJP POV Instagram and Facebook.
