When I began watching The Axe Murders of Villisca, I was not impressed; it begins with an overlong and uninteresting scene reenacting the titular murders. But then there's a flash forward to modern day, and we're introduced to our protagonist, Caleb: a high-school-aged boy, but the actor's clearly in his late twenties. When Caleb runs out of his house, his best friend, Denny, is waiting for him on a moped. Caleb jumps on the back of the moped, and the two boys ride off to school together. There's a lot of touching and smiling. My queer reading glasses come out, but I’m certain they’re unfounded.
The boys get to school and are harassed by a couple of bullies at the school's entrance. The bullies call Denny a faggot. I'm a little stunned that the movie was reading my mind but then I'm sure it's just the bullies being bullies until they mock Denny for getting caught blowing a guy under the bleachers last year. Holy shit, he's gay. And Denny’s reaction to their comments acknowledges their violence. Caleb almost fights the bullies in defense of his friend, but a teacher breaks it up.
Caleb meets new girl Jess. Caleb and Jess flirt some. Denny has a plan to take Caleb to visit the Villisca Axe Murder House. Jess wants to tag along and Caleb is all for it, but Denny is a little too overtly jealous. The threesome is all tension. They take a tour during the day of the Villisca Axe Murder House—so much boring talk of the murders that goes nowhere—but decide to sneak in again after dark.
Just as I'm starting to think that the film isn't going to play up Denny’s clear attractions to Caleb or even acknowledge the massive amount of tension between the three leads, it does. Denny and Jess argue, and she says, "Sorry I crashed your little date." I am entranced.
Then it gets truly wild. Ghosts start possessing the three, and Caleb confronts Denny: “I’m sick of you following me around like a lost little puppy,” he says. “I get it. You’re into me.” The words are like ice. Upset, Denny leaves.
A moment later, a possessed Jess pulls Denny onto a bed. She touches his crotch and says, "You can pretend I'm him."
Denny escapes the bedroom but encounters a possessed Caleb in the hallway. Caleb reassures Denny then kisses him.
***
The Axe Murders of Villisca is not by most measures a good film. It’s convoluted and messy and at times incomprehensible. Everything to do with the historical murders at its center is entirely uninteresting. And yet, I found its examination of homophobia and repression, while also not without its blemishes, highly engaging. Watching Axe Murders feels a bit like scrapping shit off a wall and polishing it, because at least it’s my shit. Maybe that’s a bad analogy. I just feel so attached to Axe Murders’ intentions that it’s difficult to view it objectively. So maybe I won’t. Maybe I don’t have to be objective about its quality because its cheesy teenage angst and investment in gay desire work for me.