Queer Slasher Black Theta (PANIC) Embodies Camp Amidst the Kills

Title: Black Theta

First Non-Festival Release: TBD

Director: Tim Connolly

Writer: Tim Connolly

Runtime: 109 Minutes

Starring: Tim Connolly, William Hinson, Emma Nossal

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

This film’s review was written after its screening at the Panic Film Festival in 2025.

In today’s world, moving on from trauma can be difficult for many reasons. Social media, true crime, limitations of therapy, can all be reasons why healing can take so long and take a lot out of a person.

This is especially true for horror movie fan Andy (Tim Connolly). After surviving an attempt on his life by the leader of the Black Theta Cult, he has lived with the PTSD and guilt ever since. Reconstructing his life has been difficult, but Andy has put in the work to cultivate a strong support network. Years later, however, he doesn’t believe that his trauma is over since he only killed one member, the leader, in self-defense. In true slasher movie fashion, remnants of the cult have descended from the shadows to exercise their own twisted sense of justice on Andy and his loved ones. 

Rough around the edges, Black Theta is an entertaining, low-budget slasher without too many frills.

It’s clear that Black Theta wears its influences on its sleeve. Fashioning itself as a queerer version of Scream, the structure of Black Theta lends itself to the late 90s and early 00s sensibilities of horror. Following the formula is easy enough, Black Theta doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from similar themed slashers. Another exploration of trauma, the thesis feels hollow given how little is actually explored with Andy’s trauma, as well as his friend’s. While its story is largely flat, it allows for its surprisingly large cast of characters to break through in smaller, memorable moments.

Andy makes for an interesting enough, if still emotionally obscure, character at the center of the action. There aren’t many explicitly gay male leads in slashers and Andy does his best to make a case for his final girl status. Resourceful, resilient, and empathetic, he fits the traditional archetype well enough, even if he doesn’t have too many obvious flaws. In fact, most of what makes Andy interesting is his commitment to healing after his initial assault. Going to therapy while simultaneously building himself an armory balances the realistic and idealistic versions of moving on after an attack like this. Toughened yet still with the same sarcastic bite, Andy shows that gay men don’t have to be entirely palatable to be compelling and entertaining at once.   

Moving with its own sense of humor, Black Theta is laced with sarcasm and sass. The explicitly queer sensibilities make the indie slasher accessible and endearing to viewers. Horror has long had a rich history of subtext with queer stories. In the modern era, films like Black Theta can wholeheartedly embrace queer characters and stories. The best part is Black Theta is funny not because its gay characters all fit the typical gay archetypes in slashers but because they are various shades of flawed and interesting. While mostly referential, the humor of Black Theta relies on the ridiculousness of the characters to shine through, which it certainly does.

At the end of the day, there’s this lack of urgency that runs through the film that makes it difficult to stay invested. Much of the horror comes down to glimpses of imposing caped figures and various slashes of knives. Lacking a solid buildup in specific scenes and throughout the feature, the kills feel sudden or drawn out. The extremes make it hard to maintain a sense of suspense and allow the story to unfold in an engaging way. There’s also a repetition that is hard to ignore after the first few kills. The cut-and-paste approach to horror feels at odds with the campy aesthetics and tone that the film champions throughout.

Writer/director Tim Connolly has talent. With just this small budget to work with, among other limitations, Black Theta offers more than one would expect. Quippy dialogue and memorable characters elevate the camp behind Black Theta while its lack of thrills and simplistic story drag it back down. What’s left is an entirely serviceable, if enjoyable, slasher that is only held back by its budget. Sometimes it takes putting an idea on page to see what someone is capable of, and hopefully Connolly gets more chances to impress with his perspective on queer horror.

Overall Score? 5/10