T Blockers
A trans vigilante group fights parasitic men in small-town Australia.
T Blockers is a 2023 Australian horror film directed by Alice Maio Mackay. It follows a young transgender woman in a small Australian town who discovers parasites taking over local men and forms a vigilante group with her friends. The film is notable for its allegorical treatment of chasers and its punk-feminist tone.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Alice Maio Mackay
- Writer
- Alice Maio Mackay; Benjamin Pahl Robinson
- Starring
- Lauren Last
- Lewi Dawson
- Toshiro Glenn
- Etcetera Etcetera
- Producer
- Alice Maio Mackay; Erin Paterson
- Released
- 2023
- Runtime
- 74 minutes
- Music
- Alexander Taylor
- Cinematography
- Aaron Schuppan
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The film opens with a drag queen named Cryptessa (Etcetera Etcetera) narrating that the story is fiction but may be "realer than you think," and that "every one of us is a survivor in a lifeboat on a dark ocean." This narration is revealed to be from a lost 1990s film called Terror from Below, made by trans woman Betty Palmer (Calliope Jackson, voiced by Cassie Workman), who later committed suicide. In the present day, Sophie (Lauren Last), a young trans woman living in the same town, works at a cinema and spends time with her best friend Spencer (Lewi Dawson). She is writing a screenplay about coming out to her family when an earthquake hits. On her first date since transition, with a cis man named Adam (Stanley Browning), Sophie sees a Grindr notification on his phone labeled "chicks with dicks" and leaves, realizing he is a chaser. Walking home, Adam is confronted by a man who stokes his anger and misogyny, then is introduced to a group of men who dip his head into a vat of green chemicals, from which he emerges smiling. At a queer bar, Sophie finds a flyer for a local alt-right protest and meets Kris (Toshiro Glenn), who helps eject his friend Danny (Iris Mcerlean) for violent transphobic remarks. Sophie receives a voicemail from producer Zen (Chris Asimos) expressing interest in her short film, but does not call back. New Australian laws are proposed that could charge doctors prescribing hormone therapy to children with child abuse. Cryptessa returns, saying "a locked door is only locked because someone locked it." Sophie's brother London (Joe Romeo) visits, gives her cash from their father, and notes he is "clean" from addiction, adding that for Sophie, "the monster is on the outside."
Production
Mackay made T Blockers in Adelaide at age 17 with a budget of $10,000. She wanted to explore the theme of chasers, making them literal parasites so the trans characters could reclaim power and fight back, rather than just dealing with them. She cited influences including Gregg Araki's Now Apocalypse and The Doom Generation for their hyper-stylised worlds and uncensored queer stories, as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its blend of girlhood, coming-of-age, teen friendship, and horror. The Cryptessa narration was an homage to Bela Lugosi's performance in Glen or Glenda. Other influences included Mallrats, The Munsters, and Yoga Hosers.
Critical reception
T Blockers received a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stephen A. Russell in the Star Observer compared it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stranger Things, "but heaps grungier and gayer." MovieWeb's Lauren Perry praised its "biting social commentary" and "stylistic colors, energetic soundtrack, and punk-feminist tone," though she felt the story was rushed. Kat Hughes in The Hollywood News called Mackay "a vital voice in film-making," and Anton Bitel of SciFi Now compared the film to the works of John Waters and Ed Wood "resurrected to address male insecurity and female solidarity in contemporary South Australia."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for T Blockers?
The music for T Blockers was composed by Alexander Taylor.
Who wrote T Blockers?
T Blockers was written by Alice Maio Mackay and Benjamin Pahl Robinson.
How long is T Blockers?
T Blockers has a running time of 74 minutes.
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