MovieChat Forums > Unlawful Entry (1992) Discussion > gay subtext

gay subtext

posted 18 years ago by ebay1963
37 replies | jump to latest

I remember seeing this film with a straight buddy of mine and being dumbfounded that he didn't notice that this film is all about Pete pursuing Michael. Pete invites Michael to ride along with him in the police car. That's a date, plain and simple. He arranges it so that Michael can beat up on the burglar. That's practically flowers and a box of chocolates. Michael starts getting weirded out by Pete and "breaks up" with him at Lovers' Lane, for crying out loud! It's only then that Pete starts stalking Michael's wife. I know there will be a huge outcry that not everything has a gay subtext, but my fellow gay guys will agree. It's the only way this movie makes any sense.

[–] Blimp821 17 years ago

wtf is this guy thinking..its clear that Liotta is after russels wife...psh..from the second the movie started he was looking into her eyes with that intention.. i think its a great movie..

[–] Milkdoesabodygood 17 years ago

Don't forget to wripe?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] dogma867 16 years ago

lol i never thought of it like that, that's a good theory.

[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

I couldn't help but think the same thing. Pete certainly is interested in Karen, but he seems equally interested in Michael. To top it off, the title of this film sounds like gay porn. Not every film has a gay subtext -- actually, very few of them do -- but it's hard to deny it here.

[–] BoSoxRule 16 years ago

He's only interested in Michael as a way to get to Karen, nothing more. He wants to prove to Karen that he's better for her than Michael is. There is absolutely nothing gay about it whatsoever.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] gluserty 16 years ago

there's no gay subtext, just some macho posturing by both men: one who is protecting this territory, the other desiring to invade it. the reason the pete character is lukewarm with the "girl in jeep" after the casual sex was because she was too easy for his liking. he sees karen as dignified and classy. i agree with the above poster: pete wants to prove to karen that he's a "real man", and in the process demonstrating to her that michael isn't. this in turn changes the demeanor of a normally mild-mannered michael.
man, it gets old when some people read "gay" into certain things, especially when its when the theory or observation is so far out.
anyway, this is an excellent film which was never given the credit it deserved at its time of release. i always felt it was a taut and tense domestic thriller.

[–] mep1969 16 years ago

I think Pete was attracted to Karen from the beginning, but knew she was unattainable, because of her marriage to Michael. So, at first, Pete wanted to become a friend of the family. He was lonely, and when Michael and Karen invited him to stay for dinner, insisting over his objections, he decided to become friends with both of them. That's why he invited Michael for the ride-along, and presented him with the opportunity to beat up Pike, as a gift for a new friend. When Michael refused to beat up Pike, I think Pete started to think that Michael might not be man enough for Karen, and that he, Pete, might have a shot with her after all.

Michael throwing Pete out of the party made him angry, cementing his animosity toward Michael, and further convincing him that pursuing Karen would be justified. When Karen had coffee with Pete and told him that she sometimes felt unsafe, Pete felt even more strongly that he could take better care of her than Michael could, and, furthermore, she acted somewhat flattered at his attention and attraction to her.

So I think that Pete started out wanting to befriend Karen and Michael, though he was romantically attracted to Karen. When Michael refused Pete's overtures of friendship, and was, in Pete's opinion, unable to provide a safe and stable home for Karen, Pete decided to pursue Karen romatically after all.

[–] tommythegun 15 years ago

Whatever floats your boat, sweetie. (Passes the Astroglide)

[–] catcherbloq 15 years ago

Naw...if the director had intended any such subtext, more of the actors clothes would have ripped off during the final fight scene. I was waiting for that, and not a bit of flesh seemed to be revealed. Damn!

[–] 15 years ago

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