In celebration of fictional monster Mister Babadook’s status as an unofficial gay mascot, IFC Midnight and Shout! Factory are releasing a Pride-themed limited edition of 2014 Australian film The Babadook.
It’s the gayest version yet of the film, which inspired an entire chapter of queer internet folklore.
To celebrate #PrideMonth, we’ve teamed up with @ShoutFactory for a limited edition of THE BABADOOK.
— IFC Midnight (@IFCMidnight) June 3, 2019
Even better than this? A portion of all sales in June go to the @LALGBTCenter: https://t.co/EKEfW92wvA
So yeah, we're the screaming kid right now and we're not sorry! pic.twitter.com/XjolmrX02i
As far as internet sleuths can tell, Mister Babadook’s status in the gay community started with a simple error on Netflix. In its early days on the streaming platform, the horror flick was miscategorized under the LGBT category. While the error was eventually fixed by Netflix, it was too late. The gay community had claimed the top-hatted monster as one of their own.
8. the babadook is my favorite lgbt movie pic.twitter.com/dxCtyf9Kib
— moved 📌 (@xiumyeri) May 31, 2017
Despite no indication in the film that the shadowy manifestation of grief and loss is a homosexual, people online began circulating theories about the Babadook’s place in the LGBTQ community. Illustrations, stories, and music centering around the fabulous monster overtook any alternate theories. Whether or not Mister Babadook was gay before the internet got ahold of him, he sure as heck is now.
— This is horrible 🐎 (@melongifts) June 4, 2017
A portion of all proceeds from the special editions of The Babadook goes to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, according to IFC Midnight’s tweet. Only 2,500 copies of the special edition Blu-ray—rainbow slipcover and all—are available. The offer only continues through Pride Month (June), so if you like your homicidal monsters in full-rainbow mode, we’d suggest you move quickly.
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H/T Vulture