Were John's friends stupid?
Or did they simply turn a blind eye to the hints of his homosexuality?
shareI was thinking the same thing.
Kevin comes across as aggressive,a bully and massively homophobic.Yet,when out for his jog and pays a visit to John's house and finds him and Steven practically frolicking in the swimming pool,he barely bats an eyelid.
Even someone with limited intelligence would suss what was going on straight away.
"Kevin comes across as aggressive,a bully and massively homophobic.Yet,when out for his jog and pays a visit to John's house and finds him and Steven practically frolicking in the swimming pool,he barely bats an eyelid.
Even someone with limited intelligence would suss what was going on straight away."
I considered the same issue and settled on the following possibility:
Many people don't see what they don't want to see. (Hi, Mom; hi Dad.)
Bullies are often insecure, and homophobes are often specifically insecure (with good reason) about their own sexuality. Kevin might have had his own crush on John. In any case, what little self-esteem he had was reflected from John.
John was everyone's jock/hero/god/dreamboat (not mine, but I'll go along with the premise of the film), and Kevin was a loser (remember his travails at the dance?).
So what's Kevin going to do even if he suspects something? He's not going to confront John. His goons aren't around; so he has no audience to play to (and no witnesses). Besides, it's going to be his word against John's. Absent absolute proof, everyone's going to side with John.
Kevin might, though, have had his suspicions, and he might have been envious of Steven - which could help explain his violent outburst in the locker room at the end of the film.
"Nothing personal. Your name just happened to come up."
I like your theory that Kevin might have venerated John almost to the point of a crush. That would certainly explain why he kept his mouth shut (assuming he did suspect).
shareI had my hunches about Kevin as well. He was "one of the boys" when it came to bashing gays, but in private, he seemed very inquisitive – and disappointed he wasn't invited into the pool.
share[deleted]
Kevin knew something was going on as I recall from the reaction shot just after he saw Steve and John in the pool, and then this was probably confirmed to him just after Steve's speech at the end. I never had a hunch he had feelings for John, just that he was never going to voice his bewilderment/suspicions because John was the leader of the pack and Kevin was one of his followers. But I don't think he really knew that they were seeing each other because the idea is just so seemingly ridiculous.
Six inches is perfectly adequate. More is vulgar.
"Bullies are often insecure, and homophobes are often specifically insecure (with good reason) about their own sexuality. Kevin might have had his own crush on John. In any case, what little self-esteem he had was reflected from John."
I especially liked this take of yours regarding Kevin. Throughout the entire film I kept thinking: "This guy is just TOO protective of John! He behaves worse than a jealous lover where John is concerned" so you're definitely onto something here.
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"I don't love you enough to hate you!!"