‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Brussels Premiere Marred by Homophobia, Toxicity and Violence: ‘Things Spun Wildly Out of Hand’
Ben Croll Chaos reigned at the Brussels premiere of “Love Lies Bleeding” on Saturday, after a barrage of homophobic and misogynistic comments during the screening led to a mass walkout followed by retaliatory protests and a police response.
More than 60 queer women stormed out of the regional premiere once the screening turned toxic, while screening organizers claim at least three instances of physical violence. “Things spun wildly out of hand,” attendee Elina Fischer tells Variety.
Calling their experience “traumatic and horrible,” Fischer adds: “We were afraid for our lives, because the kinds of people who say such things during a film screening are the kinds of people who assault us.
So we got scared and had to get out.” After premiering to critical acclaim out of Sundance and Berlin, Rose Glass’ A24-produced thriller has yet to see wide release in Francophone Europe – making the recent screening at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) a galvanizing first-look event that pulled in two markedly different audiences, polarizing them to disastrous effect. (Belgian distributor The Searchers will release the film later this year.) While the Brussels fest has built a reputation on boisterous screenings animated by ribald interaction – with a smart aleck vibe akin to “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and a loyal audience that leans male and geeky – a younger, queerer, more female-skewing crowd flocked to the Saturday premiere for the chance to see Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian ignite on the big screen (though the stars were not in attendance).
