The 1990 guidebook "Uranian Worlds: A Guide to Alternative Sexuality in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror" by Eric Garber and Lyn Paleo lists this as one of the first horror movies to show positive (though stereotyped) gay male characters who also have an important role in the story. With the help of two gay men made-up as corpses, Alan plays a practical joke on the other characters that frightens them so badly that one wets his pants.