In the spirit of the season, here is a list of some of my favorite queer horror you should watch to round out your Halloweek! Fair warning: these flicks are not for kids. Show the babies Hocus Pocus or something. This is for the adults looking for some treats and tricks to light up their screens with screams!
Hellbound: Hellraiser 2
This is the stylish sequel to gay horror icon Clive Barker’s classic Hellraiser, and the only movie to really carry on the energy from the first film. This psychosexual demonic thriller, whose real villain and reason for being on this list is Julia Cotton, deserves to be recognized for its fashion sense alone. How many people can serve in a white suit after leaving their skin in Hell? Julia Cotton. That’s who. Even when she does regain her epidermis, she keeps slaying both fashion and a hapless man or two while breathing new life into the wicked step-mother trope.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
The second entry in the A Nightmare On Elm Street series is on almost every queer horror list for many very good reasons. It stars Mark Patton as the first ever gay scream queen and one of the few final boys in horror. There is an entire leather daddy subplot culminating in a kinky kill with no safeword to save anyone. And the movie itself is arguably the campiest and goriest allegory for being closeted and struggling with coming out ever released in theaters.
I Saw the TV Glow
This recent release is an immediate queer horror classic. I won’t say much beyond the fact that it perfectly captures the feeling of being a fan of 90s teen horror shows, including the way such fandom can be a foundation for lifelong friendships. As far as blood and guts this film is on the tame side, but this slow-burn dreadful might leave you questioning your very reality. Bonus points for asexual representation and director Jane Schoenbrun carving out a special place in horror as a trans filmmaker with a unique queer gothic aesthetic.
In Fabric
If I had to choose a favorite child among these spooky babies, her name would be In Fabric. A supernaturally surreal dark comedy that follows one killer red dress. Featuring dialogue from an eloquently deranged store clerk who speaks only in overly complex poetry while rocking a black Victorian dress fit for a widow. This movie is unlike any other. It gives us a stunning 1960s aesthetic, an inscrutible department store, a bleak examination of capitalism, and something in the folds of the film that is more than a little queer.
Evil Dead Rise
Mother! Literally. As a fan of the entire Evil Dead franchise, this movie has perhaps the most heartbreaking and genuinely terrifying portrayals of deadite demons in the series. Sinking its sharp yellow teeth into themes of family, trust, and survival; this entry makes it on to my queer horror list for how deftly it handles a trans character and actor. It takes the rare approach that this character Danny is loved by his family, lives a normal boring life, and is faced with his mother becoming an undead harbinger of the apocalypse. Just like any other teenager. Refreshingly relatable.
So Vam
I had to include at least one vampire movie in the mix. Rather than the sanitized Interview with the Vampire, which had all the gay wrung out of it, I chose So Vam. It’s a campy little romp reminiscent of queer indie films from the 90s and early 2000s. While it may not be for everyone, being obviously low-budget with a cast of less experienced actors, So Vam has a charm and authenticity to it that makes it worth a watch. It also may be a little cathartic for anyone who was bullied for being queer as a kid. A reminder to all that sometimes the gays bite back!
All About Evil
From the twisted mind of horror director and drag queen Peaches Christ, we follow a librarian turned amateur film maker and owner of a struggling theater played by Natasha Lyonne. She slashes her way to success by making a killing with her camera in every way she can think of. It’s filled with great cameos that include Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Mink Stole (a regular from John Waters movies), and Peaches Christ herself.
Psycho Goreman
This is the gross out heartwarming tale of a little girl who enslaves befriends an evil intergalactic monster seeking to extinguish all life as we know it. There are fights reminiscent of Power Rangers, a pantheon of alien supervillains, one giant brain, and a surprisingly catchy theme song. Not to mention Psycho Goreman’s self-discovery that he does in fact like “hunky boys”. We’ve all been there Psycho Goreman. We see you and you are valid just as you are.
Seed of Chucky
Do you like murder dolls? Do you like Jennifer Tilly? Do you like affirming and positive representation of a non-binary character learning to love and stand up for themself? Then Seed of Chucky is the movie for you! Chucky, Tiffany, and their reluctantly murderous kid Glen/Glenda exemplify how parents can walk alongside their child as they discover who they really are. They just happen to kill a lot of people along the way, including gay filth cinema king John Waters. It’s worth noting that director Don Mancini is gay and incorporates queer themes, characters, and subtext throughout the Child’s Play/Chucky franchise.
Dr. Caligari
What can I say about Dr. Caligari. This very indirect sequel to the acclaimed Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is like if Andy Warhol, Wes Craven, and the inmates at Arkham Asylum collaborated on a movie. The deranged grand-daughter of the infamous Dr. Caligari carries on his name and legacy while conducting experiments of her own in a surreal pop art inspired hellscape of a hospital where everyone is more than a little deranged. There is also a flesh wall. I will not elaborate further.
I hope you check out at least a few of these titles this Halloween.
Let’s get spooky out here!
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