The 30 Gaiest Horror Movies Ever Made
Just a few years ago, the selection of horror films with overtly queer characters and themes was extremely sparse—many great films with subtext (some of which we’ll get to later), but very few of them turned that subtext into text. This is despite the fact that horror movies have legions of gay fans (seriously, the biggest horror movie fans I know aren’t straight, including me). The recent rise in horror films with queer characters isn’t just a matter of diversity; it’s about giving the audience what they want. Some of these films incorporate distinctly queer coming-of-age stories (or metaphors) into their narratives, while others quietly offer LGBTQ leads. There is also “heightened” horror, as well as films about serial killers and slashers.
And hey, since we’re not looking for isolation, straight people can scream together. No one will judge your lifestyle when there is a killer hanging around.
Knife + Heart (2018)
There are several layers to director Ian Gonzalez’s slick, stylish slasher film set in the world of ’70s gay porn. Anne Parese (Vanessa Paradis) runs a production company that makes exploitation films centered on Knife + Heart , but a series of murders occurring on the set barely attracts the attention of the local police, who are not too upset by the deaths of the gay actors. porn. Anne decides that her next film will be about the murders themselves, turning the film into a film that only attracts the attention of the killer (and his spiked dildo). The film celebrates giallo , with plenty of deep cuts for fans of classic Italian horror and ’70s sleaze in general, but with a completely unique look and feel.
Where to shout: Shudder, Tubi, Kanopy, Freevy.
Knock on the Hut (2023)
M. Night Shyamalan’s Mindbender confronts married couple Eric and Andrew (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge) with an impossible choice: one of them will have to sacrifice the other or the world could end. What appears to be a Dave Bautista-led home invasion is becoming an increasingly compelling warning of the need for sacrifice. The film’s growing sense of existential dread is heightened by the sense of cozy home life of the couple at the film’s center, who just want to raise their daughter and relax in their cute little cabin.
Where to shout: Prime Video
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
I’ve seen Rocky Horror Pictures at least a dozen times (in various states of undress), but I still can’t quite put my finger on what it’s about – something to do with Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) settling on a creepy place. an old house full of weirdos (led by Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter) from outer space. The film has gone from a cult classic to a rite of passage for young gay men, full of joyfully quirky characters who either start out as sex and gender fluid or become so by the end. It uses a lot of old horror movie tropes, and while it may not be the scariest movie in the history of queer cinema, it’s a ton of fun and a pretty good way to give the scare of your life.
Where to shout: Digital rental
Night Camp (1983)
Problematic? Certainly! But the weird kids of 1980s horror (give or take) knew how to have fun where we could get it. As a slasher film, it’s especially weird, with incredibly silly moments contrasted with some truly impressive kills. Somehow the fact that no two actors are in the same movie helps create a camp atmosphere (pun intended). The ending, which, fair warning, I’m going to spoil so much, is the best and worst part: our killer is revealed to be Angela (Felissa Rose), and then it’s revealed to be Peter, who was traumatized after finding her. father in bed with another man and then further traumatized when stupid Aunt Martha (Desiree Gould) raises Peter to be the girl she always wanted. Angela is called a trans villain, although I’m not sure you can tell what’s going on here. Is the film less about politics and more about a wild slasher-horror movie with lovably dirty weird characters? It hits a lot of the right notes.
Where to Shout: Peacock, Tubi, Crackle, Shout Factory TV, Fubo, The Roku Channel.
Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
Like father, like daughter in this direct sequel to Bela Lugosi’s film, where Countess Maria Zaleska (Gloria Holden) comes into conflict with Edward Van Sloan’s Van Helsing from the original. The two vampires have in common not only a sworn enemy, but also a view of women: Countess Zaleska first seduced the desperate Lily and then kidnapped Janet. The producers and censors were worried about the lesbian nature of it all in the lead-up to the film’s release, but also decided to hype it up in the marketing… especially with the tagline: “Save the women of London from Dracula’s daughter!”
Where to shout: Digital rental
Beat (2020)
Nicole Maines ( Supergirl ) plays Laurel, a trans teen who moves in with her brother in Los Angeles after her transition. A party at the club leads to lots of kissing and then blood – Laurel is soon offered the opportunity to join a group of vampires tasked with caring for the many predatory men walking the city’s streets.
Where to Shout: Prime Video , Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The weird coda in the creepy and often hilarious “Bride of Frankenstein” is so over-the-top that it can barely even be called subtext. There’s too much gay stuff going on here to ignore. The plot revolves around the superbly flamboyant Dr. Septimus Praetorius (Ernest Thesiger), Victor Frankenstein’s mentor since his school days, who breaks in on the eve of Victor’s wedding night to drag him away (requiring only a little convincing) so they can conduct some experiments to see if they can live together. With a plot like this and strange characters in front of and behind the camera (including Thesinger and director James Whale), it’s very much a gay horror fever dream.
Where to shout: Digital rental
Stranger by the Lake (2013)
A horror film with echoes of the sexy thrillers of yore. Here Pierre Deladonchamps plays Franck, a regular visitor to the nudist beach and surrounding forests, popular destinations for cruises. Frank begins a passionate relationship (meaning: a lot of pretty explicit sex in the woods) with Michel (Christophe Pauw), who Frank later spots drowning someone in a lake. What: awkward. The investigation into this event heats up, and Frank is forced to give up a good cause, even in the face of murder. Like any good erotic thriller, the better the sex, the more Frank will take risks.
Where to shout: Canopic pots
High Voltage (2003)
Arguably the best film in the New French Extremity canon, High Voltage does the seemingly impossible: it’s a slasher film that doesn’t feel cliché, is brutal, tense, uncompromising, and filled with references to 1970s horror classics. — and it’s in French, so you can pretend it’s sublime. The film has a mega-twist ending that is a complex (to say the least) rather progressive take on its lesbian protagonist, but complex, troubled characters are nothing new for fans of queer horror.
Where to shout: Tubi, Roku Channel, Hoopla, Kanopy, Freevy, Plex, Pluto.
Seed of Chucky (2004)
Gay Children’s Play creator Don Mancini, who wrote, directed and/or produced all of the films in the main series, used queer subtext from the very beginning. The addition of Bound star and icon Jennifer Tilly as the voice of Tiffany doll in 1998’s Bride of Chucky was a step in the right direction in terms of creating subtext… but it wasn’t until Seed of Chucky that things really took off. wild, where Tiffany teams up with Chucky (Brad Dourif) to raise their non-binary child Glen-or-Glenda (a reference to the Ed Wood film) while they try to take over the bodies of the real-life Tilly and Redman (playing themselves). If that’s not enough, there’s an appearance from John Waters himself to show his approval.
Where to shout: Starz
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Many weird horror films deal with the issues of not being straight, but Bodies Bodies Bodies is led by a weird couple, front and center: Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and Bea (Maria Bakalova) – a pretty normal couple caught in the middle of a pretty wacky one. scenario where Sofia brings her girlfriend home to meet her old friend. The murder-in-the-dark game takes a turn when someone actually ends up dead, and it quickly starts to seem like Sophie and Bea are the most level-headed people in the whole group.
Where to Shout: Netflix, Paramount+, Fubo, Showtime
Jessica’s Cabin (2022)
Okay, it’s not scary—and it really shouldn’t be—but Jessica’s Cabin is a lively, slightly sad, but mostly charming ghost story that’s perfect if you’re looking for something akin to horror. but don’t be terrified. mood for blood. Couple Nicky (Chase Williamson) and Preston (Will Tranfo) come up with the name Airbnb – which we eventually learn was named after one of the people who was found dead there – and it quickly becomes clear that their relationship is far away not ideal. They are also watched by best friends Jackson (Daniel Montgomery) and Taylor (Riley Rose Crichlow), two ghosts who haunt the cabin, living an afterlife of endless boredom and monotony – at least until the dead Jackson falls in love with the living. Niki. It’s a wonderful low-budget tale of love and longing, like most of the best ghost stories.
Where to shout: Prime Video
Daughters of Darkness (1971)
Erotic bisexual vampire films had their moment in the 1970s, but few (if any) were more successful or more genuinely sexy than Daughters of Darkness . While others loved the “hot lesbians for straight guys” vibe, Daughters has a look that borders on arthouse, with a stately and elegant style, as well as a desire to go deeper. Delphine Seyrig plays Countess Elisabeth Bathory, who happens upon a newlywed couple honeymooning in a remote region and immediately sets about seducing his wife, diverting her from human sexual and moral conformity.
Where to shout: Shudder, Tooby, Voodoo.
Spiral (2019)
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman plays Malik, who moves to a new town with his white partner Aaron and teenage daughter, each hoping for a little peace and quiet. Naturally, things get weird—first in recognizable ways (cutting comments, unreturned greetings) and then in more disturbing ways. Malik, both more assertive and Black, seems to be the only one who truly sees the worst and begins to question both his relationship with his family and his sanity. (Don’t confuse this with the 2021 Saw film of the same name.)
Where to shout: “Shudder”, AMC+.
Lost Boys (1987)
Directed by gay man Joel Schumacher (years before he made the most hilarious superhero movie ever , Batman & Robin ), The Lost Boys follows brothers Sam (Corey Haim) and Michael (Jason Patric) Emerson as they move with their family to sunny and sweaty Santa Carla. , California is just in time for Michael to be lured into joining a sexy gang of vampires by its blond leader David, played by Kiefer Sutherland. The vampires lure Michael Star (Jamie Hertz), but his desire for the girl gives way to an infatuation with David, which becomes very apparent when a drunken Michael’s vision of Star fades in favor of David. Even the film’s theme song repeatedly reminds us: “Love with your brother.”
Where to shout: AMC+
The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook’s place in the queer pantheon was something of an accident: Netflix once included the film in its LGBT section, probably by accident, but it sort of stuck, even if the line “The Babadook is gay” was mostly a joke at first. Viewed through this lens, the film works very well as a strange allegory: well-meaning but tormented widow Amelia (Essie Davis) struggles to raise her son Sam on her own, finding his behavior increasingly disturbing. An imaginary monster that soon becomes real may represent grief, and fighting it is much less effective than accepting it, but it is also a very powerful metaphor for the experience of parents of queer children. The more Amelia tries to change her son and bury his behavior, the stronger the Babadook becomes and the more determined he is to escape. Only through acceptance and reconciliation with an unchanging reality can Amelia find peace for herself and her son.
Where to shout: Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, AMC+
Rope (1948)
Fussy and picky roommates (if you know what I mean) are throwing a dinner party for friends, but there’s a twist: they’ve just strangled an old high school buddy to death and plan to serve the food out of a gorgeous antique. wooden chest in which his body was hidden. Like the worst high-society gays you’ll ever meet, Brandon and Phillip (John Dall and Farley Granger) are just doing it to prove their intellectual superiority. Filmed in one take (well, sort of), Hitchcock’s claustrophobic atmosphere and sharp dialogue add to the tension nicely; The thriller was based on a real-life murder committed by lovers Leopold and Loeb in the 1920s.
Where to shout: Prime Video
Scream (2022)
Taking on the important role of a pop culture-savvy member of the “Core Four,” Jasmine Savoy Brown joins the Scream remake as Mindy Meeks-Martin, the one who may not know who the killer is but definitely understands the rules, according to which they act. you play. She is also openly lesbian, adding the first canonically gay character to the series, which began with a pair of assassins based on lovers Leopold and Loeb. With a sense of humor and brutal kills, the fifth Scream film rebooted a franchise whose quirky fans are legion, setting the stage for an even better sequel.
Where to shout: Paramount+, Hulu
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Only the real ones knew what to do with Jennifer’s Body in 2009, and it took the film a long time to become the cult classic it was probably always destined to be. Here, popular teen Jennifer (Megan Fox) is turned into a succubus by cruel men who gleefully murder boys at school, to the universal horror of her friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried). The film’s main characters are not overtly gay, but there is a joyful rejection of both toxic masculinity and heteronormativity that has made it a particular favorite among gay men. He also uses horror and violence to empower his female teenage characters.
Where to shout: Digital rental
ParaNorman (2012)
The stop-motion animated film ParaNorman was deservedly critically acclaimed (it’s fantastic), but was only a modest box office success. The plot revolves around the titular Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who can communicate with the dead; no one believes him and he is bullied for his claims of his abilities. Norman’s best friend’s older brother Mitch (Casey Affleck) is in many ways the stereotypical goofy jock, but we discover that he is gay at the same time as Norman’s sister. Unlike Norman, who struggles to express his abilities in a hostile world, Mitch is completely content with who he is. Sure, it’s horror for all ages, but the film is surprisingly smart and delightfully creepy.
Where to Shout: Starz, The Roku Channel
Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Here we are making three films at once, as each film in the trilogy, adapted from the books by R.L. Stine, shares a common tone, quality and director (Lee Janiak, best known for Honeymoon to Fear Street ). They also share the same main characters: Dina and Sam (Kiana Madeira and Olivia Scott Welch), star-crossed friends battling an ancient curse across time. “Street of Fear. Part One: 1994 begins the film by introducing the town of Shadyside, which local kids call “Shithole” and has a dark history of numerous murders, most of which were covered up. A group of teenagers destroy a witch’s grave, sparking the rebirth of a murderous cult. The atmosphere here is a bit reminiscent of Stranger Things , with some real gore and scares (it’s YA, but definitely not kid stuff) as Janiak pays homage to a wide range of horror films past. The series continues with Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and concludes (for now) with Fear Street Part Three: 1666 .
Where to shout: Netflix
Suddenly Last Summer (1959)
If it’s a stretch to consider this film, based on a play by Tennessee Williams, a horror film, consider that the entire plot revolves around revelations of cannibalism and threats of forced lobotomy. It’s a crazy Southern Gothic mystery involving a young man, the son of Katharine Hepburn’s famous Violet Venable, who dies under mysterious circumstances while on vacation in Spain. While Violet was happy to be his partner, helping him meet other men for sexual encounters, she was less interested in letting the world know exactly how he died. She’s also perfectly happy to lobotomize one of her son’s best friends just to make sure she doesn’t talk; it’s a wild time, right up to the unforgettable ending.
Where to Shout: Criterion Channel
Titan (2021)
In a sea of superhero movies, be it a movie about a gender-fluid erotic dancer (Alexia/Adrian, played by Agathe Roussel) who gets fucked in a car, ends up pregnant, and is then taken by a man (Vincent Lindon). who believes he has found his long-lost son. Yes, and our main character is also a serial killer. There’s a lot going on in writer-director Julia Ducournau’s decidedly unconventional love story, but what stands out is the way Alexia and Adrian’s gender nonconformity is treated not as a subject of horror, but ultimately as a subject of love.
Where to Shout: Hulu
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
The subtext here is so strong that it can hardly even be considered subtext, but back in 1985, plenty of heterosexual viewers were still oblivious to it. The film’s core premise involves a role reversal that puts Jesse (Mark Patton) in the position that would be occupied by the “final girl” in most slasher films of the era. Freddie plays with Jesse, at one point caressing his lips with his fingertips; Jesse is running away from danger, while his girlfriend is in the same predicament and is almost always scantily clad. He runs into his gym teacher at a leather bar, and the same jerk is later beaten to death in the locker room. As a metaphor for the torment of a withdrawn teenager, it could have been much worse.
Where to shout: Netflix
Perfection (2018)
There are shades of Suspiria (and Black Swan ) here as Charlotte Willmore (Allison Williams) returns to her prestigious music academy after an absence to find that another woman (Logan Browning) has taken her place at the head of the class, with the two beginning a sexual relationship – if this sounds a little corny, the deliberately disjointed narrative quickly devolves into wild, claustrophobic body horror. It may not be the first film to take its artistic education to dark thrills and gore, but it goes as far as any of them and even goes beyond them.
Where to shout: Netflix
Hidden Image (2022)
Making the most of its budget, Hidden Image is one of those slasher films about an isolated cabin in the woods, but with a few clever and surreal twists. Ben (Joshua Tonks), a writer in the throes of writer’s block and separated from his boyfriend, is visited by a stranger who might just need a place to stay (Jay Clift)? Ben’s active imagination blurs the lines between what is real and what isn’t, as well as the possibly sexy and perhaps murderous chemistry between the two main characters.
Where to shout: Tubi, Deccu, Voodoo.
Diabolic (1955)
“Diabolik” involves a married woman and her husband’s mistress who conspire to kill a man and cover up his death – the sexual tension and sense of a love triangle barely lurks beneath the surface. He was the headmaster of a boarding school filled with gossip, and they both have to keep the situation under wraps thanks to a delightfully twisted plot. Simone Signoret and Vera Clouseau play one of the most enduring couples in cinema, although their more explicit relationship in the original novel was omitted from the film version. However, the closeness between Nicole and Christina is noted by the students and teachers of the boarding school where they live. They travel together, share rooms and even a bed. The climax plays out much like a breakup scene. The film’s gritty realism inspired Hitchcock’s Psycho .
Where to Shout: Max, The Criterion Channel
They/Them (2022)
It’s perhaps a little duller than its revealing title (pronounced “They Cut ‘Em Up”) suggests, but that’s only because of its commitment to treating its oddball characters with respect. However, that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and flowers at the conversion camp (led by Kevin Bacon’s suitably obnoxious Owen Whistler), where a serial killer stalks the woods, likely seeking bloody revenge.
Where to shout: Peacock
What Keeps You Alive (2018)
It all starts when a young married couple, Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson) and Jules (Brittany Allen), go to a remote cabin owned by Jackie’s family. All seems well until she is called “Megan” as a child. Jules becomes suspicious, and with good reason, and gradually comes to realize that her wife may not be who she says she is and may not have her best interests at heart. This premise is frighteningly realized.
Where to shout: AMC+
Pitchfork (2016)
Listen: Gays deserve silly little slashers too, and this stylish one is head and shoulders (ahem) above. What starts out as a coming-of-age story about Hunter returning home to come out to his conservative father gets bloody pretty quickly as the titular killer stalks Hunter and his fellow friends into the woods.
Where to shout: Tubi, Voodoo