{"id":5326,"date":"2022-10-21T18:04:58","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T18:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/?p=5326"},"modified":"2022-10-21T18:05:01","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T18:05:01","slug":"19-lgbtq-horror-films-to-watch-this-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/?p=5326","title":{"rendered":"19 LGBTQ+ horror films to watch this Halloween"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Queerness and horror have\u00a0always\u00a0<\/em>been intertwined. Although queer characters and storylines have notoriously been scarce within horror (until recent), queer audiences have often flocked to monster movies and slashers due to the genre\u2019s exploration (and obsession) with otherness. Whether it\u2019s the questioning of a villain\u2019s humanity, the non-normative characters that don\u2019t conform to societal expectations, or the drama of it all, queer elements and queer-coded subtext have always been there. To mark Gay Christmas, we\u2019ve collected some of the most iconic queer horror movies to watch this Halloween from the camp stylings of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy\u2019s Revenge to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as newer entries such as They\/Them and Hellraiser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy\u2019s Revenge (1985)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Englund, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager, Hope Lange, Christie Clark, Marsha Bell<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite not featuring any openly queer characters, because queer people were extinct in the 80s, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy\u2019s Revenge is one of the campest<\/em> horror films in history with homoerotic scenes in leather bars and locker rooms, as well as sweaty shirtless men trying to escape the wrath of Freddy\u2019s perfectly manicured talons (see photo above). Although the slasher received mixed reviews upon release, the film has become a cult classic and is now a Halloween go-to for the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B&B (2017)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast:<\/strong> Tom Bateman, Sean Beale, Paul McGann, Calum Woodhouse, James Tratas<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starring Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes) and Sean Beale, B&B follows a gay couple who have turned away from a bed-and-breakfast due to the fundamentalist Christian owner\u2019s (Paul McGann) archaic religious views. After winning a discrimination suit against the owner, who went into debt after the loss, the couple decides to \u2013 for some insane reason \u2013 embark on a weekend getaway to the same bed-and-breakfast a year later. With the arrival of a sinister Russian stranger (James Tratas), the couple gets more than they bargained for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bit (2019)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Nicole Maines, Diana Hopper, James Paxton, M.C. Gainey, Jimmy Jagger<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Released to wide acclaim, Bit stars Supergirl\u2019s Nicole Maines as a transgender teenage girl who moves in with her brother (James Paxton) in Los Angeles, looking to make a fresh start after her transition. There, she meets a coven of four queer feminist vampires whose aim is to rid the city\u2019s streets of predatory men. It\u2019s one of the most inclusive LGBTQ+ horrors in recent years, allowing a transgender character to take center stage without conforming to harmful queer tropes. If you fancy a queer feminist vampire flick \u2013 who doesn\u2019t? \u2013 Bit is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha\u2019la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, Pete Davidson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In A24\u2019s Bodies Bodies Bodies, the working-class Bee (Maria Bakalova) travels with her wealthy girlfriend Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) to a party in a mansion owned by the latter\u2019s childhood friend David (Pete Davidson). When the trio, as well as other guests Emma (Chase Sui Wonders), Alice (Rachel Sennott), Greg (Lee Pace), and Jordan (Myha\u2019la Herrold) play the murder-in-the-dark game Bodies Bodies Bodies, the group gets picked off one-by-one. A smart whodunnit akin to Scream, the Halina Reijn-directed slasher comedy was lauded for its inclusivity, commentary on Gen-Z, and subversion of classic horror tropes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Craft (1996)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, Skeet Ulrich<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ’90s most beloved horrors follows a group of four outcast teenage girls with supernatural abilities who pursue witchcraft for their own personal gain. Even though The Craft isn\u2019t explicitly queer, it has \u2013 like a plethora of films within the horror genre \u2013 queer undertones. Their coven is reminiscent of a group of LGBTQ+ youth who are coming to terms with their identity: Nancy (Fairuza Balk) is your classic unapologetic \u201cout\u201d character, and Bonnie (Neve Campbell) is afraid of how her otherness will be perceived by her \u201cnormal\u201d peers, Rochelle (Rachel True) is ostracised due to her skin color and Rachel (Robin Tunney) is discovering who she is. They even find their \u201csafe space\u201d in a witchy part of town \u2013 relatable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Craft: Legacy (2020)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, Zoey Luna, Nicholas Galitzine, Michelle Monaghan, David Duchovny<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directed and co-written by Zoe Lister-Jones, the sequel to the above stars Cailee Spaeny (Bad Times at the El Royale), Gideon Adlon (The Society), Lovie Simone (Greenleaf), and Zoey Luna (Pose) as four high school students who dabble in black magic \u2013 to disastrous effects, of course. The official synopsis reads: \u201cWhen starting at a new school, Hannah befriends Tabby, Lourdes, and Frankie and quickly becomes the fourth member of their clique. Hannah soon learns that she somehow brings great power to the quartet.\u201d Although Legacy could have benefitted from an extra half-hour runtime, it\u2019s the rare reboot slash revival that manages to successfully pay homage to the original while expanding on its mythology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fear Street (2021)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger, Ashley Zukerman, Darren Britt-Gibson, Maya Hawke, Jordana Spiro, Jordyn DiNatale, Sadie Sink, Gillian Jacobs, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The horror genre received a much-needed queer makeover last year with the arrival of Leigh Janiak\u2019s blockbuster trio of Fear Street films, based on R. L. Stine\u2019s beloved teenage novels of the same name. The fantasy-slashers, released over a span of three weeks on Netflix, stars Kiana Madeira and Olivia Scott Welch as Deena and Sam, star-crossed lesbian lovers who find themselves at the center of an ancient curse that has doomed their hometown of Shadyside for centuries. While the series has received praise for its performances, writing, and entertainment value, it was ultimately Madeira and Welch\u2019s groundbreaking romance that was singled out for praise by critics and viewers due to the notorious lack of mainstream LGBTQ+ representation in the horror genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hellbent (2004)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Dylan Fergus, Bryan Kirkwood, Hank Harris, Andrew Levitas<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This underrated slasher flick follows a serial killer on a mission to butcher the entire gay community. No, honestly. How fun! Hellbent first premiered during gay and lesbian film festivals in 2004 and 2005 and has been credited with sparking a wave of \u201cgay slasher\u201d films. For those who love a good slasher movie with a \u201cwhodunnit\u201d storyline, check out Hellbent. The characters are fleshed out (imagine that?), the killer is terrifying and the suspense\u2026 THE SUSPENSE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hellraiser (2022)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Jamie Clayton, Odessa A\u2019zion, Brandon Flynn, Goran Vi\u0161nji\u0107, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison, Aoife Hinds, Selina Lo, Hiam Abbass<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A reboot of the 1987 classic of the same name, and the 11th entry in the franchise, Hellraiser stars trans icon Jamie Clayton as the iconic Hell Priest slash \u2018Pinhead\u2019 and leader of the Cenobites. Directed by David Brucker, the new film follows a young woman (Odessa A\u2019zion) struggling with addiction as she comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, which has the power to summon a group of sadistic supernatural entities from an alternate dimension. Praised as one of the best films in the classic series, Hellraiser was celebrated for its gory kills, queer rep and Clayton\u2019s lead performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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High Tension (2003)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>C\u00e9cile de France<\/em>, Ma\u00efwenn, Philippe Nahon, Andrei Finti, Oana Pellea<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it has a disastrous score on Rotten Tomatoes, High Tension is one of the most clever and terrifying slashers of the 21st century. The French film, widely associated with the New French Extremity movement, stars C\u00e9cile de France and Ma\u00efwenn as two young students who fend off a deranged serial killer at a secluded farmhouse. The film is notable for its queer storyline and bonkers twist, which has since influenced others in the same genre. The less said, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hunger (1983)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon, Cliff De Young, Dan Hedaya, Beth Ehlers, Rufus Collins<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to its dark and glamorous aesthetic, The Hunger has \u2013 like many other films on this list \u2013 found a cult following. Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon stars as Sarah Roberts, a doctor specializing in sleep and aging research who finds herself entangled in a love triangle with a vampire couple, played by Catherine Deneuve and the late David Bowie. It\u2019s homoerotic as hell and has been cited as a major influence on various works in the Gothic subgenre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jennifer\u2019s Body (2009)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Adam Brody <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its poor performance at the box office,\u00a0Jennifer\u2019s Body has become a cult favorite \u2013 particularly amongst queer women. The film stars Megan Fox as a cheerleader who becomes possessed by a succubus \u2013 a demon who seduces men kills them and devours their flesh etc. Slay! The Diablo Cody-directed comedy horror isn\u2019t overflowing with queer narratives, although Jennifer shares a kiss with her best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) and their sexual tension is alluded to throughout the film. In a 2009 interview, Fox confirmed her character\u2019s sexuality as she described Jennifer as a \u201ccannibalistic lesbian cheerleader\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Perfection (2019)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Allison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Weber, Alaina Huffman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Out star Allison Williams returns to the horror genre as the talented but troubled cellist Charlotte, who travels to Shanghai to reconnect with her former mentor Anton (Steven Weber). There, she befriends another of Anton\u2019s students Lizzie (Logan Browning). After becoming sexual with one another, Charlotte agrees to accompany Lizzie across rural China and what follows is pure\u2026 terror. If you\u2019re squeamish, stay away from The Perfection. If you\u2019re not, enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pitchfork (2017)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Daniel Wilkinson, Brian Raetz, Lindsey Nicole, Ryan Moore, Celina Beach, Nicole Dambro, Keith Webb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunter Killian (Brian Raetz) returns home to Michigan with the support of his friends in New York to come out as gay to his disapproving conservative father. Pitchfork transforms from a coming-of-age drama into a full-blown slasher flick when the gang becomes hunted by a deranged, pitchfork-wielding lunatic with mummy issues. It\u2019s gory, raunchy and it\u2019s full of twists and turns!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O\u2019Brien, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this even need a bio? For those who haven\u2019t seen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells the story of a young couple whose car breaks down near a castle habited by a group of strangers in faaaabulous costumes who are celebrating an annual convention. Their leader, Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry) \u2013 a self-proclaimed \u201csweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania\u201d \u2013 has created a muscle man called Rocky in his laboratory, which is great. Jim Sharman\u2019s film has attained a massive worldwide following and boasts the honor of being the longest-running theatrical release in film history, spanning four decades. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is often regarded as one of the best musical films of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spiral (2019)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Ari Cohen, Lochlyn Munro, Chandra West, Ty Wood<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directed by Kurtis David Harder, the Shudder exclusive follows a same-sex couple who move to a small town in search of a better environment for themselves and their 16-year-old daughter. \u201cNothing is at it seems\u201d in the town, \u201cas something sinister lies behind the picturesque homes and welcoming faces of their new neighbors.\u201d Written by Colin Minihan, Spiral also stars Ty Wood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Chandra West (NYPD Blue), and Lochlyn Munroe (Riverdale).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stranger by the Lake (2013)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, Patrick d\u2019Assum\u00e7ao<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hailed by several critics as one of the best films of 2013 and 2014, this French thriller follows an older man called Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) who develops an attraction to a man called Michel (Christophe Paou). He discovers Michel drowning another man in a lake but doesn\u2019t report it because of his attraction to him. We won\u2019t spoil too much, but Stranger by the Lake is a dark and erotic queer thriller that is a\u00a0must-watch this Halloween.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They\/Them (2022)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Kevin Bacon, <\/em>Anna Chlumsky, Carrie Preston, Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Austin Crute, Monique Kim, Anna Lore, Cooper Koch, Darwin del Fabro<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pronounced \u201cThey Slash Them,\u201d this new slasher stars Kevin Bacon as Owen Whistler, the director of a conversion therapy camp who is joined by several queer and trans individuals for a week of programming to \u201chelp them find a new sense of freedom\u201d. As the camp\u2019s methods become more unethical over the course of their stay, the campers must work together to protect themselves against a mysterious serial killer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Keeps You Alive (2018)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cast: <\/strong>Hannah Emily Anderson, Brittany Allen, Martha MacIsaac, Joey Klein<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canadian film What Keeps You Alive follows married couple Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson) and Jules (Brittany Allen) who visit a remote cabin in the woods to celebrate their one-year anniversary. There, Jackie discovers that her wife is harboring a dark and murderous past, and her intentions of a cute queer weekend getaway were not entirely\u2026 pure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Queerness and horror have\u00a0always\u00a0been intertwined. Although queer characters and storylines have notoriously been scarce within horror (until recent), queer audiences have often flocked to monster movies and slashers due to the genre\u2019s exploration (and obsession) with otherness. Whether it\u2019s the questioning of a villain\u2019s humanity, the non-normative characters that don\u2019t conform to societal expectations, or<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,67],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5326","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"category-movies"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5326"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5328,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5326\/revisions\/5328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}