10 best queer horror movies to watch this Halloween

Water is water, horror is queer. Horror has always been able to address queer experiences and struggles by depicting creatures living in the margins. The genre evolved over time from displaying queerness only at the subtextual level to showing it on the surface.

This is a way to highlight that rich history and offer viewing options to those who are looking for something other than the standard staples during the spooky season., Here’s a list with 10 outstanding horror films that feature queer themes. You will find modern horror movies with visible queer characters in the first half, and classic horror films that have queer themes in the second.

The Seed of Chucky (2004)

Photo by Rolf Konow/Sygma

With the advent of Chucky Bride and the introduction of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), Chucky’s doll companion, the Child’s Play franchise moved further into horror-comedy fare than before. Next came????????????. Get Seed of Chucky, the series’ fifth installment, which was a further advancement in a different way.

Apart from acting as Hollywood satirization and slice-and-dice film, Get Seed of Chucky This is an eloquent portrayal of gender identity and familial acceptance. Chucky, Tiffany and Glen (voiced Billy Boyd) struggle with Glen(da), how to identify. Chucky would like to have their child as a girl, while Tiffany wants her baby as a boy. Ultimately, it’s up to Glen(da) to muster up the courage to tell them their choice, saying they can be both and, in fact, feel like both. Glen(da), an icon of their horror-themed genre is, despite not having much visibility for nonbinary people.

Get Seed of ChuckyYou can stream it on PeacockSyfy, USA Network and fuboTV are available for digital rental via Amazon. Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

Hellbent (2004)

Image by Regent Releasing

This rare film is a slasher with an entire cast of openly gay characters. Hellbent is an outlier of its time that’s also a fine example of a story with queer protagonists that goes beyond the traditional “coming-out” narrative. Our main group of friends — Eddie (Dylan Fergus), Joey (Hank Harris), Chaz (Andrew Levitas), and Tobey (Matt Phillips) — are already out of the closet and are adults instead of the usual doomed teenagers.

Eddie and Jake go out Halloween night, with an unknown, devil-masked assailant following them around, picking them apart one by one. Because Eddie plays the central character, his actions based on romantic feelings disproves any notion that the final archetype survivor must only be pure chaste to win. At once subversive as well gripping. HellbentIt is worth a look for simple thrills from slasher movies.

HellbentIt is streaming on Here TV and available for purchase or rental via digital. Amazon.

Stranger by the Lake

Strand Releasing

However Strangers by the LakeAlthough it is more Hitchcockian horror territory than classic horror, the film still retains a chilling atmosphere. The film’s desolated setting at a gay beach cruising spot and Claire Mathon’s use shadow, both cinematographers extraordinaires, are key factors in this chilling atmosphere. When Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) becomes sensually fixated on Michel (Christophe Paou) even after witnessing him drown another man in the ocean, Franck is always enraptured in shadow, whether it’s in a nighttime scene or he’s encased by his own silhouette during the day. Franck is always engulfed by darkness, which leads him to dangerous temptations. Franck’s mixture of compulsion and apprehension are well illustrated in Deladonchamps’ expressive eyes. Meanwhile, Patrick d’Assumçao impresses in equal measure as Franck’s congenial beach companion Henri.

Strangers by the LakeYou can stream it for free using a Kanopy library card, or digitally rent or buy via Kanopy AmazonVudu.

Titane (2021)

Image by Neon

Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece is not just a movie; it’s an experience. TitaneThe film starts as a bizarre slasher flick, before it becomes a deeply disturbing piece of body horror. Get Seed of ChuckyThe story centers around gender identity and family drama. Once serial killer Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) goes into hiding and poses as “Adrien,” the long-lost son of fireman Vincent (Vincent Lindon), what follows is a touching story about two broken strangers forming a strong kinship. While the car sex and extreme violence do leave an imprint in one’s mind, it’s moving scenes like Vincent saying he accepts Alexia/Adrien for who they may be that still heavily linger thanks to the performances by Lindon and Rousselle. Each actor communicates more using body language than many actors with dialogue pages.

TitaneYou can stream it on Hulu. Or rent or buy digital copies via Digital Rentals. Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

Scream (2022).

Photo: Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures

The sequel’s most notable feature is the inclusion of a new highlight. ScreamIts depiction Mindy Meeks Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown) is exemplary. Mindy, with her brilliant horror knowledge combined with deadpan wit makes her a formidable entry into the slasher-heroes pantheon. Mindy’s openly gay status is not a defining characteristic, but it is admirable. Make a noise an antidote to the use of homosexuality as a punchline in its predecessor, where the character Robbie Mercer blurts that he’s gay just to avoid Ghostface’s wrath. While4. Scream Although Mindy remains an excellent franchise entry, Mindy’s representation shows how franchisors can continue to evolve.

ScreamYou can stream it on Showtime or fuboTV. Or you can rent or buy digital copies via Digitizer. Amazon, Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

The Invisible Man (1933).

Universal Pcitures

Kicking off the “classics with subtext” portion of this list is one of the classic Universal Monsters. Based on H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man Follow Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains), as he attempts to reverse his invisibility. However, the excitement of becoming invincible makes him envious. Once Griffin enlists the help of fellow scientist Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan) as he wreaks havoc on the village where he went into hiding, his own fiancée, Flora (Gloria Stuart), becomes an afterthought. Griffin, who is more focused on his relationship with his male partner than being a menace to society by mere existence, has a queer undercurrent that’s like the beast in FrankensteinAnother horror film by James Whale, an openly gay director. This may appeal to you if you enjoyed that.

The Invisible ManIt is streaming on IndieFlix and Criterion channels. PeacockFor digital rentals or purchases via the internet, Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

Cat People (1942).

Warner Home Video

I find them fascinating as werecreatures. The concept of having to hide who you are or being afraid of who you are because you fear you’ll be perceived as a monster offers slight parallels to the anxieties felt by those in the queer community who are afraid to reveal themselves out of fear of being othered. Those worries serve as the basis for Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 classic People who love cats. Irena (Simone Simon), initially fears becoming a werepanther after she learns that it is possible to turn sexually aroused into one. Yet, once her fiancé, Oliver (Kent Smith), grows closer to his assistant, Alice (Jane Randolph), Irena starts to accept the monster within as she tries antagonizing them in this effective horror pic. This one uses sound and shadow with a purr-fect sonic quality.

People who love catsYou can stream it on HBO MaxYou can also rent or buy digitally via Amazon Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Image by 20th Century Fox

After Baby Jane: What ever happened to her?The film was an instant hit and Robert Aldrich, star Bette Davis reunited 2 years later. Hush… Sweet Charlotte! Because in Hollywood, you always stick with what works, they again collaborated on a horror film that continued the “psycho-biddy” subgenre thatBaby Jane originated. This film also increased its gay-friendly factor by adding more theatre actresses and some quer undertones. You can also watch it in Hush…Hush Sweet CharlotteBette Davis is a delightfully sassy spinster Charlotte who lives with Velma Moorehead (Agnes Moorehead). Velma is devoted to serving Charlotte and especially becomes vigilant when Charlotte’s dubious cousin Miriam (Olivia de Havilland) suddenly arrives. Yet, Velma’s fondness feels deeper than it lets on.

Agnes Moorehead plays the loyal, subtly sapphic Velma. Her performance is unhinged and brilliant. She was nominated for a fourth Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. It had seven Oscar nominations, making it the horror film with the highest number of Oscar nominations. So, for those who’re Oscar completists as well as horror fans, this one is a must-see.

Hush… Sweet Charlotte, Hush!You can stream it on the Criterion channel, as well as digitally rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.

Carrie (1976)

Image: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

All three films adaptations of Stephen King’s famous novel are remarkable in their own ways, but the original Stephen King book is still the best. CarrieBrian De Palma is arguably the greatest. Thanks to its melancholic score by Pino Donaggio and the famous prom scene, the 1976 version is the best depiction of King’s dark fable of a teenage outcast with telekinetic powers who enacts revenge on her tormentors. Carrie White, a spellbinding Sissy Spak, is made to feel rejected by her peers. This is the struggle queer youths have to face. Her mother, Margaret (Piper Laurie), a nightmarish epitome of religious Puritanism, literally forcing Carrie into a dark closet only furthers the story’s reflection of such struggles. It’s people like Margaret and Carrie’s classmates who are why so many queer adolescents are afraid to come out and be their best selves.

CarrieYou can stream it on fuboTV or AMC Plus. Or you can rent or buy digital copies via Amazon, Apple TVVudu.

The Lost Boys, 1987

Warner Home Video

Vampires aren’t just immortalized creatures, but will always live forever on screen. The success of TwilightThe famed nightly creatures have seen another revival thanks to initiatives like Day Shift, InvitationThe new TV series of adaptations to. Interview with the Vampire. The 1987 Joel Schumacher classic is however. The Lost Boys Their unending appeal is still a reminder to us all.

Michael (Jason Patric), forms ties with David (Kiefer Suerland) and their biker gang. Their daredevil lifestyle attracts him to them. However, as they’re revealed to be vampires, Michael slowly turns into one himself. Michael must then wrestle with whether or not to give into his newfound urges and possibly live a life on the margins with his leather-clad, newfound brotherhood in this sultry, occasionally humorous tale that’s still as terrifying as normal adolescence.

The Lost BoysIt is free to stream with advertisements on The Roku Channel or digitally rental-purchase via Amazon, Apple TVGoogle Play, Vudu, et al.