Horror is queer. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to the cult films of John Waters, queerness is built into the genre with depictions of colorful characters and themes regarding societal fears, isolation and the breakdown of social orders.
Historically, LGBTQ horror authors and filmmakers have had to disguise their queer subject matter with heavy metaphors and subtext. Just look at Bram Stoker’s "Dracula." When watched in the context of its queer author, it tells the story of a closeted gay man sequestered from society. Years later, author Anne Rice would continue this tradition of vampires as gay men with the more bold and literal depiction in "Interview with a Vampire."
Another example is John Carpenter’s “The Thing”. This cult classic reflects the anxiety and witch hunts regarding the AIDS epidemic. Though the LGBTQ community continues to vie for equality in society, we have won many culture wars by decades of fighting and now enjoy explicitly stated representation in even the most main stream horror films.
The following are some of my favorite Pride Month horror movie picks, either dealing in queer themes or featuring queer characters.
High Tension (2003)
Two best friends attempt a relaxing vacation at a secluded family farmhouse when their lives are violently disrupted by a home invader and serial killer. This French slasher regresses to an old tradition of extreme violence and first person perspectives with a bit of a twist. "High Tension" keeps the viewer constantly engaged as the terror has no reprieve. It is possibly a strange choice for a Pride horror list as some behaviors of the protagonist appear predatory, however a viewer may consider that horror can depict both gay rights and gay wrongs.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
The world was not prepared to receive "Jennifer’s Body" when it debuted in 2009 with its absurd story about a Satanic rock band and a man-eating demon possessed cheerleader. Fortunately it has since earned proper accolades by film fans for both its intriguing performances by Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried and the homoerotic themes which seem to caution again compulsive heterosexuality. The film also depicts a toxic codependent female friendship which may be a relatable experience for many young girls and so "Jennifer’s Body" also holds up as a teen flick if you like copious amounts of blood in your coming of age stories.
Seed of Chucky (2004)
Gender non-confirming horror fans may find they have something in common with the strange but well-meaning living doll Glen/Glenda in the fifth installment of the Child’s Play series. Glen seizes the chance to have a family when they resurrect their murderous parents, Tiffany and Chucky, from the dead. The theme of gender nonbinary may have confused the audience of 2004 as the movie was met with extremely mixed reviews, however the series has since remained loyal to its queer fanbase, even featuring gay protagonists in the 2021 TV Series “Chucky”. In the TV show, serial killer Charles Lee Ray reiterates his acceptance of his queer child. “I’m not a monster, Jake.”
Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)
Following a series of murders, a group of teens take on the task of ridding their town of a centuries old curse. This teen slasher series signals a win for gay representation as it stars and centers a lesbian couple who experience the expected amount of grief in a horror movie without special gay torture tropes. The couple feels believable and uncontrived with equal measures of toxicity and love as they face a three part movie terror. The film effectively adapted the campiness of the Fear Street books and is a gory neon visual delight capturing the pre-cellphone nostalgic atmosphere of the 1990s.
Inverted (2024)
Filmed in the tradition of a 1970’s grindhouse picture, "Inverted" effectively creates a suffocating atmosphere as we watch a band of diverse and colorful characters tortured into submission by a secluded religious cult. As in the tradition of many real life churches and conversion camps, guilt and shame are used as weapons to sanitize and manipulate. The film pulls no punches in regard to its depiction of homophobia and the innocence of love stolen and perverted. Somehow I found the villains with their bible thumping satirical, but the sick feeling in my stomach completely familiar. In addition to its impressive 1970s motif, "Inverted" artistically conveys a deeply uncomfortable emotional story. Horror fans wishing to feel something may become satisfactorily disturbed, while I recommend others proceed with caution.
Horror has always attracted a community of misfits. People who feel marginalized by society find solace in this genre. It's been a privilege in 2024 to watch the increase of representation in horror films without fear of backlash. Even when the threat of backlash was exceptionally prevalent, queer filmmakers responded with even more color, controversy and outrage, making these films and art some of the deepest and most iconic.
Happy Pride Month!
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