Water is moist, and horror is queer. By depicting monsters residing on the periphery who antagonize a society that others them, the horror style has all the time discovered methods to talk to the queer expertise and wrestle. As time has handed, the style has advanced from exhibiting queerness strictly at a subtextual degree to bringing it to the floor.

As a approach of highlighting that lengthy historical past, and providing viewing choices for these searching for one thing to look at throughout spooky season exterior of the standard staples, under is a listing of 10 nice horror movies with queer themes. The first half has trendy horror movies with visibly queer characters, whereas the second half is comprised of spooky classics with queer connotations.

Seed of Chucky (2004)

Photo: Rolf Konow/Sygma

With the arrival of Bride of Chucky and the introduction of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), Chucky’s doll companion, the Child’s Play franchise moved additional into horror-comedy fare than earlier than. Then got here Seed of Chucky, the collection’ fifth installment, which was an extra development another way.

Besides appearing as a slice-and-dice slasher movie and Hollywood satirization, Seed of Chucky is a poignant depiction of familial acceptance and gender id. When Chucky and Tiffany reunite with their offspring Glen(da) (voiced by Billy Boyd), they wrestle with how they need Glen(da) to establish. Chucky needs to say their little one as a boy whereas Tiffany says she needs a daughter. Ultimately, it’s as much as Glen(da) to muster up the braveness to inform them their alternative, saying they are often each and, actually, really feel like each. Given how nonbinary visibility is scarce within the horror style, Glen(da) stays an icon in their very own proper.

Seed of Chucky is accessible to stream on Peacock, Syfy, USA Network, and fuboTV, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

Hellbent (2004)

Image: Regent Releasing

A uncommon slasher movie with a gaggle of completely overtly homosexual characters, Hellbent is an outlier of its time that’s additionally a tremendous instance of a narrative with queer protagonists that goes past the normal “coming-out” narrative. Our fundamental group of mates — Eddie (Dylan Fergus), Joey (Hank Harris), Chaz (Andrew Levitas), and Tobey (Matt Phillips) — are already out of the closet and are adults as an alternative of the standard doomed youngsters.

As they exit on Halloween evening with a mysterious, devil-masked assailant shadowing them and choosing them off one after the other, Eddie pursues his good-looking crush, Jake (Bryan Kirkwood). Given how Eddie is the primary character, his appearing on his romantic affections disproves the notion that the archetypal closing survivor should be purely chaste with a view to prevail. Both subversive and gripping, Hellbent is a worthy look ahead to these wanting easy slasher-movie thrills.

Hellbent is accessible to stream on Here TV, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon.

Stranger by the Lake (2013)

Image: Strand Releasing

Although Stranger by the Lake is extra in Hitchcockian thriller territory than conventional horror fare, it nonetheless possesses a chilling ambiance. This is especially as a result of its desolate setting on a homosexual cruising seashore and using shadow by cinematography maestra Claire Mathon. When Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) turns into sensually fixated on Michel (Christophe Paou) even after witnessing him drown one other man within the ocean, Franck is all the time enraptured in shadow, whether or not it’s in a nighttime scene or he’s encased by his personal silhouette through the day. Franck all the time being engulfed in darkness encompasses his temptation main him to hazard. Franck’s combination of compulsion and apprehension are properly illustrated in Deladonchamps’ expressive eyes. Meanwhile, Patrick d’Assumçao impresses in equal measure as Franck’s congenial seashore companion Henri.

Stranger by the Lake is accessible to stream without spending a dime with a library card on Kanopy, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon and Vudu.

Titane (2021)

Image: Neon

Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece is not only a film; it’s an expertise. Titane begins off as a twisted slasher movie earlier than morphing right into a profound physique horror piece that, like Seed of Chucky, facilities on gender id and familial 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 damaged strangers forming a robust kinship. While the automobile intercourse and excessive violence do depart an imprint in a single’s thoughts, it’s shifting scenes like Vincent saying he accepts Alexia/Adrien for who they could be that also closely linger due to the performances by Lindon and Rousselle. Both actors say extra with easy physique language than what loads of actors do with pages of dialogue.

Titane is accessible to stream on Hulu, or for digital rental or buy through Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

Scream (2022)

Photo: Brownie Harris/Paramount Pictures

One spotlight of the brand new sequel to the unique Scream is its depiction of Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown). Thanks to her whip-smart horror information and deadpan wit, Mindy serves as a robust entry within the slasher heroine pantheon. Mindy being overtly queer is a much less defining character trait, which is admirable and makes Scream an antidote to using homosexuality as a punchline in its predecessor, the place the character Robbie Mercer blurts that he’s homosexual simply to keep away from Ghostface’s wrath. While Scream 4 stays a strong franchise entry, the seen, matter-of-fact method through which Mindy is depicted reveals how franchises can nonetheless evolve when it comes to illustration.

Scream is accessible to stream on Showtime and fuboTV, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

The Invisible Man (1933)

Image: Universal Pcitures

Kicking off the “classics with subtext” portion of this checklist is likely one of the basic Universal Monsters. Based on the novel of the identical identify by H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man follows Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains), who initially seeks a strategy to reverse his invisibility earlier than the fun of being in his situation has him drunk with energy. Once Griffin enlists the assistance of fellow scientist Dr. Kemp (William Harrigan) as he wreaks havoc on the village the place he went into hiding, his personal fiancée, Flora (Gloria Stuart), turns into an afterthought. More fixated on his companionship along with his male accomplice and antagonizing a society uneasy by his mere presence, Griffin is a determine along with his personal queer undercurrent just like the monster in Frankenstein, one other horror masterpiece from overtly homosexual director James Whale. If you appreciated that, you could be into this.

The Invisible Man is accessible to stream on the Criterion Channel, IndieFlix, and Peacock, or for digital rental or buy through Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

Cat People (1942)

Image: Warner Home Video

As somebody fascinated by werecreatures, they all the time strike me as a queer metaphor. The idea of getting to cover who you’re or being afraid of who you’re since you concern you’ll be perceived as a monster affords slight parallels to the anxieties felt by these within the queer neighborhood who’re afraid to disclose themselves out of concern of being othered. Those worries function the premise for Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 basic Cat People. When Irena (Simone Simon) discovers she will flip right into a werepanther when sexually aroused, she initially expresses concern. Yet, as soon as her fiancé, Oliver (Kent Smith), grows nearer to his assistant, Alice (Jane Randolph), Irena begins to simply accept the monster inside as she tries antagonizing them on this efficient horror pic. One with purr-fect use of sound and shadow.

Cat People is accessible to stream on HBO Max, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Image: twentieth Century Fox

After What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? turned a smash hit, director Robert Aldrich and star Bette Davis reunited two years afterward Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Because in Hollywood, you all the time keep on with what works, they once more collaborated on a horror movie that continued the “psycho-biddy” subgenre that Baby Jane originated. It additionally amped up its gay-friendly camp issue with not simply extra theatrical actressing, however some queer undertones. In Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte, Bette Davis delightfully dials it as much as 11 as berserk spinster Charlotte, who lives alone together with her maid, Velma (Agnes Moorehead). Velma is dedicated to serving Charlotte and particularly turns into vigilant when Charlotte’s doubtful cousin Miriam (Olivia de Havilland) immediately arrives. Yet, Velma’s fondness feels deeper than it lets on.

As the loyal and subtly sapphic Velma, Agnes Moorehead provides a efficiency of unhinged brilliance that earned her a fourth and closing Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. At the time of its launch, the movie attained the document of getting essentially the most Oscar nominations of any horror image, with seven. So, for many who’re Oscar completists in addition to horror followers, this one is a must-see.

Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte is accessible to stream on the Criterion Channel, or through digital rental or buy on Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.

Carrie (1976)

Image: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

While all three movie variations of the famed Stephen King novel are wonderful in their very own proper, the unique Carrie by Brian De Palma arguably stays the very best. Thanks to its melancholic rating by Pino Donaggio and the well-known promenade scene, the 1976 model is the very best depiction of King’s darkish fable of a teenage outcast with telekinetic powers who enacts revenge on her tormentors. Since Carrie White (a spellbinding Sissy Spacek) is ostracized merely for not conforming, her wrestle speaks to those who real-life queer youths are compelled to endure. Her mom, Margaret (Piper Laurie), a nightmarish epitome of non secular Puritanism, actually forcing Carrie right into a darkish closet solely furthers the story’s reflection of such struggles. It’s folks like Margaret and Carrie’s classmates who’re why so many queer adolescents are afraid to come back out and be their greatest selves.

Carrie is accessible to stream on fuboTV and AMC Plus, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu.

The Lost Boys (1987)

Image: Warner Home Video

Vampires aren’t simply immortalized creatures, however will all the time reside perpetually on display screen. After the vampire development spurred by the success of Twilight, the famed nightly creatures are experiencing one other resurgence due to initiatives like Day Shift, The Invitation, and the brand new TV collection adaptation of Interview With the Vampire. But the 1987 Joel Schumacher basic The Lost Boys stays an early reminder of their timeless attract.

Once Michael (Jason Patric) bonds with the mysterious David (Kiefer Sutherland) and his biker gang, their daredevil life-style attracts him to them. However, as they’re revealed to be vampires, Michael slowly turns into one himself. Michael should then wrestle with whether or not or to not give into his newfound urges and probably reside a life on the margins along with his leather-clad, newfound brotherhood on this sultry, sometimes humorous story that’s nonetheless as terrifying as regular adolescence.

The Lost Boys is accessible to stream without spending a dime with adverts on The Roku Channel, or for digital rental or buy through Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.