The LGBTQ+ community has been an important part of horror for many years. Queer audiences have always been drawn to the genre, but despite this, the genre hasn’t always shown them the same love. Famous horror directors like Clive Barker, Don Mancini, and Stewart Thorndike have always included some form of representation in their works, but mostly on a subtextual level. There are not many horror films that represent queer individuals normally, but these stories are not nonexistent.
As the world gradually becomes a more accepting place, better representation can be seen across the board. Within horror, there is not only the chance to show LGBTQ+ individuals as normal people, but there is now a wide range of unique stories to be experienced. Here are ten horror films for the LGBTQ+ community.
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10 Daughters of Darkness (1971)
Photo Credit - Showking Films, Maya Films, Roxy Film, Ciné Vog Films, Gemini Pictures International
With the arrival of the mysterious Countess Bathory and her assistant comes the discovery of women drained completely of their blood. The Countess is something beyond belief, but she isn’t after just victims. She sets her sights on one woman in particular: a newly married wife that so happens to be staying in the same hotel as her. Daughters of Darkness is as elegant as it is erotic. It seamlessly blends exploitation with elegance in a classic film from the 70s that is still a fan favorite to many.
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9 The Hunger (1983)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Starring David Bowie, The Hunger sees the legendary gender-fluid pop star play a vampire named John who is in a relationship with fellow vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve). When John dies, Miriam finds herself in need of a new life companion. In comes Sarah (Susan Sarandon), who quickly finds herself under the beautiful vampire’s spell. The Hunger is ranked as Collider’s fifth best LGBTQ+ horror film not just for being a great movie but for its aesthetic. Full of 80s excess and erotically charged scenes, it’s not hard to believe that this film inspired much of how we view vampires today.
8 High Tension
EuropaCorp
Lovers Alexia and Marie travel to a secluded farmhouse owned by Alexia’s family. It’s supposed to be a peaceful weekend, but that goes out the window when a malicious serial killer arrives, leading to a brutal massacre. What follows is a bloody battle of wills as Marie is forced to rescue her girlfriend when Alexia is taken captive. High Tension may not be rated positively on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s now a cult classic and a terrifying modern slasher. Whatever critics may say, fans live this film for its queer storyline and insane twist.
7 Fear Street Trilogy
Photo Credit - 20th Century Studios, Chernin Entertainment
This hit trilogy based on R.L. Stines’ hit books premiered on Netflix over a three-week period and saw lesbian lovers Deena and Sam (Kiana Madeira and Olivia Scott Welch) dodge knife-wielding ghouls to try and break a centuries-old curse that’s plagued their town for generations. Consisting of Fear Street Part 1: 1994, Fear Street Part 2: 1978, and Fear Street Part 3: 1666, critics and fans loved the trilogy not only for its well-written story and entertainment value, but also for the romance story of these two characters. Never before had there been a normal representation of LGBTQ+ characters in a horror film, which is why Gay Times lists these movies on their 18 films to watch for Halloween. Their relationship effectively broke barriers for mainstream representation within the genre and will doubtlessly inspire future films to do the same.
6 Stranger by the Lake
Photo Credit - Les Films du Worso, Arte France Cinéma, M141Films, de Force Majeure, Cinémage 7, Soficinéma 9
Stranger by the Lake sees an older man, Francis, infatuated with the younger Michel when he meets the man at the lake. The means by which they met are not so ideal as Francis witnessed Michel murdering someone. He knows he needs to say something, but the attraction to this killer is too strong, and he won’t let anything get in the way. This dark erotic thriller has won multiple independent awards and is a tense, spine-tingling love story. Earning a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4 out of 4 from Roger Ebert, this film is certainly not one to miss when searching for the perfect LGBTQ+ horror movie.
5 Raw
Photo Credit - Petit Film, Rouge International, Frakas Productions, Ezekiel Film Production, Wild Bunch
This French film may be the only one on this list to make audiences walk out as it is so grossly intense. Raw follows a vegetarian named Justine who experiences a harrowing change in her dietary cravings when she’s forced to consume raw meat at a college hazing ritual. What follows is a story mixture of cannibalism and queer attraction as she and her roommate fall deeper into a lifestyle she never knew existed. Raw was critically acclaimed upon release for its queer storyline and characters in major roles. It’s haunting and disturbing and full of women empowerment, but if nothing else, it’s certainly disturbing.
4 Thelma
Photo Credit - Motlys, Film Väst, Snowglobe Film, Filmpool Nord, B-Reel, Le Pacte
Thelma goes against her parent’s wishes by leaving home for college, marking her first time away. The world is strange, but things get brighter when she meets fellow student Anja, who awakens in Thelma a force of repressed emotions that cause strange things to happen to those closest to her. The film follows her struggle to come to terms with this strange new awakening, but she may find that everyone may have been safer if she stayed home. This Norwegian horror offers a fresh new take on the supernatural thriller that is both beautifully shot and thought-provoking and is as much a love story as it is a horror.
3 The Haunting (1963)
Photo Credit - Argyle Enterprises
There have been many interpretations of Shirley Jacksons The Haunting of Hill House, but Robert Wise’s The Haunting stands out due to the relationship between the characters Eleanor and Theodora. While themes of sexuality were not addressed directly in the film, there were subtle nods to the two characters growing relationship. The character Luke’s knowing look to Nell when Theo rebuffs him, and Nell calls the other girl “unnatural,” or their closeness throughout the movie in general. Fans can say this idea is debatable, but even Theodora actress Claire Bloom acknowledged that Theo was queer, even if the film didn’t. Whether anyone else wanted to acknowledge this or not, The Haunting is an unofficial LGBTQ+ haunting film.
2 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
20th Century Fox
Everyone has at least heard of this classic, even if they’ve never seen it. The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows a couple who make their way to a secluded castle after their car breaks down. What they stumble upon is a convention led by the seductive Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), the self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.” Rocky Horror has a massive cult following and is regarded as one of the best to ever be made. One of the key themes of the flick is inclusivity, as it sports an array of characters dressed flashily and flamboyantly. It’s a film where everyone is welcome. Fans often dress as the characters and reenact musical numbers. Such a loyal and ever-growing following is probably why this film boasts the longest-running theatrical release in film history for four decades running.
1 Interview With The Vampire
Photo Credit - The Geffen Film Company
The number one spot goes to the Anne Rice horror classic Interview With The Vampire. No one in this film is explicitly gay, as movies by this point in the 90s mainly pushed the idea through subtext and line blurring. This movie, directed by Neil Jordan, pushed things even further by making a depiction of two men who clearly love each other. Throughout, we see companions Lestat and Louis (Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt) navigating their immortality by caring for a daughter together. This picture is chock-full of homoerotic subtext and a lot of bloodsucking and vampire lust. A new AMC series will be adapting Rice’s tales this year, and given the current state of film and television, any queer elements the series may retain will likely not be shown through subtext.
