While being LGBTQ has been explored in all types of movies, horror has been one of the more interesting genres of film to watch queer characters evolve in. From the early days of queer-coding and vilifying anyone gay, horror films today have started to let LGBTQ characters take the lead as the hero, final girl and all-around badass killing monsters.
As you prepare your list of horror films to binge this Halloween season, we have gathered five queer moments in horror cinema that you should check out.
“Bride of Frankenstein” (1935)
James Whale is not only an early pioneer of horror movies in Hollywood but he is also well known for being an openly gay film director in a time when it was considered risky and dangerous to do so.
Whale is responsible for several of Universal’s classic monster movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age including “Frankenstein,” “The Invisible Man” and “Bride of Frankenstein,” the last of which is filled with queer subtext. Film historians equate many of the film’s relationships to queer-coded same-sex marriages.
The film’s biggest queer moment comes when the effeminate Dr. Pretorius, played by bisexual actor Ernest Thesiger, pulls Dr. Frankenstein, played by bisexual actor Colin Clive, away from his wedding night to “create life” together — enter Bride of Frankenstein. Only a daughter with two gay dads could sport such a daring and fashionable hairstyle.
“Bride of Frankenstein” is currently available to stream on Peacock.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
A send up to the old B horror films from the mid-20th Century, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a musical comedy horror extravaganza celebrating being different and unapologetically embracing your otherness.
From the songs “The Time Warp” and “Sweet Transvestite” to Frank-N-Furter building a man and seducing Janet and Brad, the film is in no short supply of queer moments. The one we pick though is the film’s big finale as the main cast — Frank-N-Furter, Brad, Janet, Columbia, Rocky and Dr. Scott — perform a collection of songs with faces done in exaggerated makeup and dressed in fishnets, boas and heels.
Not only does the scene play out like a magnificent drag show but it also explores Frank-N-Furter’s need to be accepted as his true authentic self. As he sings out about watching Faye Wray in “King Kong” and crying because he wanted to be dressed just the same and as he exclaims to not only dream it but be it, you can’t help but think he is singing out to every queer kid watching at home.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” is currently available to stream on Hulu.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” (1985)
While not intentionally a gay horror film (according to the film’s creators), in the years since its release “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2” has assumed the position as the ultimate gay slasher classic.
A big reason for that is the film’s “scream queen” is played by openly gay actor Mark Patton. Patton, who was not out at the time, plays Jesse, a high schooler trying to deal with his secret that the murderous Freddy Kruger is living inside him. The film is filled with homoerotic subtext from Jesse’s close relationship with his friend Grady to Jesse wandering into a gay bar and running into his leather clad gym teacher.
One of the film’s biggest moments comes when Jesse flees a pool party after a Freddy-induced tongue incident with his girlfriend. Jesse heads right to Grady’s house, hopping into his bed to ask if he can stay the night with him. “Something is trying to get inside my body,” Jesse tells him before Freddy has his big “coming out.”
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
“ParaNorman” (2012)
“ParaNorman” is a stop-motion animated film about Norman, a boy who can communicate with ghosts. The film’s themes of acceptance and being yourself as well as the way it deals with bullying are all excellent messages for any LGBTQ kid to hear.
The film’s big queer moment comes at the end of the movie, when Norman’s cheerleader sister Courtney – who has been pining over Mitch, Norman’s best friend Neil’s jock brother – asks if he wants to catch a movie with her sometime. “That sounds great Courtney,” Mitch says. “You know you’re gonna love my boyfriend. He’s like a total chick flick nut.” Oh Courtney, it seems like the good ones are always gay.
The scene is not only a playful way to reveal Mitch’s sexual orientation but it also was the first openly gay character to appear in a mainstream animated film, making it the film’s big queer moment as well as a big moment in all of LGBTQ cinema.
https://youtu.be/oK0u0F_Y2EU
“ParaNorman” is currently available to stream on Netflix.
“Fear Street” (2021)
“Fear Street” is a trilogy of films released on Netflix this past summer which are based on the popular R. L. Stine book series of the same name.
The films take place at three different time periods — 1994, 1978 and 1666 — and center on the same story of the legend of a witch named Sarah Fier who placed a curse on the town Shadyside after being murdered for witchcraft in 1666.
While “Fear Street” explores the history of the Sarah Fier curse, that story is told with the relationship between Deena and Sam, played by Kiana Madeira and Olivia Scott Welch, at its center. Deena and Sam’s love is not just a side story, it is integral to the plot and places Deena in the spotlight as the hero.
The trilogy’s biggest queer moment comes at the end of the third film when – SPOILER ALERT – our couple share a kiss after battling supernatural forces and pay their respects to Sarah Fier in the very spot she was murdered.
The “Fear Street” trilogy is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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