It doesn’t need to be June for folks to add to their watch list and dive into underrated queer horror films. The Halloween season is the perfect time to finally explore the underrated titles in the queer horror canon. And while it’s fun to revisit the usual movies that we love, it’s also fun to go on a bit of an adventure.
There’s no shortage of subtextual or blatantly queer horror out there, from slashers to extremely campy low-budget films. Some of them are from our current decade or are from the ’80s. Regardless, there’s something out there for you, and we’re going to help you find something in this big bowl of rainbow-colored candy. Grab your favorite snacks and follow me as we dive into some underrated queer horror films to watch this October.
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The Old Dark House (1932)
Director: James Whale
Writer: Ben W. Levy
Where to watch: Fawesome, Kanopy, Bloodstream, and Prime Video
It’s fascinating to watch Pre-Code horror films and see what filmmakers were able to get away with before the Hays Code set in. The Old Dark House follows a group of travelers who are stranded in a storm and forced to seek refuge in the bizarre home of the Femm family. And it leads to a chaotic chain of events when they realize that this family is keeping many secrets.
From the family being named “Femm”, James Whale being an out gay filmmaker in Hollywood at the time, the queer cast members, the campy elements and performances throughout, and the outright queer themes within the film, it’s a film that’s oozing rainbow from top to bottom. James Whale’s desire to explore those themes, even during a time when it wasn’t remotely acceptable to be part of the community, is something to be lauded. The Old Dark House is an excellent film to throw on if you’re wanting to go back in time and see how queer horror subtext was handled in the ’30s.
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
Director: Royd Ward Baker
Writer: Tudor Gates
Where to watch: Tubi, XumoPlay, Fawesome, Prime Video, and Plex
The sea of sapphic vampire horror films is vast, and you’re sure to find this gem if you go looking. The Vampire Lovers, based on Sheridan Le Fanu’s novel titled Carmilla, is set during the 18th century and follows a seductive vampire. She’s able to worm her way into the homes of rich families and eventually gets close to the women that catch her eye.
The Vampire Lovers is a bold queer film because the sapphic themes are right there on the surface. This was quite a decision to make on the part of the filmmakers during that time period. It’s a look into the extremely early days of ’70s queer horror cinema and how daring films had to be to offer even the slightest hint of queerness.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)
Director: William Asher
Writer: Steve Breimer, Alan Jay Glueckman, and Boon Collins
Where to watch: Tubi, Fawesome, Hoopla, Shudder, and Prime Video
Representation for gay men in the ’80s wasn’t always the greatest, but this early-’80s slasher goes against the grain in terms of expectations. Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker follows a teen boy named Billy (Jimmy McNichol) who is wrongfully targeted during a murder investigation involving his obsessive aunt. Thankfully, one person on Billy’s side is Tom Landers (Steve Eastin), his gay gym teacher, who refuses to give up on him.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is a product of its time and is unique in portraying a gay man as a supportive force in the protagonist’s life. Instead of being depicted as predatory, as was common rhetoric in the ’80s, Tom Landers is the one person who helps keep Billy safe throughout the film. If you’re in the mood for positive gay representation, then this is the queer horror slasher to throw on.
Bride of Re-Animator (1990)
Director: Brian Yuzna
Writer: Brian Yuzna, Zeph E. Daniel, and Rick Fry
Where to watch: Night Flight Plus, Prime Video, and Fandango
If you thought the first Re-Animator was deeply queer coded, especially due to the relationship between Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) and Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), Bride of Re-Animator turns the dial all the way up. Bride of Re-Animator takes place 8 months after the first film and follows Dan and Herbert’s attempt to create new life together. The campy tone is high, and the chemistry between Bruce Abbott and Jeffrey Combs is still electric as ever.
Viewing the film as textually queer isn’t inaccurate because the dynamic between Dan and Herbert throughout the film is very domestic. The plot of them trying to create a human being together is coded as trying to keep someone in your life by having a child with them. And the Bride (Kathleen Kinmont) herself further represents a rejection of heteronormativity, as she was created by two men. It’s an all-around underappreciated sequel to a cult-classic queer horror film that more folks should check out.
Knife + Heart (2019)
Director: Yann Gonzalez
Writer: Yann Gonzalez and Cristiano Mangione
Where to watch: Kanopy, Shudder, Fandor, and Prime Video
Depicting queer characters as complicated is just as important as having them be heroic. Knife + Heart is set in late ’70s Paris and follows Anne (Vanessa Paradis), a lesbian who makes gay adult films and is trying to win back her ex-girlfriend. When the stars of her upcoming film are killed one by one by a masked man, she’s forced to begin an investigation to uncover why.
Knife + Heart is unabashedly queer, and it dives into the underground world of gay adult films. There are also themes surrounding queer repression, the homophobic attitudes of the late ’70s leading into the ’80s, and identity. The film is a gritty, giallo-inspired, and very neon queer horror film that’ll appeal to individuals who love period pieces.
Sissy (2022)
Director: Hannah Barlow
Writer: Kane Senes and Hannah Barlow
Where to watch: Shudder, Tubi, Hoopla, AMC+, and Prime Video
A bloody bachelorette weekend featuring an influencer is exactly what you’re getting with this indie gem. Sissy is set in Australia and follows Cecilia (Aisha Dee), an influencer invited to her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only for everything to be upended by unforeseen circumstances. What starts as a reunion between best friends turns into a blood-filled nightmare.
Sissy is the perfect blend of comedic beats, influencer satire, and slasher antics with queerness sprinkled throughout. Essentially every character is confirmed to be queer, including Cecilia’s former best friend, and it’s lovely to have that be the case. All in all, this is a fun queer Aussie horror film with a Black lead and deserves some more flowers from horror fans.
Swallowed (2022)
Director: Carter Smith
Writer: Carter Smith
Where to watch: Plex, Apple TV, and Prime Video
It’s extra special when a film has out queer people in front of and behind the camera. Swallowed follows an aspiring gay adult film star named Benjamin (Cooper Koch) and Dom (Jose Colon), a pair of best friends who get in over their heads when their substance smuggling goes awry. What unfolds is nothing short of a body horror nightmare for both Benjamin and Dom.
Swallowed is packed with tragedy, a surprising kind of body horror, and some of the campiest line delivery from Mark Patton when his character is introduced. The film is indie with a small cast, but that’s where the charm lies. It’s a perfect watch for people who want to support queer indie horror films and out gay filmmakers.
Satranic Panic (2023)
Director: Alice Maio Mackay
Writer: Cassie Hamilton, Alice Maio Mackay, and Benjamin Pahl Robinson
Where to watch: Fawesome, Shudder, Apple TV, AMC+, and Prime Video
These days, indie horror is often where you should turn for boundary-pushing and representation. Satranic Panic is set in Australia and follows a trans drag queen named Aria (Cassie Hamilton) and her nonbinary best friend named Jay (Zarif), who find themselves fighting demons while trying to deal with the grief of losing their mutual loved one.
Alice Maio Mackay is committed to telling queer and trans stories in all her films, especially as an out trans woman. Satranic Panic is low budget, heavy on practical effects, and displays trans joy in a way that’ll put a smile on people’s faces. If you love low-budget indie films, then you’re in the right place with this pick.
Carnage for Christmas (2024)
Director: Alice Maio Mackay
Writer: Alice Maio Mackay and Benjamin Pahl Robinson
Where to watch: Shudder, Philo, AMC+, Apple TV, and Prime Video
It’s possible that you’ve found another holiday horror film to add to your watchlist. Carnage for Christmas follows Lola (Jeremy Moineau), a trans true-crime podcaster whose return to her hometown proves dangerous when a killer is on the loose. As far as Mackay’s filmography goes, this remains one of her best alongside The Serpent’s Skin (2025).
Once again, Mackay captures authentic trans experiences and offers the audience a plethora of openly queer and trans characters to root for. Carnage for Christmas features violence and gore achieved through practical effects, a lovable character in Lola, themes of small-town bigotry, and is full of queer punk energy. Despite being set in Australia and lacking the snow that typically sets the holiday feel, it’s still a solid holiday horror to throw on.
Slay (2024)
Director: Jem Garrard
Writer: Jem Garrard
Where to watch: Tubi
Tubi has brought us some horror delights over the years, and this is a great addition to that. Slay follows a group of drag queens who must join forces with small-town residents to fight vampires. And it’s very queer horror from top to bottom, from the cast members to director Jem Garrard, an out queer and nonbinary filmmaker.
Slay perfectly mixes a cocktail of humorous beats, heartfelt scenes, the reality of gaining found family amongst other queer folks, and the struggles of small-town life for those in the closet. Not to mention, the drag queens are played by real-life drag queens, thus lending authenticity. Slay is a blast overall, and you’ll want to rewatch it after your first time.
Queer horror should be celebrated throughout the entire year, and what better month to watch some queer horror films in than Halloween, aka creepy season! Get your rainbow-colored pumpkin (how wicked cool that would be, right?), read, relax wherever you like, and throw one of these films on for a queer, horror-filled Halloween season. You won’t regret doing so, trust us!
