8 Modern Queer Horror Films to Watch this Halloween

What's even more thrilling than your typical, run-of-the-mill horror flick? An LGBTQ+ fright film! Queer stories have contributed to the spookiest time of the year for over a century, but as more diverse filmmakers and acceptance of non-straight characters go into the mainstream, queer-themed horror movies become more relevant, creative, and well-made. In celebration of the Halloween season, let's look at some of the best LGBTQ+ horror movies of modern times. To clarify the list's context a little bit, all of these movies came out in the last 10 years. And even if the movie doesn't have a queer character in the cast, the themes or devices are still dense with queer implications.

"Titane" (2021)

There's a lot going on in this Julia Ducournau-directed body horror flick. "Titane" follows the journey of Alexia, a serial killer with a sexual attraction to her vehicle. Important queer themes incorporated into the plot include the character's gender fluidity as she attempts to escape capture for her crimes and non-traditional sexual attraction. The character's metal plate in her head also deals with body alteration and acceptance themes. There aren't many jumpscares, but some thought-provoking and creepy storylines are in play. The movie won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

"Titane" is currently streaming on Hulu and Kanopy.

"The Perfection" (2018)

"The Perfection" represents lesbian horror filmmaking at its goriest. Charlotte and Lizzie are two musicians who develop a fling, but deception, sexual abuse, drugging, and more get in the middle of the relationship's potential. Many of the antagonists in the film are men, so the thematic base of the plot can be analyzed through a feminist horror lens. Allison Williams and Logan Browning possess excellent chemistry and push the story forward at a rapid pace. Heavy sexual assault devices may not be to everyone's liking.

"The Perfection" is currently streaming on Netflix.

"Freaky" (2020)

If you've ever watched "Freaky Friday" with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, "Freaky" will be the morbid version of that film. Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton play a male serial killer and a teen girl who switch bodies. Philosophical concepts like materialism and existentialism and queer concepts such as switching genders and altering bodies clearly play a large part in the way "Freaky" is told to the audience. Horror veteran Christopher Landon directs the movie.

"Freaky" is currently streaming on Freevee.

"They/Them" (2022)

Directed by John Logan, "They/Them" might be a little too on-the-nose for some LGBTQ+ horror fans, especially those who may feel triggered by the idea of a serial killer targeting and hunting queer people specifically. The movie takes place at a conversion therapy camp where a murderous monster hunts the teens struggling with abusive pasts. The film can feel empowering, though, due to the number of kids in the camp who are able to fight back against the evil killer. Kevin Bacon provides ample star power as the camp counselor.

"They/Them" is currently streaming on Peacock.

"Blue My Mind" (2017)

Directed by Swiss-born Lisa Bruhlmann (who has worked on "Killing Eve"), "Blue My Mind" may be one of the smallest films on this list, but it's still a powerful coming-of-age horror experience. Body dysmorphia, teenage angst, and morbid consequences of body dissociation are many of the queer themes in the story that move at a brisk 97 minutes of action. Fans of foreign horror films will enjoy the colors and setting of "Blue My Mind."

"Blue My Mind" is currently streaming on Kanopy, Tubi and more.

"Lyle" (2014)

"Lyle" tells the story of two lesbian mothers who piece together their lives in the aftermath of losing their baby. They question the reasoning behind the death and how they orient their lives, their neighbors, and each other when they no longer are mothers. The plot is based on the classic Roman Polansky film "Rosemary's Baby" but with a focus on how lesbians who are also mothers draw worth from both identities in their lives. "Lyle" stars Gaby Hoffman and Ingrid Jungermann as the mothers.

"Lyle" is currently streaming on Peacock, Shudder, Kanopy, Tubi and more.

"Raw" (2016)"

One of the most critically acclaimed queer horror films of all time and another one on the list directed by Julia Ducournau, "Raw" focuses on the tangible and frightening concepts of cannibalism and how hunger and desire converge into one entity. Sexual awakening and queer liberation tie into the symbolism of eating flesh when the main character grapples with going from being a vegetarian to a full-on meat eater. Interestingly, Ducournau uses a couple of the same character names from "Titane" – Alexia and Justine.

"Raw" is currently available to rent on Apple iTunes, Amazon and YouTube.

"Thelma" (2017)

Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier ("The Worst Person in the World"), "Thelma" is another foreign language masterpiece. It tells the story of a girl with the power to make people disappear just by thinking about them subconsciously. Her obsession with a female student she is attracted to forms the crux of the queer horror, with themes such as repressed sexuality and the ability to control and fight back against oppressive childhoods and religion front and center.

"Thelma" is currently streaming on Kanpoy, Tubi, Crackle and more.