Horror has always been queer. From coded villains and campy monsters to stories of transformation and survival, the genre has long reflected the fears and resilience of LGBTQ people—whether Hollywood meant to or not.
Today, filmmakers and audiences alike are reclaiming horror as a space where queer characters and creators can take center stage. This Halloween, skip the predictable slashers and revisit the chilling, brilliant, and boldly queer classics that shaped the genre.
Here are eight queer horror films to watch when you’re ready for a good scare with substance.
1. The Hunger (1983)
If you like your horror sensual, stylish, and full of longing, The Hunger is essential viewing. Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie star as centuries-old vampire lovers whose relationship unravels when a new obsession enters the picture.
It’s gothic, glamorous, and full of queer subtext made explicit through its exploration of desire, immortality, and identity. Stream it for the atmosphere, stay for Deneuve’s unforgettable presence.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
2. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Once misunderstood, now rightfully celebrated, Jennifer’s Body is the bisexual horror comedy we didn’t know we needed. Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried bring electric chemistry to this story of friendship, revenge, and feminine rage.
Underneath the gore and humor lies a sharp critique of how society fetishizes and fears powerful women. It’s campy, clever, and unapologetically queer.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Often called “the gayest horror movie ever made,” this sequel gained cult status for its unmistakable queer undertones. Protagonist Jesse’s struggle with Freddy Krueger mirrors closeted fear and repression, even if the filmmakers weren’t consciously exploring that theme.
What makes it compelling today is how queer audiences have reclaimed it as a story of internal conflict and self-acceptance—wrapped in 1980s horror excess.
Where to watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video
4. Hellraiser (1987)
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser isn’t just a horror classic—it’s also a landmark in queer filmmaking. Barker, who is openly gay, infused his adaptation of his own novella with themes of forbidden pleasure, pain, and transformation.
The Cenobites’ leather-clad aesthetic and the film’s fearless exploration of taboo desires make it an undeniable queer allegory about identity and liberation through self-discovery.
Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
5. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as centuries-old vampires in a gothic, homoerotic relationship? Enough said. Interview with the Vampire embraces its melodrama and romanticism, exploring loneliness, love, and power dynamics through a queer lens that feels ahead of its time.
The new television adaptation doubles down on that queer energy, but the original film remains a lush, moody masterpiece for Halloween season.
Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV
6. The Craft (1996)
Part witchy coming-of-age story, part feminist fable, The Craft has become a queer cult classic for its message of empowerment and chosen family. The story of four teenage outsiders discovering witchcraft feels especially resonant for LGBTQ audiences who’ve ever felt othered.
Its legacy lives on in countless modern retellings, but nothing beats the original’s mix of 1990s angst, rebellion, and friendship.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video
7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
No queer horror list would be complete without The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s more musical than scary, but its celebration of self-expression, gender fluidity, and camp horror changed cinema forever.
Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter is an icon of queer performance—bold, funny, and unforgettable. The film’s cult following continues to thrive because it invites everyone to let go and live authentically.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video
8. Stranger by the Lake (2013)
This French thriller takes place entirely around a gay cruising spot by a lake—and builds slow, hypnotic tension until its shocking conclusion. It’s a rare blend of eroticism and existential dread that turns intimacy itself into suspense.
It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s one of the most artful and daring queer horror stories ever made.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel, Apple TV
Horror has always been about confronting what society fears most. For queer audiences, that often means turning the monster story into a metaphor for survival, transformation, and truth.
Whether you prefer campy vampires or psychological chills, these films prove that queer horror doesn’t just belong in the margins — it’s been shaping the genre all along.
So grab your blanket, dim the lights, and press play. Halloween’s scariest stories might also be the ones that feel most familiar.
