Quaking with Queer
So that’s why there’s so much negative representation and queer-coded villains in horror movies throughout film history. In recent decades, however, horror films and TV shows, like the rest of the entertainment industry, have opened up more space for representation, giving queer horror fans even more chances to rejoice. The French film Stranger by the Lake is a tightly-woven thriller with more than a little bit of horror threaded into its story.
The “bury your gays” trope
They don’t die first, and the couple at the center of the film fights to stay together. The films also successfully make references and homages to classic horror films like “Friday the 13th” without sacrificing its representation. They prove that horror films can have both: classic tropes and accurate representation. Horror has always been more than just a genre of jump scares and chilling plots. For gay men, it holds a unique resonance, reflecting the shared experiences of marginalization, transformation, and resilience.
Why are LGBTQ+ folks so drawn to horror films? This queer
LGBTQ themes in horror films Openly gay director James Whale (middle), actor Boris Karloff (left), and cinematographer John J. Mescall (lower right) on the set of Bride of Frankenstein (). LGBT themes in horror films refers to figurative or literal representations of non-normative gender and/or sexuality within horror films. All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. 
LGBTQ+ Horror Movies from 1932 to 2025
The horror genre has always had a special place in the queer community. After all, haven't you ever heard that Halloween is like gay Christmas? But it goes beyond just an admiration for the genre. Queer stories and creators are the backbone of the horror genre. Though queer stories haven't always been allowed or accepted at the forefront of horror narratives, that didn't mean they weren't. All genres including horror have the ability not only to show what the world thinks of a subject, but also to influence the minds of those who consume it. While horror movies are adored and can reveal interesting things about what the world was scared of at the time it was produced, they also show us flawed ways of thinking in the discourse surrounding queer identity.
Moving Beyond the 'Bury Your Gays' Trope
That’s why Them maintains this running, nearly century-long list of remarkable horror movies spanning from to , highlighting the thrilling and sometimes painful trajectory of LGBTQ+ representation in genre cinema. Possibly more than any other genre, horror films utilize many different tropes and storylines over and over again. While some are classic and reliable — and parodied to this day — other tropes are harmful to not only the genre, but the audience members as well. LGBTQ themes in horror films
In recent decades, however, horror films and TV shows, like the rest of the entertainment industry, have opened up more space for representation, giving queer horror fans even more chances to rejoice. . LGBTQ+ Representation in Horror
Gay men in horror are often represented as though their gayness is a monster within them or something that drives them to insanity. An excellent example is ’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. The homoerotic undercurrent in Freddy’s Revenge is so strong that sometimes the subtext feels as though it has become canon. . LGBTQIA+ Representation in Horror
Queer Horror Emerges: The s and Beyond The s saw the emergence of queer horror cinema with films like “Hellbent,” which featured an all-gay cast. This era marked a turning point in LGBTQ+ representation, moving away from subtextual hints to explicit narratives that celebrated queer identities. .