5 New LGBTQ+ Horror Films For Halloween

Happy Gay Christmas, one and all! Last year we covered some of the greatest Halloween movies of all time, listing all the LGBTQ+ favorites and recommending some unappreciated classics. You can check out the full article here. This year, we want to add onto it. Featuring some new entries from 2022, with references to a few classics that the LGBTQ+ community hold dear, here are five great horror films to watch this Halloween!

Scream (2022)

The Scream franchise is an absolute cult-classic that, for whatever reason, many in the LGBTQ+ community in particular hold dear to their hearts. Is it because lead character Sydney Prescott is one of the only horror movie protagonists to make smart decisions? Is it the fierce, unapologetic campness that Courtney Cox exudes? Or maybe it’s simply the appreciable presence of Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis. Either way, this series and the incessant return of the Ghostface killer has terrified viewers for almost 30 years – and it still isn’t over!

This year, the fifth instalment in the franchise was released, simply titled ‘Scream’. Set 25 years after the events of the first movie of the same name, this self-proclaimed “requel” (remake/prequel) brings back all the old fan favorites while introducing a whole new cast to the mix. It has all the scares, jokes and extravagancy you could hope for from this series, this time with the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. What’s not to love?

They/Them (2022)

Before we go into the film itself, please let us take a moment to appreciate one of the greatest horror movie titles of all time. They/Them. They. Slash. Them. This alone was worth making the movie.

Featuring a beautifully diverse range of LGBTQ+ actors, this film follows the struggles of a group of queer characters who have been sent to a conversion therapy camp, with Kevin Bacon starring as the camp leader. Though conversion therapy is enough of a concept for a horror itself, the cohabitants also have to deal with a mysterious masked killer, stalking the grounds and playing psychological tricks on them.

With every passing year, the movie industry seems to be open to portraying a wide variety of identities. They/Them is a prime example of this, featuring a range of sexualities and gender identities across the spectrum. The diversity in this film is only an indication of the steadily improving representation to come, especially in the horror genre.

Fear Street (2021)

Fans of the Scream franchise will definitely be intrigued by what Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy has to offer. With each movie set in three different years, the slasher trilogy follows a series of brutal killings, and the investigation into the dark force that connects them. A group of teenagers fight to take on the evil and end the curse that has plagued their neighborhood for generations.

Featuring prominent LGBTQ+ representation and romance in its main characters, this series takes all the classic elements that make slasher films great, and expands upon them. Camp, spooky, intense, gritty, the Fear Street trilogy is a glimpse into what LGBTQ+ inspired horror can look like – and it works superbly.

The Retreat (2021)

Being a fan of LGBTQ+ horror movies whilst also opposing the severely overused ‘bury your gays’ trope presents somewhat of a conflict of interest. Is the film trying to provide genuine LGBTQ+ representation, or is it just perpetuating a problematic trope that has quickly grown tiresome?

Canadian slasher The Retreat tackles this problem head-on. It follows a very standard horror movie format, but in the place of the typically clueless murder victim are two lesbian characters who use their wits and strength to fight back against their attackers. Subverting expectations from the start and throughout, this thriller makes for an incredibly satisfying watch for those who are sick of watching the same tropes play out in every horror movie.

Halloween Ends (2022)

Is it really Halloween if you’re not sitting down to watch Jamie Lee Curtis fighting a masked murderer on the rampage? The final instalment of the much-loved Halloween franchise was released this year, featuring the long-awaited climactic confrontation between iconic characters Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.

A renowned cult-classic among the LGBTQ+ community, this series has gained so much attention due to how well the filmmakers achieve that incessantly tense atmosphere, maintaining Michael Myers’ foreboding presence no matter how many times he appears. Curtis plays the role of Strode to perfection too, only seemingly improving with each outing. The conclusion of the film series spanning multiple decades promises to dazzle fans of the franchise, as they finally get to see how the story reaches its climax.

Check out our long list of classic horror films to watch this Halloween, and other Halloween related articles here:

Must-watch LGBTQ+ Halloween Movies

How Did LGBTQ+ Community Influence the Way of Celebrating Halloween Today?

Top LGBTQ+ Events Taking Place This October