If you are like me, the second the clock strikes midnight on September 1st, all bets are off and it’s officially Halloween season. The crisp fall air, warm coffee (sorry, no PSL allowed in my house. I’m not that basic.), and of course, marathons upon marathons of Halloween-centered movies.
For anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, Halloween and the season surrounding it is a time to embrace feeling different and at times odd, hence why so many of us resonate with some of our favorite characters from Halloween movies.
Below, find ten of our favorite beloved queer films to enjoy this holiday:
Hocus Pocus 1 & 2
Nothing quite says Halloween like Disney’s Hocus Pocus. Initially a flop, Hocus Pocus follows the Sanderson Sisters as they try to kill all of the children of Salem, and has become a cult phenomenon. With a loyal gay fanbase, Hocus Pocus 2 came out in the fall of 2022 as the most-watched film on Disney+, featuring the sisters returning to complete their task.
Halloween franchise
There is just something about a man in a uniform, am I right? Michael Myers is no exception. Haunting our screens since 1978, Halloween follows the turbulent, and oftentimes confusing, timeline of Michael Myers seeking revenge on his small Illinois hometown, creating the perfect atmosphere for the best jump scares in cinematic history.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Horny teenagers and homo-erotic sub-texts – that’s just the beginning when it comes to Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Whether it’s Johnny Depp’s crop top or a sweaty teen about to get slaughtered in their undies, it’s been a queer favorite since hitting theaters.
Hellraiser
Not often thought to be a queer favorite, Hellraiser offers viewers a blend of S&M, with the recurring theme of “pain is pleasure” and sex with violence, released during a conservative time in 80’s pop culture and the AIDS Crisis.
The Babadook
Who knew we’d get a queer icon out of the 2014 Australian thriller, Babadook? This cultural moment featured countless news articles and a surge of Twitter memes and GIFS, showcasing the accidental gay icon that we never knew we needed. Prepare to be “babashook”.
Crimson Peak
Guilermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak is an absolute delight for the eyes. Not only did the Bergdorf Goodman windows in NYC feature the costumes, but also the artistry and beautiful telling of this tragic tale.
Child’s Play
There have been so many eras of Child’s Play and there have been countless queer subplots in the films and TV series, from gay couples to Chucky’s own child coming out as trans.
Jennifer’s Body
With strong lesbian and bisexual undertones, Jennifer’s Body was a major cultural milestone. With themes ranging from demonic possession showcasing how we can’t fully reveal who we are as individuals, to the changing of a heteronormative take on a tale is riveting.
The Craft
Many people in the LGBTQIA+ community often get misrepresented in horror films. The Craft came to change that – with strong, individualistic women reclaiming the outsider trope and becoming the main part of the story, rather than the villains.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Are you even gay if you haven’t seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show? It’s the cult film to end cult films, and with countless catchy beats such as “Time Warp”, viewers can’t help but be captivated by Dr. Frankenfurter from Transexual, Transylvania. Check the film out with the local shadow cast the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players. Don’t dream it, be it!
Honorable mention:
The Covenant
2006’s The Covenant follows four hot male witches as they battle another male witch, who is also hot. Oh, and they’re on the swim team and often shirtless. You aren’t watching for their acting abilities.