6. ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009)
So what if the name screams ridiculous? This indie zombie comedy is legit gay as fuck and an underrated gem. A small town’s zombie outbreak exposes the bigotry and xenophobia lurking beneath its red-white-and-blue façade? Yes, please.
To be fair, it’s been a hot minute since I first stumbled on it years ago, and its weird title was enough to hook me. But I’m forever glad that it piqued my curiosity enough for me to give it a chance.
Despite leaning into a few stereotypes, it remains a bold, political satire that criticizes systems of oppression as well as religious fanaticism with camp, guts, and unapologetic queerness.
5. Slay (2024)
Bikers, vampires, and drag queens — need I say more? Honestly, that should be enough to sell anyone. When four queens accidentally book a gig at a redneck biker bar, things go from awkward to apocalyptic as bloodthirsty vampires crash the party. But fear not — while the stakes are high, the heels are higher, and these girls did not come to play, they came to slay.
This movie is so campy it should come with glitter warnings — and yet it delivers unexpected depth that hits you right in the feels. The vampire references are endless, so yes, expect Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy) (1997-2003), Blade (1998-2004), and Twilight (2008-2012) nods.
If you’re craving a low-budget, action-packed, laugh-out-loud Halloween slasher, look no further. Slay is a serious contender for the next cult classic, and I only wish more people knew about it.
4. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Honestly? If a wannabe rock band sacrificed my girlfriend for their own fame-chasing, satanic nonsense, I’d be cheering her on as she devoured every man in sight. Step up, Needy — a full belly makes a happy heart, and your girl’s got cravings.
“I go both ways” shall forever be etched in the queer horror hall of fame.
A cult classic finally getting the love it was always worthy of.
3. I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
This movie follows two teens who bond over a supernatural TV show — one that slowly begins to blur the lines between fiction, identity, and reality. And it absolutely earns this spot if only for the Buffy love alone.
But beneath the neon glow and eerie nostalgia lies a haunting exploration of queer identity, using elevated horror to channel the ache of growing up outside of society’s norm.
Fair warning: my sister left the theatre in tears. So, while this is a fantastic and very much queer film, it’s as cathartic as it is crushing.
2. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Is it fair if I sneak three movies into one slot? Well, life ain’t fair, and the cursed residents of Shadyside know that better than anyone. A centuries-old curse haunts the town’s queer, working-class side, and shockingly, only a love story has the power to break it.
It’s rare to see a queer romance not just included, but driving the entire plot — and Fear Street delivers that with full-on lesbian drama and gruesome deaths.
Before we get to our top pick, let’s pour one out for the legends: The Hunger (1983), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), Scream (1996), Interview with the Vampire (1994) — all bedrocks of queer horror history. And if curious about our legacy in horror media, Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror (2022) is a must-watch four-episode docuseries.
1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
I mean, was anyone truly surprised? Queer, horror, and a musical? That’s the holy trinity right there.
A stranded couple stumbles into a castle of queer chaos, where a sweet transvestite from Transylvania leads a musical night of liberation (as life should be). Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, this iconic masterpiece still makes me feel like I’m tripping in a safe and good way.
I could rave about this film for days, because this wasn’t just a movie then, and it still isn’t now. It was (and remains) a community experience: a shared, supportive, and celebratory space where everyone tuned into the same gloriously bonkers wavelength.
Watch it with friends. Watch it in a packed theatre. Watch it with toast in hand, newspaper to cover from the rain, and your pelvic thrusts ready to do the “Time Warp” again. And remember, don’t dream it, be it.
