While we love seeing LGBTQ+ inclusion [1] in romance films [2], there should really be characters who openly identify as gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning in movies of all genres, including horror. Luckily, there are more queer horror films out there than you may even realise (and not just ones where LGBTQ+ folks play the supposed "villains"). Whether you're into supernatural thrillers that revolve around vampires and demons or chilling psychological horrors [3] based in reality, we've rounded up the best queer and LBGTQ+ horror movies available to stream right now. Warning: you may be sleeping with the light on after watching some of these terrifying flicks.
The Perfection
Allison Williams stars in this intense thriller as a cello prodigy who is forced to abandon music after a family tragedy, only to return to performing years later with the help of a rising new star (played by Logan Browning). Though Charlotte and Lizzie are initially drawn together by their shared history and shared traumas, their sexual attraction eventually becomes undeniable.
Watch The Perfection on Netflix [5].
The Neon Demon
An aspiring model (played by Elle Fanning) moves to LA to launch her career, and, both fascinated and intimidated by the fresh-faced innocence of the ingénue, industry members instantly make her the target of intense scrutiny. Jesse's career takes off with the help of makeup artist Ruby (played by Jena Malone), but it soon becomes clear that Ruby's interest in Jesse is far more intense than she initially lets on.
Watch The Neon Demon on Amazon Prime [6].
Thelma
In this Norwegian supernatural drama, a shy young woman from an intensely religious family moves to Oslo in Norway to attend college, where she struggles to make friends and begins to experience inexplicable epileptic seizures. That all changes when Thelma meets another student, Anja, and she realises her intense feelings for Anja trigger in her dangerous supernatural abilities.
Watch Thelma on Hulu [7].
Suspiria
This supernatural horror film revolves around an American ballerina (played by Dakota Johnson [8]) who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany, only to realise her new school has a dark history of occultism and is responsible for a series of brutal murders. Thanks to director Luca Guadagnino (who also directed Call Me by Your Name), this remake offers a queer twist on the original 1977 film.
Watch Suspiria on Amazon Prime [9].
Allure
Evan Rachel Wood stars in this Canadian drama as Laura, a disturbed woman who works as a housecleaner for her father's company. When she meets Eva — an unhappy young woman with an oppressive mother — while on the job, Laura invites Eva to move in with her, but their initial bond becomes more and more strained as Laura's behaviour grows increasingly erratic.
Watch Allure on Hulu [10].
Stranger by the Lake
In this modern-day Hitchcockian thriller from France, a man cruising for sex in the woods surrounding a nude beach meets a handsome guy to whom he is instantly attracted — even when Franck accidentally sees his new love interest, Michel, drowning another man in the lake. Stranger by the Lake won the distinguished Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 and boasts a 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes [11].
Watch Stranger by the Lake on Amazon Prime [12].
Assassination Nation
In this horror comedy, an anonymous hacker starts revealing personal messages and pictures to their entire town, and those exposed secrets lead to violence in the community. High school senior Lily and her three BFFs (one of whom is played by trans actress Hari Nef) then find themselves pursued by an angry mob after it's discovered the source of the hacks somehow came from Lily's IP address.
Watch Assassination Nation on Hulu [13].
Velvet Buzzsaw
This horror-thriller tells the story of a series of paintings by an unknown artist, which, after they are discovered, release a supernatural force that exacts revenge on those who value profit over art for art's sake. Jake Gyllenhaal [14] stars in this one as sexually fluid art critic Morf Vandewalt.
Watch Velvet Buzzsaw on Netflix [15].
Lyle
Gaby Hoffman stars in this horror drama as Leah, a woman who moves into a new home with her wife after the death of their toddler only to find herself driven mad by paranoia, as she suspects her neighbours are part of a satanic cult. What's excellent about this is that it's the rare horror film that revolves around gay characters without making their queerness central to the plot.
Watch Lyle on Amazon Prime [16].
Let the Right One In
In this Swedish horror film, a bullied 12-year-old boy named Oskar develops a friendship with his moody new neighbour Eli, who appears to be a young girl around his age. As it turns out, Eli is trans (as well as a vampire), but Oskar is unfazed by all this, and the two develop a sweet relationship — until Eli confesses to the horrible string of murders that recently occurred in their town.
Watch Let the Right One In on Hulu [17].
Jennifer's Body
In Jennifer's Body, a small-town bisexual cheerleader (played by Megan Fox [18]) becomes possessed by a demon, giving her a craving for guys who had previously never stood a chance with her — a craving for their flesh, that is. The thing that will really get your heart pumping while watching this one: the overt sexual tension between Jennifer and her childhood BFF, Needy.
Watch Jennifer's Body on Amazon Prime [19].