Find The Best Horror Movies with Queer Female Characters on our list. Get ready for a wonderful Spooky Season or Halloween movie marathon. Check out these Halloween movies featuring queer or lesbian main characters with LGBTQ stories that are actually good. Check out Womentainment’s list here!
Want to watch the best Horror Movies with Queer Female Characters for Halloween? Well, don’t fret, my pet, we’ve got you covered with Womentainment’s list of movies that feature LGBTQ stories and lesbian or queer main characters. Halloween has always been queer, but we’re about to make it a lot more gay as well.
With the movies on our list, you can plan one scary (and usually quite hot!) Halloween movie marathon.
Check out our list of the best lesbian-featured Horror Movies below.
LGBTQ Horror movies perfect for Halloween
I know I’m all over the place with queer, lesbian, LGBTQ+ and what have you, but that’s because these movies on this list tend to encompass various forms of identification. Also, I want people to find this list no matter which label they prefer to use for themselves.
Womentainment is for everyone, but our focus is always on highlighting movies with women (including transgender women, of course) in focus. Preferably both in front of and behind the camera, but we’re also determined to share good movies or series that can’t fulfill both.
For this list, the main goal is to help you find horror movies where you can identify with (or at least relate to) the main characters of the story. For better and worse as we are talking about the dark and creepy genre of horror.
The best LGBTQ and Lesbian Horror movies as of 2024
The list below focuses on fairly recent horror movies, as the older ones rarely featured explicitly LGBTQ+ characters. We may recognize them as queer now, but we’re not playing around with subtext for this list. Oh no, this is a list featuring out and happy LGBTQ+ characters starring in horror stories.
Let’s check out some of the horror movies with queer female characters. As a bonus, they tend to be great films that blend horror with powerful queer representation. And here is a list featuring some of the very best ones:
The Hunger (1983)
No rule without an exception and our list featuring almost exclusively new movies does also have a +40-year-old movie with The Hunger from 1983.
- Plot Summary: A stylish vampire film that explores themes of immortality and desire, starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon.
- Queer Element: The relationship between the vampire Miriam (Catherine Deneuve) and Susan Sarandon’s character is a central focus, bringing sensual and complex queer elements to the iconic vampire movie.
High Tension (Haute Tension, 2003)
This is such a great horror movie that we had to include it. Even if the queer element isn’t a very positive one in many ways. Still, it’s definitely worth watching for Halloween and it’s guaranteed to make you want to sit close to someone. So make sure you watch it with someone you want sitting very close!
- Plot Summary: A French slasher film with a brutal twist, following two friends, Marie and Alex, who are terrorized by a psychotic killer.
- Queer Element: Marie’s attraction to Alex adds a layer of complexity to the story, revealing a psychological dimension that deepens the horror.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
No list of horror movies featuring queer characters should be without Jennifer’s Body. A movie that turned straight girls into questioning girls, and curious girls into kissing their friends. You know, like Jennifer (Megan Fox) and her friends Needy (Amanda Seyfried). It’s not a happy movie, but it is a good one!
- Plot Summary: A high school girl, Jennifer (Megan Fox), becomes possessed and starts killing her male classmates, while her best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) tries to stop her.
- Queer Element: There are explicit undertones and a kiss between Jennifer and Needy, which reflects a complex and somewhat toxic queer dynamic between the characters.
All Cheerleaders Die (2013)
Want something kitsch, campy, creepy, and very, very gay?! Well, then this one is for you. All Cheerleaders Die is a horror comedy where queer love is at the forefront, and horror with a feminine twist takes center stage.
- Plot Summary: A mix of horror and dark comedy, this film follows a group of high school cheerleaders who are brought back from the dead after a fatal accident. They return with supernatural powers, seeking revenge on those who wronged them.
- Queer Element: The protagonist, Maddy, has a complex relationship with another cheerleader, Leena, who is in love with her. The film explores bisexuality and the fluid dynamics between the characters while blending horror with a feminist twist.
Thelma (2017)
Another movie I absolutely adore, and that features a rather conflicted main queer character. She doesn’t mean to, but Thelma has powers that she can’t quite control, and falling in love with a girl sends her spinning. Fortunately, it’s also sweet and cute… when it isn’t brutal and terrifying, I mean.
- Plot Summary: A Norwegian supernatural thriller about a young woman who discovers she has mysterious powers while falling in love with another girl.
- Queer Element: Thelma’s feelings for a fellow female student awaken her telekinetic abilities, intertwining her queer awakening with horror.
The Perfection (2018) [Netflix]
Speaking of a “toxic dynamic”, this one might take the first prize. It’s a movie that starts out being about two cello players who have an intense attraction and an amazing night together but it turns into a living nightmare. And then the third act comes along and turns everything in the story on its head yet again. I love this movie!
- Plot Summary: A twisted tale involving musical prodigies that takes viewers on a rollercoaster of revenge, obsession, and manipulation.
- Queer Element: The two main characters, Charlotte (Allison Williams) and Lizzie (Logan Browning), develop a relationship that turns out to be far more than romantic.
What Keeps You Alive (2018)
This one doesn’t feature a toxic dynamic as much as it revolves around one very toxic character. The less you know about the plot, the better. It’s an intense story of survival! Read a spoiler-free review of What Keeps You Alive here >
- Plot Summary: A psychological thriller about a married lesbian couple whose romantic getaway turns into a terrifying fight for survival.
- Queer Element: The story revolves around a same-sex couple, and their relationship is central to the plot, with dark twists that make it a chilling portrayal of betrayal.
The Retreat (2021)
Lesbians in the woods, yet again, and the fight for survival is a core element. Again. Hey, we’re in horror movie territory, so either teens are fighting for survival or some kind of final girl. Maybe even two final girls who are together? Watch The Retreat to find out.
- Plot Summary: A couple retreats to a remote cabin to prepare for their wedding, only to find themselves fighting for survival against sinister forces.
- Queer Element: The central couple are lesbians, and the film centers around their relationship and resilience in a horrifying setting.
The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021)
This is a more recent movie, but the story plays out in the 19th century and is essentially a horror-period piece about two girls in love. A very brutal but also sweet story that belongs on our list of The Best Horror Movies with Queer Female Characters.
- Plot Summary: Set in the 19th century, this period horror film tells the story of Mary, a young woman whose forbidden romance with another woman, Eleanor, leads to supernatural consequences in their oppressive and deeply religious household.
- Queer Element: Mary and Eleanor’s lesbian relationship is central to the film’s plot. Their love defies the strict religious norms of the time, and the supernatural occurrences are directly linked to the repression they face because of their sexuality.
Fear Street Trilogy (2021) [Netflix]
This horror movie trilogy is a love story spanning three different eras. Whether in 1994, 1978, or 1666, the two young women cannot resist each other and their love must prevail. Then again, these are horror movies, so don’t expect it to be easy or bloodless.
Released during the summer of 2021 on Netflix, all three movies work really well – and yes, they are connected.
- Plot Summary: A Netflix trilogy set in different time periods that follows a group of teens trying to break the curse plaguing their town.
- Queer Element: The romance between Deena and Sam is central to the story across all three films, portraying a heartfelt queer relationship amidst the supernatural horror.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
The core concept of this slasher horror comedy must have been; Let’s make a classic teen slasher but make it camp, comedy, and extremely queer. Well, mission accomplished if that’s your sort of thing. Also, it does not take itself too seriously – which is more than I can say for most of the user reviews on IMDb for this movie.
- Plot Summary: A slasher-style horror-comedy about a group of wealthy friends who gather for a party, only for a game to go horribly wrong when bodies start piling up. Paranoia and betrayal lead to chaos as they try to uncover the killer.
- Queer Element: The lead couple, Sophie and Bee, are both queer women. Their relationship is central to the plot, and the tension between the characters reveals a lot about trust and identity within a queer context as the horror unfolds.
They/Them (2022)
Released in the same year as Bodies Bodies Bodies and with a similar concept of a classic horror setting, but make it queer. And also a movie that was hated on immediately by the “Go woke, Go broke”-crowd who never bothered to watch it. It’s a fun and queer slasher, but based on the very real horror of conversion therapy.
- Plot Summary: This film is set at a conversion therapy camp, where a group of LGBTQ+ teens are subjected to the cruel methods of the camp leaders. As the group tries to survive the emotional abuse, they also must deal with a masked killer stalking the camp.
- Queer Element: The film explicitly focuses on LGBTQ+ characters, including non-binary and trans representation. The horror of conversion therapy is intertwined with the slasher elements, making the queer teens’ fight for survival both physical and emotional.
Killer Body Count (2024) [Tubi]
You can watch this one for free on Tubi as it’s a Tubi Original. Also, it’s a slasher and has a very queer storyline as we’re located in what is essentially a conversion therapy camp – yet again. However, you don’t have to be gay to end up there. You just need to not be “religious enough”. Basically, if you’re “unGodly” and in need of conversion.
- Plot Summary: Cami is a young woman sent to a remote religious treatment center by her father, who wrongly believes she is a sex addict. The facility houses other troubled teens, but their rehabilitation takes a terrifying turn when a masked killer begins hunting them down.
- Queer Element: The protagonist, Cami, is portrayed as a queer character, and the film touches on the theme of religious repression and societal misunderstanding of queer identity. Her sexuality is one of the reasons her father misjudges her, adding a layer of emotional depth as she navigates her own identity in a setting hostile to her existence.
One of the best horror movies on Tubi and among the Best Horror Movies with queer female characters of 2024.
The movies on this list are blending horror with diverse and nuanced queer representation. They provide different layers of complexity, tension, and identity to the horror genre, which is why we’ve included them on this list.
But wait, there’s more… and if you want your lesbian stories to last, the bonus addition below is a treat.
Want to make the lesbian love story last longer?
The above movies each bring something unique to the horror genre, with queer female characters whose stories range from empowerment to complex psychological struggles. And yet, sometimes you want it to last longer than the classic 89-minute runtime (or maybe two hours, if it’s a longer horror movie).
Well, don’t worry, Mike Flanagan – a bonafide genre genius who always includes queer characters – made a Netflix horror series that is actually a lesbian love story. A lesbian love story is the main plot driver in this horror series.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) [Netflix]
With The Haunting of Bly Manor, you get a Netflix horror series that is not only known for its haunting atmosphere and psychological depth but also its positive and nuanced portrayal of queer love amidst supernatural horror.
It’s a significant entry in the genre for queer representation. Hot tip: Mike Flanagan productions always are!
- Summary: This Netflix series is a gothic horror story set in 1980s England. Dani Clayton, an American au pair, is hired to care for two orphaned children at the mysterious Bly Manor. As she becomes more entangled in the eerie events surrounding the estate, buried secrets and tragic love stories come to light, leading to terrifying and emotional consequences.
- Queer Element: One of the central romantic plots in the series is the relationship between Dani (Victoria Pedretti) and Jamie (Amelia Eve), the manor’s gardener. Their love story is one of the emotional cores of the series, portraying a beautiful, tender, and heartbreaking queer romance.
The series integrates this relationship into the overarching horror, blending themes of loss, grief, and trauma with queer identity. Unlike many horror series that treat LGBTQ+ characters as secondary, The Haunting of Bly Manor puts this relationship front and center, making it a key element of the narrative.
Deep dive documentary bonus – if you have Shudder
If you want to dive into the history of Queer Horror, then Shudder has you covered. The Shudder Horror Documentary Series “Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror” (2022) features an impressive array of filmmakers and actors.
Among them, we find Kimberly Peirce, Lea DeLaria, Karyn Kusama, Doug Jones, Don Mancini, Leslye Headland, Briana Venskus, Liv Hewson, Misha Osherovich, Angela Robinson, Jennifer Tilly, Christopher Landon, Guinevere Turner, Adam Robitel, Heather Matarazzo, Oz Perkins, and Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira).
All of them take part to share how their queer eyes experienced genre classics. Everything from the hidden and queer-coded to the direct and cannon LGBTQ+ messages is covered.
Enjoy exploring these chilling queer tales – both for Halloween and beyond!
If you’re looking for more genre productions with an LGBTQ+ twist, then be sure to check out the LGBTQ tag over at Heaven of Horror by clicking here >
