Gay Horror Films to Watch This Halloween

When October rolls around, it’s not just about ghosts and ghouls, it’s also about tension, and identity. Horror has always been a genre where outsiders thrive, and gay storytelling fits perfectly into its shadows. From haunting love stories to psychological horror and campy cult classics, these gay horror films to watch for Halloween explore what it means to confront both inner and outer demons.

Here are six titles that capture the full range of gay horror, from heartfelt to horrifying.

Marry My Dead Body (2023)

Taiwan’s Marry My Dead Body manages to be a supernatural comedy, heartfelt romance, and social commentary all at once. The film follows police officer Wu Ming-han, who accidentally ends up in a ghost marriage with Mao Mao, a gay man who died in a car accident.

What begins as an absurd situation turns into a surprisingly emotional story about acceptance and the ties between the living and the dead. The film stands out for how it has traditional Taiwanese folklore (specifically ghost marriages) with modern gay themes, creating a story that feels both culturally grounded and universally human.

Writer-director Cheng Wei-hao finds a delicate balance between humor and emotional sincerity. The performances from Greg Hsu and Austin Lin give the film heart, chemistry, and comedic timing. It’s rare to see a mainstream supernatural comedy handle queerness with such warmth and respect, making it one of the most refreshing queer films of recent years.

Ganymede (2022)

Ganymede takes a darker and more psychological approach. The film follows a small-town wrestling prodigy whose repressed attraction to a male classmate manifests as a grotesque entity haunting his every thought.

The story delves into internalized homophobia and the suffocating expectations of masculinity. It’s less about physical horror and more about psychological unraveling — a slow, uncomfortable look at how denial can consume a person. Jordan Doww delivers a raw, believable performance that grounds the film in emotional reality.

While not perfect, Ganymede succeeds in capturing the horror of repression and the fear of being seen. It’s a film that lingers, forcing the audience to sit with discomfort — the kind of horror that hits closer to home than any monster.

Swallowed (2022)

Dark and gritty, Swallowed pushes the boundaries of body horror. The story follows two best friends on one final night together before one of them leaves town to become a porn actor. What starts as a simple drug-smuggling job devolves into a nightmare involving parasitic organisms, violence, and twisted intimacy.

The film stands out not just for its shocking content, but for how it explores queer friendship, desire, and vulnerability under extreme circumstances. Director Carter Smith (The Ruins) creates a suffocating, intimate atmosphere that’s both erotic and terrifying.

Unlike traditional horror films that exploit queerness for shock value, Swallowed embraces it. It turns the genre inside out — making the male body the site of fear, pleasure, and transformation. It’s disturbing, but a very artistic piece.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

No list of gay horror films to watch for Halloween would be complete without The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This cult phenomenon is less horror and more a celebration of chaos, sexuality, and self-expression.

Tim Curry’s portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter remains a defining moment in queer cinema — theatrical, magnetic, and utterly fearless. The film’s absurd mix of sci-fi, musical, and erotic parody makes it timeless. It’s a movie that broke rules long before mainstream queer representation existed, and it still invites audiences to throw toast at the screen and sing along in drag today.

It’s camp. And it’s proof that horror — even when it’s ridiculous — can be a space for self-discovery and pride.

Hellbent (2004)

Often called the first officially gay slasher film, Hellbent reclaims the classic horror formula for queer audiences. A group of gay friends heads out for a Halloween party, only to find themselves hunted by a masked killer targeting men in West Hollywood.

It’s bloody, sexy, and camp, embracing the aesthetics of early 2000s queer nightlife while paying homage to the Scream and Halloween era of slashers. What makes Hellbent stand out is how it treats its gay characters not as victims or stereotypes, but as real people with desires, fears, and flaws.

Boardwalk Dad Detox

Shamless plug, but the founders of Boys Love Universe produced Boardwalk Dad Detox which contains a lot of horror, so it's worth the mention. This isn’t your typical horror movie — it’s the kind that crawls under your skin because it feels real. With the faded nostalgic inspiration of the Jersey Shore boardwalks, it follows Jackie, a volatile talk-show host spiraling into addiction, and Wagner, his gay son and co-host, who struggles between faith, exhaustion, and love.

Through a haze of psychedelic visions, Jackie faces demons of both the bottle and the soul, while Wagner clings to his Catholic faith to hold their fractured bond together. The film bends reality — twisting between surreal hallucinations, family trauma, and glimpses of divine horror — all with a strange beauty that makes the pain feel holy.

Equal parts grotesque and graceful, Boardwalk Dad Detox turns faith and dysfunction into something haunting, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

What Are Some of Your Favorite Gay Horror Films?

From Taiwan’s heartfelt supernatural comedy Marry My Dead Body to the bold erotic tension of Swallowed, these gay horror films to watch for Halloween show the depth of queer storytelling in the genre. They remind us that horror isn’t just about fear — it’s about transformation, survival, and visibility.

So, what are some of your favorite gay horror films?

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