Come explore the world of gay horror films, sometimes delving into TV and literature. From thrilling and suspenseful chillers to slashers to hystarical campy farces. We'll be listing it all for discussion. This is a discussion board, not a download site, but enjoy the pics & hopefully learn about a few new movies.
Cast: Michael Palazzolo, Kent Butler, Taylor Whitney, Cynthia Brownell
Director: Mark Pirro
1988
This is a pretty awful, low budget and campy horror spoof that still manages a few laughs. There is no werewolf but the lead character does have a knack for accidentally killing his pets, while his bestfriend has a knack for accidentally and humorously killing his patients. On the downside, the film quality is extremely poor and looks more like something out of the early 70's than 1988. This one knows its outrageously campy and tries too hard to be that.
Story: Bringing home a late night hookup, Larry discovers that she is really a he and she is being stalked by an agry torch bearing "mob" (of 4 guys) wanting to kill her for having the curse of the queerwolf. However, during their makeout session, she did give Larry a bite, now inflicting him with the curse. Now, nights of the full moon transforms this macho man into a flaming cross dresser, who now becomes the target of the angry mob.
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine
Director: Jonathan Demme
1991
The critically acclaimed film that made Hannibal Lecter a household name. This thriller blended elements of the crime films with horror to become a massive hit, earning over $272 Million and
winning the top five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Director (Jonathan Demme) and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is actually based on the second novel to feature the Hannibal character; the first novel would later be adapted as a prequel film, Red Dragon. Hannibal was actually a secondary villain in this story, but clearly stole the show.
Story: An FBI agent-in-training, Clarice Sterling, gets put on assignment to interview the detained cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, whom the FBI believes has knowledge of a new serial killer, "Buffalo Bill," who skins his female victims and then takes hostage the daughter of a U.S Senator. Instead of giving outright clues, Hannibal teases Clarice with a game of quid pro quo, in which she must tell him personal details of her own life in exchange for clues to nailing Buffalo Bill.
Gay Factors: 1 gay character - Jame Gumb aka "Buffalo Bill." In the film he's portrayed as having been rejected for a sex change operation but is fascinated with the metamorphosis of moths, equating it to his own hopeful evolution to becoming a female. Some articles try to deny the character's homosexuality, stating he wasn't gay but wanted to become a woman. That is contrary to evidence shown in the original novel which states that Hannibal had known and killed Benjamin Raspail, Jame Gumb's former lover.
It became one of the infamous "freak out" moments of film, shocking to hetero audiences, when Buffalo Bill is shown nude with his penis tucked between his legs to appear as a woman. This and the overall depiction of the Bill character left some gay activists to label this film as homophobic.
In addition, the sequel, Hannibal, implies that Hannibal Lecter may be homosexual or at least used it as a tool to become close to certain male victims, although this original film doesn't explore this possibility.
Cast: Udo Samel, Peter Lohmeyer, Marc Richter, Leonard Lansink, Iris Berben, Henning Schluter, Ron Williams
Director: Martin Walz
1996
Every man's worst nightmare, losing his penis! More dramatic than scary but this horror comedy is somewhat of a cult classic from Germany. The story takes place in New York City but filmed in German language with English subtitles available.
Story: When a college professor blackmails a student for sex, then loses his penis, the police believe she bit it off. Detective Mackaroni employs the assistance of a male gigolo to investigate the crime scene where they discover a mutant killer condom with teeth, on the prowl for its next penis.
Cast: Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Paul DeAngelo, Mike Kellin, Katherine Kamhi, Karen Fields, Christopher Collet
Director: Robert Hiltzig
1983
Sleepaway Camp is a cult classic from the heyday of slasher flicks, attempting to copycat the horrific atmosphere of camp life, a la Friday The 13th, but not attaining the true horror or mystery of the original Friday The 13th. Sleepaway Camp was mildly successful in theaters and is often cited as one of the most memorable twist endings in a horror film of the 80's. The film does offer a few unique styles of kill but much of the bloodshed doesn't come till the second half.
Story: Camp Arawak falls victim to several deaths, at first seeming accidental, but later realized that there is indeed a serial killer amongst the group.
Gay Factors: The gay factor is relatively small, yet risque considering the film comes from the conservative 80's and from a genre that even today hasn't fully embraced the use of gay characters in mainstream horror. Overall, there are 2 gay men and 1 crossdresser....
The film opens with two questionable men, out for a boating adventure with the two kids. The men's relationship is later confirmed with a scene of the two men in bed together....
*SPOILER ALERT* At the film's end, it is revealled that Angela is anatomically a boy, Peter. When the real Angela died, their mother raised Peter as Angela, "the girl she always wanted." Once this revelation is known, it does add a bit more gayness to the storyline in looking back....Angela did embrace (although shy and fearfully) exploring a relationship with Paul, holding hands and kissing. She only turns on him after catching him kissing another girl and hearing that he called her a prude.
Cast: Vincent Pastore, Michael Gibney, Paul DeAngelo, Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Isaac Hayes, Christopher Shand, Erin Broderick
Director: Robert Hiltzig
2008
Writer/director/creator of the original Sleepaway Camp, Robert Hiltzig, returns to the healm of this direct to video sequel, ignoring the storylines of the more comedic sequels parts 2 and 3. Paul DeAngelo reprises his role as camp counselor, Ronnie; Felissa Rose returns as Angela and Jonathan Tiersten returns as the grown up Ricky; all three from the original cult classic. Also at the forefront of this film is Vincent Pastore, best remembered for his role on The Sopranos and Isaac Hayes plays the chef; Hayes is best remembered by the younger generation for providing the voice of the chef on the raunchy animated comedy, South Park.
The film does find a few new inventive ways of killing but unfortunately too much of the film revolves around the Alan character, who is beyond annoying....whiney, obnoxious and stupid! The film could have been a hundred times better had they cut back on Alan and thrown in a few more kills. It's low budget and campy but if you enjoyed the original, you may enjoy this one as well.
Story: 25 years after the killings at Camp Arawak, the camp is now called Camp Manabe. The kids torment each other as usual but when people start dying, suspicion falls to the bullied Alan, counselor Petey, and even nearby construction worker, Ricky, who was at Camp Arawak during it's massacre. Ronnie, also a survivor from Camp Arawak, can't shake a paranoia that the current murders are connected to the murders of the past.
Gay Factor: Very minimal gayness....*SPOILER ALERT* - Killer from the original film, Angela, returns. Remember Angela was anatomically a boy but raised as a girl. In this film Angela does appear as a boy for most of the story till the end when he rips off his mask revealling his femine Angela face.
