‘Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror’ Recap – ‘Episode 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
One thing that horror fans can all agree upon, is that the Shudder documentary series, Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror, has done an excellent job of teaching us how horror is a genre deeply grounded in the queer experience. For we now know, it came to life courtesy of LGBTQIA+ individuals and that many of those fine people were eager to express their experiences and frustrations as a queer individual via the iconic stories they brought to life in print or on the silver and small screen. Not to mention, we even have newfound empathy now regarding the prejudices that queer individuals experience on a daily basis, thanks to this documentary. Since it helped us to learn how to spot the emotions that writers and directors poured into their work.
​
If anything, all of those elements have made for a powerful journey. One that seemingly has covered all the bases. But that’s simply not the case. In fact, this series saved its best exploration for last. For the finale of this saga made sure to explore how queer women are part of the fabric of the genre, and how their stories reflect the times and how their journey… helped to begin to shatter stigmas surrounding LGBTQIA+ individuals in modern times. But alas, getting that happy ending was no easy task, since the early days of queer women themed stories sadly reflected the power of the patriarchy. After all, since men love control and so many seek to maintain that power, the thought of a woman being strong and independent in her sexuality is terrifying to those very men. 

Which is why so many of those early stories, featured women that in essence preyed upon other women sexually in a monstrous light. Often through retellings of classic tales about iconic queer women that found themselves discovered by the close minded and later through lesbian themed vampire films. Which of course would help to satiate the sexual curiosity men had about two women being together in a controlled place where such ‘impure’ (eyeroll) thoughts and behaviors could be purged by having the vampire be defeated. Which more or less sent the message that letting women be independent in every way imaginable was a terrifying idea… one that sadly continued to permeate for decades on end in these films.

But a funny thing happened in the 80s and 90s. In that, while movies such as The Hunger and Basic Instinct still featured queer and bisexual characters in a somewhat negative and stereotypical light… there was enough character development and plot in between the wilder stuff such as the murdering and tropes… to allow for representation to take place. For it presented queer individuals in the raw, the kind that other queer individuals could actually relate to and find agency from. Something that reached a pinnacle in the thriller film Bound, since that film portrayed LGBTQIA+ individuals in a positive and realistic light, and while that movie may not be a horror film… it would not exist without queer horror in the slightest and well, that motion picture and what followed… makes for a happy ending to this journey. Because it opened everyone’s eyes to those silly stereotypes and allowed for acceptance to finally begin.

To the point where representation is more commonplace now in all genres, and while we still have a long way to go… the needle is moving and for proof… look no further than this powerful documentary. For this wouldn’t have existed a few decades ago. But at last, the story of Queer Horror has been told and it ended in the perfect manner by giving queer women their day in the sun and well… while this journey may have come to an end… what it has done for LGBTQIA+ individuals is nothing short of extraordinary. Because it let queer individuals be seen and helped us to just… learn, and that’s historic and this is likely only the beginning of what this documentary will accomplish. For it will be studied in classes and these stories will reach more and conversations will come and slowly but surely… stigmas will fall. All because Shudder and Bryan Fuller and every other talented individual involved in this series, told a story that has been hidden in the shadows, for far too long.   

---

Powered by JustWatch