Last month we talked about a “gay horror” film, a film either made by a gay director and/or a film marketed at a gay audience. As I said before, I don’t feel an affinity towards said genre, I feel there is no need. Especially when there are so many queer moments in mainstream horror and slasher films. Some of the moments are fleeting, and exist mainly in the minds of gay horror lovers, reaching for an obvious or even subtle moment in the films that they worship. In some cases these moments are so blatant they leave you scratching your head wondering what flaming homo made this film? This month, I present some of my favorite gay moments in horror and slasher cineama, some subtle and some blatant (in no particular order).

1. Girls Nite Out (1984)

A collegiate slasher that takes place during an all night scavenger hunt. The killer in a bear mascot outfit, with steak knives for claws, has became a semi-legend in slasher circles. But what the Horror Homo noticed was the debaucherous relationship between buddies Wildman and Teddy Ratcliffe. They paw all over each other, finish each other sentences, and even pour whiskey into one another’s mouths while wearing underwear! If that’s not queer, Obama’s not black!

2. Unhinged (1982)

A slow burn slasher film, that most purists hate due to the low body count and dreadful pacing. I personally love the film for its atmosphere, but what makes it queer, is the revelation of the killer. The previously docile Marion seemingly sprouts horns, and begins a murderous spree. In the last and best scene of the film, Marion’s blouse is ripped and we see her hairy chest and realize that she is in fact, sportin’ a pink torpedo! Very risque for the time, and the obvious inspiration for……….

3. Sleepway Camp (1983)

A notorious film in slasher circles, everyone remembers the first time they found out little Angela had a dick! In the 80′s, before all taboo’s were broken, we were shocked to death by this revelation. My buddies and I were shocked and entertained at the same time, we instantly rewatched the film. Sleepway Camp also packed an extra punch in the gay department by depicting Angela’s gay father and his lover. This film was an inspiration to young mo’s like myself, as we saw the vision of a postive gay family. They enjoyed waterskiing, and doing things as a family, well until a motorboat and a horny hussy ended all that.

4. Hide And Go Shriek (1988)

A late entry in the slasher craze, mainly known for its gayness, and original setting (a furniture store). Most fans of this film love the fact that the killer takes the clothes of his victims. This includes female clothing, and some of the best scenes involve the killer traipsing around in the dark in a dress and heels brandishing a knife. That’s not even the peak of the queerness of this film though. The “jocky” guy victims in this movie are some of the queerest since a Chichi LaRue film! In one scene they goad each other on longingly while lifting weights. One of the guys smiles while eating a banana and says to the other “See ya in the showers”, and prisses away. Totally off the gay-richter scale!

5. A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

Most slasher fans hold NOES 2 as the gay holy grail of horror! There has been much made about the hidden innuendos and gay subtext of this film. I never, even with my finely tuned gaydar, have ever really been able to pick up on much more than the obvious. The biggest queer quotient being the character of Coach Schneider. A perverted gay sadist who trolls the S & M bars by night, and with whom Jesse has a near encounter with. The coach’s death scene is certainly provactive and queer for the time period. Freddy straps the naked coach up, S & M style against the shower wall, before he is garroted. The Horror Homo is still open to hearing all of your gay conspiracy theories about this film though, make me a believer.

6. Night Warning (1983)

This is one of the HH’s favorite dirty little secret’s. For those who have seen Night Warning can attest to it’s atmosphere and power. It has extremely good acting for a genre film, and Susan Tyrell’s maniacal potrayal of Aunt Cheryl, should be up there with Norman Bates. Part slasher part mystery with a mean-sprited streak to boot, if any film deserves a DVD release, it’s this one. It’s queerness is a little more subtle, as the main character Billy becomes closer to his basketball coach, he finds out that the coach is gay. The coach’s lover is killed by Billy’s Aunt Cheryl after he turns down her advances. This leads the tough guy cop, played by Bo Svenson, to believe that Billy and the coach are indeed lovers. All I wanna know is where all these gay coaches were when I was in school?

7. Fright Night (1985)

Fright Night is, in my opinion, is the best Vampire film ever made. I know Martin has more class, and Let The Right One In more style, but for sheer fun and entertainment, my buck goes to Fright Night. We all know the story of Charley Brewster and the vampire next door, but what exactly is queer about it? First of all we have Stephen Geoffreys, who played Evil Ed. He was very obviously gay, I certainly picked up on it, but again….the gaydar. After Mr. Geoffreys career dwindled up he become a demi-god in the gay porno genre! Undo several pseudonyms he made over 20 films as an “aggressive power-bottom”. Hearing him in such uncompromising positions using the same voice that came out of Evil Ed was truly terrifying. Although the mysterious vampire Jerry Dandrige was after Charley’s girlfriend Amy, he also seemed to be very comfortable with his housemate/assistant. There are several homoerotic moments of them putting their arms around each other or touching lovingly. I’m sure not only us mo’s noticed it either!

8. I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

Ok, I know the inclusion of this one is bound to create a stir. But, you cannot tell me that a film about 4 men raping a woman repeatedly, the men spending at least half of the running time, in various states of undress, does not hold queer undertones. In fact, the whole story of author Jennifer Hills horrible treatment and then revenge is centered entirely around the penis, metaphorically speaking. As I said earlier the rapists spend long sequences naked together, goading each other on, and in Matthew’s case, the grab him and rough-house him while naked…..totally queer! Of course, the infamous castration scene only reinforces my penis theory. I guess while young breeder boys were watching for a glimpse of Ms. Keaton’s anatomy, us mo’s were leering at those naked men.

9. Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

I had reservations about including Johnathan Demme’s masterful proto-slasher film on the list. I actually felt that it had a little too much class to be included. But one would be hard pressed to find a gayer moment that Jame Gumb/Buffalo Bill’s tucked penis tango! Seductively whispering the words “would you fuck me, I’d fuck me” into the mirror, didn’t help the film’s case either. Plus all mo’s love movie quotes and this one is chock full of them. Without it I might never drunkenly shout “he said, I can smell your cunt” again.

10. (Tie) Memorial Valley Massacre (1988) & Final Exam (1981)

These last two films were included as tie because in each case, one character “gays” up the whole film to the point it’s laughable. Memorial Valley Massacre is a late 80′s cheese fest most notable for it’s ridiculous “teenage caveman” killer. It’s not a good film, by any means, but if you want cheese and laughs with your horror, you can’t go wrong here. The gay character in this film, is never introduced by name, but his appearance alone inspires laughs. A very effiminate, overweight, agressive, and nearly retarded teenage boy on a ATV. He is only in the film for the first 20 minutes, but is the main thing that you remember the film. If you’ve seen it, then you know exactly who my friend in the yellow shirt is.

Final Exam is another slow burn slasher that is either a love it or hate it proposition. The lack of explanation of the killer’s motives is the primary reason for it’s detractors. Also, like I said it’s a very slow burn, and more than half of the film is character development. I personally like the film, and what it loses in gore and spirit it makes up with atmosphere and story. The culprit in Final Exam is the infamous Radish. A very effiminate horror movie afficianado, that many believe is the precursor to Randy in Wes Craven’s Scream. Radish is very likable, and while he drinks booze and tries to woo the ladies, I don’t think that anyone including himself, ever bought the fact that he had a straight bone in body.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions for further “gay moments” installments please comment or send them my way.