Thethrillerand horror genres have always lent themselves well to queer and trans stories. Using these genres to explore themes of otherness and the feelings that come with that marginalization comes naturally. Depictions of monsters or fear and paranoia easily create parallels with these experiences of vilification that members of theLGBTQ+community go through. It is also within narratives containing dark or scary storylines that moments of love and joy are the clearest, which mirrors finding companionship in spite of said vilification. Finding workarounds with allegory and metaphor so that those in the know will understand what you’re referencing and others will look past it is a significant part of LGBTQ+ history — and a practice that continues today.
However, thrillers can also be a great vehicle for depicting morally questionable or corrupt characters that are enjoyable to root for anyway. While some prefer their LGBTQ+ characters to be heroes, it can also be exciting to see just the opposite. Colin Minihan, director ofWhat Keeps You Alive, sums up this sentiment well by saying, “I think that people will enjoy its darkness, but also fall in love with the characters in the film, and hopefully relate to them and root for them, and have a lot of fun doing so.” (viaThe Hollywood News). So, if you’re ready to dive into the rich, gripping, and complex pool of LGBTQ+ thrillers, here are the 13 best, ranked.
13Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
Dan Gilroy’sVelvet Buzzsawstars Jake Gyllenhaal, Zawe Ashton, and Toni Collette. It’s a satirical thriller about the Los Angeles art scene. Ashton’s character, Josephina, finds a famous artist who lives in her building has died, and she takes his store of paintings. This action triggers a series of gruesome deaths for those interacting with the art. The movie is campy and melodramatic, with over-the-top sex and violence, which is not to everyone’s taste, but makes for huge fun for the right viewers. If you’re looking for gore, humor, and Toni Collette, then this one’s for you.
12The Crying Game (1992)
Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles,The Crying Gamefollows an unlikely friendship between an IRA soldier and a kidnapped British soldier. Fergus, the IRA soldier, is played by Stephen Rhea and Jody, the British soldier, isplayed by Forest Whitaker. When Fergus ends up in London, he adopts a less Irish name and works as a day laborer. He also meets Jody’s lover, Dil, who he develops feelings for. Upon the movie’s original release, Dil’s identity as a trans woman was sensationalized, and treated as a huge plot twist not to be revealed to anyone who hadn’t seen it yet. While this treatment was damaging, Dil as a character was still a landmark moment for many viewers and can be celebrated for that.
11Lizzie (2018)
Lizzieis a retelling of the infamous Lizzie Borden murders. Set in 1892, it stars Chloë Sevigny as Lizzie Borden and Kristen Stewart as the family’s new maid, Bridget Sullivan. Amid tension between Lizzie and her family, she develops a friendship with Bridget that provides her solace. The friendship inevitably develops into romance as the family dynamics reach boiling point. While most people will have an idea of the outcome of the movie, the filmmakers do a great job of creating a building sense of tension. Sevigny and Stewart both put in compelling performances and overall it’s an entertaining piece of work.
10What Keeps You Alive (2018)
What Keeps You Aliveis an unnerving horror and thriller movie that stars Hannah Emily Anderson and Brittany Allen as a married couple, Jackie and Jules. They take a trip to a secluded cabin for their first wedding anniversary that quickly goes south. Upon arrival at the cabin, Jackie starts acting suspiciously, showing a side of her personality that Jules had never seen before. When the action heats up, its grip never loosens until the movie’s close. It’s deeply unnerving with great twists and turns.
9Stranger by the Lake (2013)
InStranger by the Lake, we meet Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) cruising at the beach, where he comes across Michel (Christophe Paou), whom he is immediately drawn to. However, he also spots Michel drowning his lover in the lake, but this doesn’t put him off. Franck enters into a relationship with Michel, knowing what he is capable of, but determined anyway. This erotic thriller is absorbing and unique, contrasting sunny views with its darkly humored plot. It offers a compelling relationship between truly interesting and layered characters with a sinister edge.
8Thelma (2017)
From Joachim Trier, the director ofThe Worst Person in the World, comesThelma, the story of a sheltered young woman starting university. When Thelma’s new friend Anja confesses her feelings toward her, it creates great turmoil and conflict. Her repressed emotions lead to the expression of psychokinetic abilities that had been under control for a long time. Thelma’s journey is chilling and immersive, with the bleak Oslo setting mirroring the narrative. At once familiar and unique, this coming-of-age story provides a fresh take on self-understanding.
Related:Best LGBTQ+ Movies Ever Made, According to Rotten Tomatoes
7Climax (2018)
Climaxfinds a group of dancers at a school for a three-day rehearsal, which culminates in a party. Their plans take a turn for the worse when it becomes apparent that their sangria was laced with LSD without anyone’s knowledge. In the same vein as a movie likeMother!,Climaxhas an intense, claustrophobic atmosphere that builds past what you might think possible. Its energy is palpable and carries you through the story with purpose and vigor. The run-time feels like nothing due to the feverish pacing of this movie.
6Knife + Heart (2018)
InKnife + Heart, we find Anne, a porn producer whose partner and editor, Lois, has left her. Attempting to win her back, Anne embarks on a new and ambitious project with her collaborator Archibald. However, when one of the actors is murdered, Anne gets brought into the investigation. The characters are fascinatingly drawn, depicting people we don’t often get to see on screen. With a color palette to die for,Knife + Heartis as visually enthralling as it is narratively.
5Tom at the Farm (2013)
Tom at the Farmis about a young man, Tom, who visits his partner’s family in the wake of his death, only to discover that the family didn’t know about their son’s sexuality.Xavier Dolan directedthe movie and stars as the titular Tom, and he does an excellent job in both positions. The situations proceed to become stranger and stranger as the pressure increases with the help of an incredibly eerie score. Dolan based the story on a play by Michel Marc Bouchard. He tellsIndieWirethat when he watched it, “The first thing I was thinking about was how much more creepy and suspenseful and violent it could be on film,” and he very much succeeded.
4Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Dog Day Afternoonfollows three amateur bank robbers conducting what should be a simple job. Al Pacino (Sonny), John Cazale (Sal), and Gary Springer (Stevie) play the three robbers, and they aim to gather enough money to fund Sonny’s wife’s transition surgery. Unfortunately, just about everything that can go wrong in this scenario does, leading to tension that becomes almost unbearable.Dog Day Afternoonbrings exactly what you would want from a 1970s New York City bank-robbing movie, there’s well-choreographed violence, twists and turns, and Pacino at his best.
Related:Best LGBTQ+ Movies of the 80s, Ranked
