Queerness and horror have always been intertwined.

Although LGBTQIA+ characters and storylines have historically been scarce within horror (until recently), queer audiences have often flocked to monster movies and slashers for the genre’s exploration — and obsession — with otherness.

Whether it’s the questioning of a villain’s humanity, the presence of non-normative characters who defy societal expectations, or the sheer drama of it all, queer elements and queer-coded subtext have always been there.

To mark Gay Christmas, we’ve collected some of the most iconic LGBTQIA+ horror movies to watch this Halloween, from the campy stylings of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge and The Rocky Horror Picture Show to newer entries such as Bodies Bodies Bodies and Swallowed.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

Cast: Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Englund, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager, Hope Lange, Christie Clark, Marsha Bell

Despite not featuring any openly queer characters — because queer people were notably extinct in the 80s — A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge is camp as f**k, thanks to homoerotic scenes in leather bars and locker rooms, as well as sweaty, shirtless men trying to escape the wrath of Freddy’s perfectly manicured talons (see photo above). Although the slasher received mixed reviews upon release, the film has become a cult classic and is now a Halloween go-to for LGBTQIA+ audiences.

B&B (2017)

Cast: Tom Bateman, Sean Beale, Paul McGann, Calum Woodhouse, James Tratas

Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes) shacks up with Sean Teale (Who Is Erin Carter?) in B&B, a tense thriller about a gay couple who return to the same bed-and-breakfast that discriminated against them a year earlier. Smart idea! There, the couple begins to suspect that the fundamentalist Christian owner — who went into debt after the couple sued them — is plotting their demise. Things don’t get any easier when a sinister Neo-Nazi shows up at the door. Not exactly terrifying, but the suspense and representation make it worthy of a spot on this list.