Movies
The Covenant: A Queer-Coded Paradox
When looking for queer representation in film, we’re usually looking for ones that are unabashedly queer in their storytelling, movies that are prideful of their queer identity. Today, we’re not discussing one of those films. Instead, I want to look at a film that was trying so hard not to be queer that it became even more queer. A film that’s been reclaimed by the community it didn’t want to be a part of. Am I losing you already? This may not make sense at the moment, but The Covenant is quite the conundrum with lots to talk about.
The Covenant: A Supernatural Teen Drama
For those unaware, The Covenant is a 2006 film directed by Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Deep Blue Sea) following a coven of 4 teenage boys with supernatural witch powers. When insidious events occur following the arrival of a mysterious new student, the Sons of Ipswich (not a boy band) must unravel the secrets of their New England town and their dangerous powers before the friend group is destroyed. Well, that’s the straight synopsis.
Reading with a queer lens, the film is about a hyper-masculine guy battling to keep his queerness (powers) in check, only to be tempted by the unabashedly queer who wants to bone and steal his powers. By objective film standards, it’s not a good movie suffering from a fan-fiction caliber screenplay and an over-reliance on CGI. But I’m not here to review the film critically, but rather to pose analytical questions about the intentions behind this film being created, and if my queer theories make the film worthy of discussion at all.
A Movie With Foggy Intentions
Just by reading the synopsis and looking at a few screengrabs, the inspirations behind The Covenant are quite obvious. The film presents itself as the love child of The Craft and The Lost Boys, which can already lead to assumptions about the film. Aside from the light horror elements and sleek aesthetic, The Craft and The Lost Boys share DNA in another major category: queer subtext. The biggest question behind The Covenant getting made is who saw those 2 films as inspiration and thought, “Let’s make that, but straight and cool”.
Targeting a Misaligned Audience
Rather than target the established audiences of those films (women and the queer community), The Covenant insists on being a badass witch movie that Chris and the boys will chest bump over, as evident by the aggressive metal music and womanizing. There’s an argument that the film, based on the cast of muscular men, was aimed toward the young girls demographic. Aside from the brief swim team practice scenes and a paper-thin love story, nothing about the film would seem appealing to female audiences. Instead, The Covenant squanders a golden opportunity to make a film for the community of queer boys who wished they were witches and will lust over the smooth, shiny cast of hunks. Rather than make the subtext of The Lost Boys actual text, the film takes away the text altogether. Well, it tries to anyway.
Can’t Hide What’s Inside
Despite admitting the film is not good and being annoyed by its inception, there’s something about The Covenant I can’t help but love. The magic of camp is that it comes in two different flavors: intentional camp that tends to be over-the-top and camp that is blissfully unaware of itself. The Covenant falls firmly in the latter category, as this film is 100% trying to be serious while failing spectacularly. The stakes are hollow, the dialogue is awful, and Sebastian Stan is a whole different movie. All of the calculated missteps culminate in a delicious campy stew of hilarity, but its campiness only scratches the surface of the queerness brewing underneath.
The Power as a Queer Allegory
The Covenant is a fascinating entry to the queer horror canon in its insistence on not being queer, despite the very obvious queer metaphors presented throughout the film. Referred to simply as The Power, the magical abilities of the sexy covenant boys can easily be read as a general queer identity. The film establishes The Power has been around for centuries, but sworn to secrecy. Hiding queer feelings would make sense for these old-money families to maintain their status. Then the film takes it a step further, linking the magic abilities to the characters’ health stating that using the powers takes years off their lives and becomes more addictive the more they use it.
So not only do we have the social implications of being queer, but now we have the standard AIDS allegory to demonize queers and addicts. And of course, the main villain is portrayed as the flamboyant queer with a crush on the protagonist, willing to kill for the Gay Agenda.
By the points listed above, the queer theory of this film would be anti-queer as the film ends with the villain being slain and the Sons of Ipswich presumably keeping their queer secrets until another threat comes along. This puts me in a moral dilemma. Do we condemn Harlin & writer J.S. Cardone for recognizing the queer tropes, but choosing to ignore them, resulting in a queer-baiting effect? Or do we give them the benefit of the doubt that they were blissfully unaware in their pursuit of making a badass witch movie? It’s hard to say when the film uses distinct language like “it’s seductive” and “lust for power” when describing the magical abilities while having an absurd amount of homoerotic tension between Caleb and Chase.
Embracing Chase’s Queer Chaos
However, this ambiguity allowed the film to take on an identity of its own apart from the creators’ intention. The Covenant is as confused as the queer audience looking to see themselves in a film. The only way the film takes on a positive queer reading is if you’re rooting for the villain, and I’m not going to lie to you: I’m totally on Team Chase. The man is a bisexual menace who creates tension with the Sons of Ipswich while trying to steal their girlfriends, which is queer chaos at its finest.
And perhaps the most poignant thing the film has to offer is the way Chase’s backstory is presented, discovering his powers without close friends around him for support. With all the silliness within The Covenant, the film gives surprising empathy to Chase with the line, “do you know what it felt like growing up not knowing what this is?”. From then on, I’m rooting for Chase to take everyone’s powers. Even though Chase isn’t the most positive queer representation, he’s the only character in the film that embraces who he truly is.
Boys Will Be Witchy Boys
Once again, The Covenant is not a good film. Ignoring the oddly serious tone, wooden acting, lackluster plot, and many other factors, I believe the main fault of this film is not embracing its identity as a campy queer send-up of the films it’s trying to defy. Yet, The Covenant, still feeling queer despite everything about it trying not to be, ends up being the most queer aspect of the film. In addition to the sexy speedos, homoerotic games of foosball, and all the boys having conversations way too close to each other’s faces. All this to say, there is a lot of fun in this silly witch movie if you’re willing to embrace its true identity. The queer community reclaiming The Covenant out of spite would be the most badass aspect of a film that is trying oh so hard to be straight.
Shudder has officially entered the Halloween chat this year, so the other streamers can hang it up. The app is adding the entire Rec franchise and a nice chunk of Alfred Hitchcock’s work. Fans can watch Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, and Rear Window on the same streamer this Halloween season. However, my eye is on this year’s Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. It is always a night that brings all my favorite horror people together because most of us watch it live and post about it in real-time. It is what I assume people do at other award shows, where horror is often overlooked. I do not care enough to prove that theory by watching awards where people don’t win chainsaws, though. Anyways, here are five movies I’m excited to get cozy with this October.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
V/H/S/Halloween (2025)
The popular franchise is unleashing a collection of Halloween-themed wicked tales this time. No matter how you feel about found footage or this series, it’s hard to not get excited every time a new installment drops. Who among us can resist the pull of six frightening stories shoved into an unsettling anthology? It also gives us the chance to speed date a handful of filmmakers who want to terrify us. So, it makes sense that it is becoming a yearly tradition. This Shudder Original is also coming hot and fresh from Fantastic Fest. So, if you missed the festival, you can still partake in some of the nightmare fuel at home.
You can watch V/H/S/Halloween on October 3rd.
When A Stranger Calls (1979)
A man terrorizes a babysitter and decides to further traumatize her seven years later. I watched a lot of horror movies as a kid, but this was the one that made me realize scary movies are supposed to be scary. The first act of this film is stressful. It is also probably the reason my phone is always on do not disturb. Carol Kane is an amazing final girl who becomes the final woman in this unsettling story. It also has amazing performances from the late Charles Durning and Tony Beckley, who tragically died way too young. I dare you to watch the first act while you’re alone with the lights off.
You can watch When A Stranger Calls on October 6th.
Invader (2024)
A woman suspects foul play when her cousin goes missing in Chicago. However, her investigation leads to something beyond her wildest imagination. I need answers to all the questions this movie’s premise is throwing at me. Because it’s about 70 minutes long, I cannot be too mad at whatever this turns out to be. I would have given up way more time to see why what looks like a home invasion seems so mysterious. So, if you are trying to watch a bunch of horror movies this season, this is a quick one coming to an app near you. Everybody, tell Shudder thank you!
You can watch Invader on October 6th.
OTHER (2025)
A woman returns to her childhood home after her mother’s death to find the house has extensive surveillance and an evil presence. I want to know how the sinister vibes and technology are connected because I am nosy. I also love horror movies that promise family secrets are getting uncovered. After all, nothing is scarier than families. More importantly, this movie got past me, so I did not hear anything about it until making this streaming guide. So, I need to fix that the second it lands on Shudder. It also looks good, so I’m stepping into this movie feeling like it’s going to be a great time.
You can watch Other on October 17th.
Hell House LLC: Lineage (2025)
Vanessa Shepard finds herself haunted after surviving unspeakable horrors at the Abaddon Hotel years earlier. She soon realizes that her nightmares and visions are trying to tell her something she could have never imagined. When this franchise is good, it’s very, very good. Which is why it earned five movies and is one of the franchises we think about when we think of Shudder. While I do not like this fifth and final film, I am sad it was not in theaters long enough to give Hell House LLC fans closure and to allow them to finally see a chapter on the big screen. So, I’m happy this Shudder Original is arriving on Halloween Eve. I also look forward to the discourse once it has more eyes on it because I’m messy.
You can watch Hell House LLC: Lineage on October 30th.
So, that’s why my TV will be parked on Shudder this month. There are plenty of titles that give me an excuse to stay home and mind my own business. Y’all have fun out there because I don’t need to go outside with a lineup like this.
Let us know what scary shenanigans you are planning to get into on the app this October. Also, Happy Halloween from the alleged lady always telling you what to watch!
I have decided that this month is dedicated to horror shows I enjoyed binging on Netflix. Is this because I have been thinking about rewatching Marianne since I added it to August’s streaming guide? Yes. Is it also because Halloween month is the perfect time to curl up with shows about dead people and cursed things? Also, yes. So, I plucked five titles from the streamer that I do not talk about enough. I am also making that your problem, as I encourage you to watch each of these. While Netflix might not have the scariest library in the game, they do have some gems that are perfect binges for this cozy time of year. Let us dive in and find your next series, shall we?
The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month
All of Us Are Dead (2022)
A zombie outbreak leaves high school students trapped in their school. If you are a horror fan, then you know that nothing hits quite like a South Korean zombie tale. Which is why these 12 episodes are a journey that I wish everyone would take. These kids who hate each other being forced to work together to survive is high-level drama. The betrayal, the death, and the tension lead to some of the most chaotic TV you might see this month. More importantly, if you dig the show, Netflix has greenlit it for a second season. So, you are not late to the party, but arriving right before the second beer run.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
Two spirits chose to opt out of the afterlife and stay on Earth to solve supernatural crimes. Dead Boy Detectives was everything I ever wanted in a series, and I am still salty it was cancelled. So, I hate that we do not see where these lovable characters would end up in a second season. I want more well-written intersectional horror, and I want it now. Because men are awful, I have to point out that this is based on a Neil Gaiman comic book. So, it is sticky if you are (understandably) wishing him well in hell and not wanting to engage with anything inspired by his work. I was never a fan of his stuff, which is how I know this writer’s room worked their asses off on this adaptation. These eight episodes were the main reason to keep Netflix last year, and the show deserved a longer season (and life).
Interview with the Vampire (2022- Present)
A vampire shares his very long story with a cynical journalist. I almost skipped this show because the movie put me to sleep so many times as a kid. This series is my favorite Anne Rice adaptation, so I am glad I tuned in. It is sexy, smart, and sophisticated. It is a decadent, bloody little treat with one of the most talented casts on TV at the moment. This is the perfect time to check it out, as Netflix just added the second season in September. Now subscribers can experience the love, lust, and loss like the rest of us before the third season arrives.
Kingdom (2019-2020)
When the king goes down, the prince must take the throne and protect his subjects from a plague. If you like zombies and period-piece horror, then open Netflix and hit play now. I checked this show out because I saw Bae Doona (Sense 8) was in the cast. By the time the two seasons were over, I was a different person, and I am welcome. I do not know who we need to talk to about getting more South Korean historical horror shows, but get them on the phone ASAP. This series has drama, mess, and violence. I might need to rewatch this, too, instead of just telling other people to check it out.
Tomorrow and I (2024)
A four-part anthology exploring the intersection of futuristic technologies and Thai culture. At first glance, this seems like Thailand’s version of Black Mirror, but Tomorrow and I is definitely her own weird thing. It became one of my favorite shows of last year, and not nearly enough people watched it. As usual, Netflix dropped an international banger in silence. So, people have to stumble upon it or hear about it from the streets. It is a shame because it is one of the better sci-fi horror anthologies we have gotten in years. This beautifully complicated show explores the human condition and examines Thailand’s political landscape. The whole season is worth watching, but the last episode is the one that dealt the most psychic damage. So, save the finale for when you want to have your entire day ruined and feel your feelings.
Let us know if any of these Netflix binges are in your immediate future this Halloween season. You can also let us know which shows you are digging that did not make this list. We are nosy that way. Happy Halloween month!
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