Movies
It Came From Streaming: Pride Month 2024 Edition
Happy Pride Month, everybody! We’re here, we’re queer, and we want to stay home tonight and binge-watch horror movies! I have triumphantly returned to the It Came from Streaming soapbox to give you a queer-ified tour through the best and brightest of what the world of horror movie streaming has to offer this month.
Happy Pride Month, everybody! We’re here, we’re queer, and we want to stay home tonight and binge-watch horror movies! I have triumphantly returned to the It Came from Streaming soapbox to give you a queer-ified tour through the best and brightest of what the world of horror movie streaming has to offer this month.
The Best Movies To Stream In June 2024
There are a lot of different ways to interpret what makes a “queer movie,” let alone a queer horror movie, so I’m going to try to include a pretty wide variety of what’s new and gay as hell on a streaming service near you!
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Sometimes all you need is a gorgeous, lushly mounted Anne Rice adaptation where a dewy Brad Pitt sulks at a bewigged Tom Cruise while they argue for decades about how to raise their surrogate daughter, who is also Kirsten Dunst. The new AMC series adaptation of the novel is obviously doing a much better job of foregrounding the queer material that is central to this text, but it’s honestly more impressive that they got away with making this movie as achingly gay as they did back in ye olde ‘90s.
Interview with the Vampire is streaming now on Tubi.
Fright Night (1985)
Let’s kick off this month with a double-whammy of subtextually queer vampire stories! Why not? The inherent erotic underpinnings of the vampire myth allow for ample queer readings into stories like this one, which follows a teenage boy who becomes hopelessly obsessed with his adult male neighbor, to the point that he ignores sex with his girlfriend to spy on him. Because that neighbor might be a vampire. Yeah, sure, that’s why. This movie also has what might literally be the queerest supporting cast for an ostensibly straight movie from the 1980s, which includes the ever-reliable Roddy McDowall and Amanda Bearse.
Sidebar: I wish I could have included a vampire movie that doesn’t center on cis men, like The Hunger (1983) or Daughters of Darkness (1971), among many others, but I am, alas, shackled to what the streamers have decided to throw at us this June. But check those movies out anyway!
Fright Night is streaming now on Max.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
The in-universe queer content is admittedly limited here. There is a queer character (played by the terrific Sarah Swire, who has a hell of a voice), but she has an offscreen love interest. But there’s something alchemically gay about combining a musical, the zombie apocalypse, and Christmas into a single gift-wrapped package.
Anna and the Apocalypse is streaming now on Peacock.
The Skin I Live In (2011)
It wouldn’t be a proper queer film festival if there wasn’t a controversial pick thrown in there. The degree to which Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In is a “problem movie” is highly debatable, considering how well it fits into the nasty-minded, queer, punk storytelling aesthetic that the Spanish director has been cultivating since the early 1980s. But let’s just say that this movie, which stars Antonio Banderas as a twisted surgeon, isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the ways that gender and the body don’t always intersect. It’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s a compelling thriller that is well worth a watch otherwise.
The Skin I Live In is streaming now on Max.
(For an even ickier time, Brian De Palma’s wildly transphobic but nevertheless interesting problem film Dressed to Kill is also new to streaming, on Tubi, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to recommend that one during Pride month in good conscience.)
Seed of Chucky (2005)
The fifth movie in the Child’s Play franchise has been critically reevaluated in the past few years, but honestly, even if every person in the world signed a petition declaring their love for Seed of Chucky, it wouldn’t be enough to redeem how poorly it was treated when it originally came out. The initial repulsed reaction that audiences had to this movie put Chucky in franchise jail for nearly a decade and consigned him to a direct-to-DVD release when he did return. Sure, it’s cheaper-looking than the previous installments. I’ll give people that. But it’s got a scrappy, relentlessly buoyant postmodern energy that can’t be denied. I take the cameo from John Waters, who is clearly delighted to be playing a dogged Hollywood paparazzo, to be a tacit endorsement of this movie’s deeply compelling trash-pop vibe. Also, with the way it centers a child investigating their own gender identity and multiple characters seeking outsides that match their insides, it’s maybe the queerest movie of the mid-2000s. Take that, Brokeback.
Seed of Chucky is streaming now on Peacock.
BONUS: Bound (1996)
Bound is in no way a horror movie, but in addition to being one of the most earnestly, authentically queer romances of the 20th century, the Wachowskis’ debut is a goddamn good crime thriller, full of zesty cinematic energy that told you these folks were going places. Plus, it’s mentioned in what is by far the best joke in Seed of Chucky, so I think it counts for this list.
Bound is streaming now on Paramount+.
PS: Jennifer’s Body is now streaming on Peacock, FYI, but enough queer people have said enough about that movie that I couldn’t possibly add a single thing to the discourse here.
Looks like another July will be spent getting cozy with Shudder in this house. Between all the new (to me) international titles and the conclusion of Hell Motel on July 29th, the app has filled my calendar for the month. Hold my texts, keep your emails in the draft folder, and don’t look for me outside. My TV and I are on a mission, and we’re prioritizing the five titles below. I hope they grab your attention and make it into your Shudder viewings this summer as well. However, I’ll be too busy watching them to know what anyone else is doing, so happy streaming whatever you decide to get into.
While we have you here, you should consider joining us for Bloody Brunches! Every Sunday at 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST, we’ll be livestreaming a new episode of Hell Motel. Who know’s who you’ll see, sometimes Ian Carpenter and crew stop by!
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Lake Placid (1999)
A small group of people try to capture a gigantic crocodile terrorizing the people of Black Lake, Maine. I am not an aquatic horror girl, and I am usually unimpressed with 90s action horror titles. I make a special exception for Lake Placid though. Sure, it stars Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, and Oliver Platt. However, real film buffs know that it’s really the late Betty White who carries this movie. Her foul-mouthed character stood on business and is the reason most of us revisit this title during the summer.
You can watch Lake Placid on July 1st.
Nyi Blorong (1982)
The South Sea Queen’s daughter rises to take a human lover. I have a long history of disliking snakes and movies about snakes. However, I’m leaning into this 1982 film because I deserve a retro Indonesian horror fantasy moment. I am also excited because it stars the late Suzzanna, the queen of Indonesian horror. I only learned about her a few years ago and wanted to spend some time with her work. As usual, Shudder is making it too easy to become a better cinephile.
You can watch Nyi Blorong on July 7th.
The Housemaid (2018)
An orphaned girl is hired as a housemaid at a haunted rubber plantation in 1953 French Indochina. Once there, she falls in love with the landowner, which sends the ghost of his dead wife into a jealous rage. I was excited to watch this just because it sounds chaotic, and I do not see enough Vietnamese horror for my liking. However, I recently discovered it is also an IFC Midnight title, so now my expectations are through the roof. IFC has been the home of upsetting, weird, and unique horror since 2010. I have a date with Shudder on July 14th, because I want this movie in my eyeballs the second it becomes available.
You can watch The Housemaid on July 14th.
Swallow (2020)
A pregnant housewife is compelled to eat dangerous objects, leading her husband and in-laws to become more controlling. Swallow had the misfortune of debuting during the top of the pandemic, so many people missed it. I found it on accident during Thanksgiving back when Showtime still had its own app. It’s quiet chaos that surprised me in a good way. I have been trying to make everyone I know watch it, and Shudder is making that so much easier this month. I am overdue for a rewatch myself, so I will also be hitting play while it’s available this July.
You can watch Swallow on July 21st.
Monster Island (2024)
A Japanese ship transporting prisoners of war and a British POW are stranded on an island where a mythical creator hunts them. Can they work together now that their very survival depends on it? I was bummed I missed this movie at Overlook Film Fest this year because all my friends loved it. So, obviously, I am thrilled Monster Island (also known as Orang Ikan) is hitting the Shudders streets so soon. I do not know what the other monster movies are doing this July because my heart belongs to this baby.
You can watch Monster Island on July 25th.
So, as usual, I will be hiding in my apartment and trying to make Shudder Saturdays my personality. I’m running at their international titles like it’s my job and revisiting a few movies I never spend enough time with. I hope your Shudder watches spark as much joy for you as I expect mine will this July.
In the 90 years since its release, The Bride of Frankenstein is still the Universal Monsters franchise’s strongest film.
I first watched The Bride of Frankenstein on cable around 15 years ago. Director James Whale’s fable of a misunderstood creature’s quest for a bride really stayed with me after subsequent viewings. Speaking of The Bride, she’s the Universal Monster with the most potential for a gripping and modern reimagining that hasn’t been fully tapped into yet. Universal’s newest theme park Epic Universe, opening back in May, inspired a deeper dive into The Bride of Frankenstein, the titular role and its legacy.
Unveiling The Bride: The Plot and Power of the 1935 Classic
Immediately following 1931’s Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein centers on Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) as the sinister Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) urges him to collaborate on creating a mate for The Monster (Boris Karloff). In the meantime, The Monster travels across the countryside, learns to speak, and meets Pretorius. When both scientists complete and unveil The Bride (Elsa Lanchester), she rejects The Monster, motivating him to pull a lever and famously say, “We belong dead.” Pulling the lever ignites an explosion, killing The Monster, The Bride, and Pretorius.
Just as it took two scientists’ minds to create her onscreen, two individuals gave life to The Bride’s characterization and look: Lanchester and makeup master Jack Pierce, who designed nearly all the original Universal Monsters.
The Bride’s Hiss: How Lanchester Stole the Show with Limited Screentime
The Bride not being the film’s main protagonist is ironic since she’s the title character. Making the most of her brief performance, Lanchester’s swan-like mannerisms as The Bride sharply contrast with the humanity Karloff brings out of The Monster. After her dual role as The Bride and author Mary Shelley herself in the film, Lanchester took on more horror film roles like Henrietta Stiles in Willard (1971). It’s not hard to imagine what could’ve been for her career if she reprised her role in The Bride of Frankenstein’s sequels Son of Frankenstein and Ghost of Frankenstein. If a lab explosion couldn’t kill The Monster, wouldn’t it be the same for The Bride?
Besides the white streaks, Lanchester surprisingly didn’t wear a wig to portray The Bride since Pierce shaped her red hair to look the way it does. Pierce’s work on The Bride is just as iconic if not more so than Lanchester’s performance, ensuring the character became inseparable from her intended suitor in pop culture’s eyes. Case in point: There’s so much officially licensed merchandise playing up a romance between the two characters, even though The Bride can’t stand her intended mate. Beyond Lanchester and Pierce, there is one man responsible for how the film itself would come out.
James Whale’s Masterpiece: Directing The Bride of Frankenstein
Whale stitched great set designs, fantastic performances and composer Franz Waxman’s eerie score together to create a masterpiece.
Having Frankenstein, The Old Dark House and The Invisible Man under his belt by the mid-‘30s, it’s clear Whale creatively peaked while working on The Bride of Frankenstein. Although so much about Whale’s talents has been said, there’s a reason why his work on the film stands out across his filmography: He really went wild when directing it. Every character is practically cartoony, the sets are more elaborate and the plot is thematically richer than the original’s. Being an openly gay filmmaker, he cranked up The Bride of Frankenstein’s camp to legendary heights.
The Bride of Frankenstein is the final horror movie Whale directed. The novel Father of Frankenstein and its film adaptation Gods and Monsters, starring actor Ian McKellen as Whale, dramatize his life after directing the film. According to the reference book Universal Horrors by Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas, he initially didn’t want to direct his horror work’s apex. Just like Henry Frankenstein’s relationship with the monster he created, The Bride of Frankenstein’s production is a case of life imitating art. The Monster’s in-universe infamy further parallels Whale’s Frankenstein duology’s lasting popularity.
How The Bride of Frankenstein Shaped Horror Sequels and Adaptations
The Bride of Frankenstein’s influence can be seen across other horror films and Frankenstein adaptations.
Having “Bride of” in a horror sequel’s title is synonymous with including the main character’s female counterpart, leading to Bride of Re-Animator, Bride of Chucky, etc. The similarities go further than the titles, with The Bride of Frankenstein inspiring the former’s plot and furthering Tiffany’s arc in the latter. The Bride of Frankenstein inevitably shaped Frankenstein’s future adaptations as well.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from 1994 closely follows the original novel. Breaking away from the novel’s narrative, its third act pays homage to The Bride of Frankenstein when Victor brings Elizabeth back to life with similarly brief screentime. Mia Goth’s seemingly red hair on the set of Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein may hint at her character similarly becoming The Bride.
The Bride’s Untapped Potential for a Modern Horror Remake
With Warner Bros. releasing its own take on the character with The Bride! in 2026, it makes Universal’s reluctance to make a new remake downright egregious.
The Bride is still the literally redheaded stepchild among the Universal Monsters. When it comes to being neglected by Universal, The Creature From the Black Lagoon is the only character who rivals The Bride, but that’s another story. Universal did plan a remake directed by Bill Condon, who helmed Gods and Monsters, for its aborted Dark Universe film franchise.
The Bride’s Absence in Epic Universe’s Monsters Unchained Ride
Looking at Epic Universe, the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride apparently leaves The Bride out, even though she makes more sense to be in it than The Phantom of the Opera. However, The Bride does make meet-and-greet appearances across Dark Universe’s grounds.
Several ideas can be incredible for when Universal finally releases a remake of The Bride of Frankenstein someday. Based on what I’ve heard about 2023’s Poor Things, it’s exploration of a mad scientist’s creation’s experiences in a restrictive society is closer to what a modern reimagining should be. Having a woman behind the camera can lead to a feminist vision, delving into The Bride questioning her life’s purpose.
Until the day a proper remake debuts, the original 1935 film remains The Bride of Frankenstein’s definitive incarnation.
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