Movies
Alexis Arquette: Portrait of a Scream Queen
The Arquettes are a Fright Family. Together, they have starred in five major horror franchises, including A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. Patricia, David, and Roseanna are household names, and their sister Alexis should be no exception. Like her brother David, Alexis often found roles in the horror genre, but not the ones she had always longed for. Nonetheless, whether a supernatural townie, goth wannabe, or a teenager in drag, Alexis was a magnetic presence in each horror film. Here is a retrospective on Alexis Arquette, the horror icon!
The Arquettes are a Fright Family. Together, they have starred in five major horror franchises, including A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. Patricia, David, and Roseanna are household names, and their sister Alexis should be no exception. Like her brother David, Alexis often found roles in the horror genre, but not the ones she had always longed for. Nonetheless, whether a supernatural townie, goth wannabe, or a teenager in drag, Alexis was a magnetic presence in each horror film.
This July 28th would have been Alexis’ 55th birthday. Her life was cut short on September 11th, 2016, by AIDS, a diagnosis she acquired around the time she was 18 years old. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Arquette kept her health private and was “obstinate” about utilizing new treatments available for those living with HIV/AIDS. Though she had lived openly as a queer since her teenage years, she chose not to share her status due to the persistent issues she faced while being an actor.
Sham Ibrahim, a friend who performed at drag shows with Alexis, said the actress was a Hollywood pariah in her early days, “Directors and producers avoided her. She was rightfully angry that she should have had the success and notoriety that comes with being such a talented actor and being born into a family that presents the opportunity to you.” It was not until 2004 that Alexis chose to share with the media that she was transgender, a fact that her family had always been supportive of.
Early Life and Family Support in Hollywood
David, Patricia, and Rosanna Arquette have been fierce allies to their sister for her entire life. When Alexis was bullied at school, “I started fighting people,’” Patricia said in 2011. Alexis began dressing in drag as young as two, and would eventually disown her birth name for ‘Alexis.’ It was with Patricia that Alexis traveled to New York City in the late 1980s to pursue their acting dreams. Her sister would soon make her film debut as Kristen Parker, the protagonist of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in 1987.
In a 1999 interview with Index Magazine, Alexis was asked about her myriad roles in horror: “I’m definitely a fan of splatter. And I like horror…” Alexis’ horror filmography includes roles in and out of drag. She frequently played troubled characters, whose piercing eyes were not without a devilish glint. An androgynous chameleon, Alexis played both masc and femme roles. While she was featured in high-profile films like The Wedding Singer and Pulp Fiction, her horror film roles, in my opinion, are the most mesmerizing. On the bloody silver screen, she is mysterious, silly, intense, and, of course, funny. Unfortunately, she had just a decade of work before being ostracized from Hollywood following her coming out in 2004. “Her career was cut short,” advocates her sister, “by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman. Despite the fact that there are few parts for trans actors, she refused to play roles that were demeaning or stereotypical. She was a vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all trans people.”
Alexis felt that when it came to conversations about trans people, particularly trans actors, the work often gets overshadowed, and the wild imaginations of cisgender folks take center stage. When discussing the invasive and “perverse” questioning directed at newly out trans actors while a panelist for “Out in the Open: Sexual & Gender Identity Secrets” on Larry King in 2009, she stated, “I think it’s more an exposing type thing because it’s not about your work, not about what you want to contribute as an entertainer… It’s only about your very personal identity issue.”
1990s Horror Roles: From Buffy to Bride of Chucky
After Arquette made her film debut as transgender sex worker Georgette in Last Exit to Brooklyn in 1989, she began landing small roles in independent films, many of them thrillers and horror. She played the uncredited role of Vampire DJ in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer in 1992 (alongside her brother David), and a corporal in Ghost Brigade in 1993. This same year, Alexis would star as the protagonist of Jack Be Nimble. Hers was an incredibly dramatic role of an abused young man in search of his sister. “[V]ery Carrie-esque,” according to Arquette. She would star as Punk (victim #3) in Frisk two years later, a queer thriller about a serial killer. When shown in Manhattan in 1996, The New York Times reported that “its gory scenes of drugged-out punks being sodomized, strung up and murdered were enough to send a number of viewers scurrying to the exits.”
Simultaneous to her film career, Alexis was performing in drag shows in New York as Eva Destruction. She starred alongside Lady Bunny and RuPaul at the 1994 Wigstock Festival, and Eva was featured in the film Wigstock (1995). “Drag can do a lot of things for people,” explained Arquette in 1999. “It can make them look at their ideas of femininity, masculinity… Our ideas of sexuality are all learned, they’re all in our heads, they have nothing to do with emotions or reality or, you know, love, which is what we’re all looking for.” Donned in drag, Alexis portrayed bad girl Lisa Marie Blair in the low-budget horror short Scream, Teen, Scream! (1996). This slumber party slasher spoof has it all: drugs, pizza, boys, a Ouija board, and the ghost of Karen Carpenter. Scream, Teen, Scream is a severely underrated horror parody and showcases a fabulous comedic performance by Arquette.
Alexis had range. She became a bad boy in Sometimes, They Come Back… Again (1996), the sequel to a Stephen King short story adaptation. The straight-to-video horror film is over dramatic, includes questionable dialogue, and is unintentionally funny. Arquette plays Tony, a complete slimeball and villain. She effortlessly acts circles around future Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank. Her piercing eyes made her a shoo-in for this role. Two years later, Alexis reaches her peak in horror. No, not as Greg in Children of the Corn V: Field of Terror, but Bride of Chucky. Starring opposite queer icon Jennifer Tilly (Bound), Alexis plays Damien, Tilly’s goth lover. Creepy yet sexy Damien is revealed to be dweebish Howard Fitzwater, a poser. Though her character doesn’t last long, Alexis’ role is a memorable one. She holds her own with bombshell Tilly, and along with her on-screen lover, sets the tone for the rest of this revamped entry of the Child’s Play franchise. 2000s emo kids and other Spencer’s gifts-customers owe a lot to Alexis’ portrayal. This would be the final horror role of her career.
Alexis Arquette’s Trans Advocacy and Hollywood Legacy
According to Patricia, “[Alexis’] career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman.” After coming out in the early 2000s, Alexis’ career stalled. However, she used this time to become a leading voice in Hollywood for trans rights, using her platform to advocate for trans acceptance. “Despite the fact that there are few parts for trans actors, she refused to play roles that were demeaning or stereotypical,” explained Patricia. “She was a vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all trans people.” Patricia’s comment came at the heels of the 2017 Academy Awards after Alexis was not mentioned in the “In Memoriam” segment. Alexis’ omission was negligent. “We’re living in a time right now,” continued Patricia to Vanity Fair, “where trans kids can’t even go to the bathroom in schools… It’s really unfortunate that the Oscars decided they couldn’t show a trans person who was such an important person in this community. Because—trans kids—it could have meant a lot to them.”
As Alexis’ health deteriorated, she slowly abandoned her femme presentation. In a 2009 YouTube post, Alexis urged she would “rather die on a hospital table than never [surgically transition].” However, the emotional toll accrued after years of public transphobia proved too heavy to bear, and her ailing health made it difficult to put on make-up and a wig every day. Her brother David divulged months before Alexis’ death that she then preferred to be known as “gender suspicious.”
While on her deathbed, surrounded by family, Alexis drifted away to David Bowie’s “Starman,” per her wishes. Alexis was a truly magnetic and otherworldly talent. She showcased her ability to transform, particularly in horror – a medium that has always lent itself to tales of transformation. Alexis’ ascent in the 1990s as an openly queer actor began as optimistic, a potentiality for a queerer film landscape and Hollywood acceptance. Though her career was cut short by discrimination, she represented the possibility for a better and more malleable Hollywood, one not so bent on the binary. How beautiful it could have been for Alexis to see the careers of young actors flourish amidst transition and gender fluidity, as many of them do today. And maybe her own could have been revived.
Thank you, Alexis Arquette. We miss you.
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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