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Asexuality in Horror: Levi in ‘Something in the Dirt’ (2022)

‘Something in the Dirt’ is a groundbreaking horror film featuring Levi, a rare canonically asexual character. This unique blend of horror, sci-fi, and comedy offers authentic representation and a captivating story, making it a must-watch for asexual horror fans and Pride Month.

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Something in the DIrt

Even as queer characters become more common in modern media, asexual characters remain quite rare. While television has started to include a few, such as O from Sex Education and Todd Chavez from Bojack Horseman, they are difficult to find in movies. In the horror genre, they are rarer still. However, in 2022, things changed with Something in the Dirt.

The Rarity of Asexual Characters in Horror Cinema  

As of the writing of this article, there is only one canonically asexual character in horror cinema: Levi from Something in the Dirt (2022).

Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, Something in the Dirt follows new neighbors Levi and John as they attempt to film a documentary about the paranormal activity they witness in their apartment building. Things grow stranger from there, spiraling into a conspiracy theory involving Fibonacci numbers, the city’s layout, and geocaching.

Filmed during the COVID-19 lockdown, Something in the Dirt features a stripped-down, minimalist production that only enhances the idea of two ordinary people making a documentary about something extraordinary. Much closer to I Saw the TV Glow rather than Friday the 13th, it’s not straightforward horror, often pivoting to sci-fi and comedy. However, there is a growing sense of unease throughout the movie as Levi and John learn more about each other and the phenomena following them, culminating in an ending that few will see coming and will be left thinking about long after the credits roll. While the movie offers few concrete answers about what’s happening, the answers aren’t really the point. It’s more about the fun puzzle of the journey than the clear picture of the destination.

How Levi’s Asexuality Is Portrayed with Authenticity  

The natural chemistry between the movie’s directors/lead actors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead reflects their long-standing friendship, grounding the film in reality despite the increasingly bizarre events. This chemistry adds much-needed humanity to both of their characters. For instance, John, played by Moorehead, could have easily become a caricature as both a gay divorcee and an evangelical Christian. But he doesn’t, and John emerges simply as a character caught up in a series of strange events.

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Then there’s Levi, brilliantly brought to life by Benson.

My favorite representation in media always involves two key elements. First, a character’s identity must be clearly stated or shown in canon. Second, that character must be allowed to exist as a fully developed person outside of those characteristics. To my delight, both of these elements are present in Levi.

Throughout Something in the Dirt, we learn a lot about him. He works at a bar. He has a criminal record that’s not entirely his fault. He’s searching for happiness despite life repeatedly denying it to him. He’s messy. He’s complicated. And thus, he feels very real, even while he films a crystal ashtray floating through the air.

Then, in a rooftop conversation with John, Levi says this:

“I’ve never been attracted to anyone. And that is a very hard thing to explain to people that you’d be interested in dating.”

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Why Levi’s Character Resonates with Asexual Horror Fans  

I’m not sure it’s possible to adequately express what hearing those words meant to me. As an asexual horror fan, it was impossible to find myself in my favorite genre. Until 2022, the closest I could get were the characters fleeing from a sexually transmitted demon in It Follows. But with just two lines, I felt seen and understood in a way I hadn’t before. Levi even makes it clear that he wants romance, countering the common misconception that all asexual people are also aromantic.

Levi was me. I was Levi. Regardless of what the future would bring, asexuality had finally made its way into horror cinema, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

After this scene, Levi’s sexuality isn’t mentioned again, apart from a single admonition from John for comparing Levi’s sexuality to John’s apocalyptic religion (it makes sense in context). Levi is simply allowed to be a guy caught up in the weirdness around him, making the fact that he’s asexual all the more significant.

Something in the Dirt is a delightful little movie that I recommend watching any time of year, but especially during Pride Month. It offers a captivating, intimate adventure that will linger in your thoughts long after viewing. And, for my fellow aces, it provides a long-awaited piece of representation in our favorite genres. My only hope is that for future Pride Months, there will be enough asexuals in horror that I won’t need to keep counting.

Something in the Dirt is currently streaming on Hulu.

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Jae Hoole is a writer who spends their days lost in strange worlds of their own creation. When not conjuring words on paper, they live in Appalachia with their partner and cats.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in November 2025

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Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

Habit (1995)

An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.

Sew Torn (2024)

A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest. 

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You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.

The Retreat (2021)

A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.

You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.

The Creep Tapes (Season 2)

Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House). 

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You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.

Krampus (2015)

A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage. 

You can watch Krampus on November 15th.

Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.

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Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in November 2025

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The year is winding down, and I don’t know about you, but I am trying to pack in as many 2025 horror movies as I can. Is this because I love making end-of-the-year lists? Yes. Is it because I am an unhealed overachiever? Also, yes. So, I am assuming some of you are also cruising the streamers to see what you may have missed. While Netflix has had my favorite new slasher Heart Eyes for a bit, and I have mentioned that in previous streaming guides, they also have other new horror titles to show you.

I do not talk about them as much because I did not have a good time with them. However, that does not mean you won’t enjoy some of these titles. That’s why I am taking the high road and finding something to be grateful for about each of them. That way, you will know there is a silver lining if you do watch them. Allow me to help you figure out what to prioritize this month and what to skip. Check out this chaotic Netflix hitlist below! 

The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

28 Years Later (2025)

A group of survivors on a small island has built a fortress to protect them from the rage virus. However, a young boy discovers what is really outside the walls of their community and sets off to find a cure for his sick mother. We all loved 28 Days Later, and some of us liked 28 Weeks Later. So, 28 Years Later was never going to live up to the hype with almost thirty years of anticipation. While I didn’t love it, I did enjoy seeing Danny Boyle helm another zombie installment. What he does in the subgenre is top-tier, and we are welcome (even if the script left me wanting more). That might have gotten buried in all the talk about the dicks seen in the movie, though.

Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)

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A group of girls competing for prom queen starts disappearing, leaving the underdog to figure out what is happening to her competition. I had a lot of thoughts about this lackluster installment in Netflix’s Fear Street adaptations. As someone who grew up reading Fear Street books and wanting to adapt them myself, I do not understand how this movie came out so badly. Which made it hard to find something nice to say about this title. However, the soundtrack slaps, and it is not the soundtrack’s fault that it was wasted on a low-energy bottom-tier slasher. So, if you hit play on this, you can at least look forward to hearing some retro bangers selected by music supervisor Nora Felder. If you are familiar with her work on Yellowjackets and Stranger Things, you know Felder does not miss.

Maa (2025)

To battle a demon’s curse, a mother transforms into the legendary goddess Kali. As usual, Netflix did not advertise an international horror movie that seemed to have some potential. If they had told us Maa was an Indian Hindi-language mythological horror movie, most people who yell for intersectionality and originality would have run at it. Instead, we had to find out about it months later while looking for something we hadn’t already seen on the app. This movie is too long, and I cannot say it is good by any stretch of the imagination. However, it also made me realize how little I know about the goddess of destruction. If you are a nerd like me, this might lead you down a cool rabbit hole. You can also say you gave a view to a horror movie starring Brown people. Who knows, maybe you could be one of the few who enjoy this chaotic film.

Until Dawn (2025)

A group of friends find themselves trapped in a time loop where they keep getting killed in gruesome ways. I love the video game and was so bummed this adaptation was so bad. However, the practical effects are very cool and should be celebrated more. I think the stuff that the SFX team pulled off might be the only reason to watch the movie personally. I’m happy the actors whose work I enjoy got paid, and that’s another positive thing I can say. However, if we want to see young people in deadly time loops, we have so many movies that do it better. Excuse me as I look right at Happy Death Day and all of the movies that have tried to copy her.

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Ziam (2025)

A Muay Thai fighter battles through a zombie apocalypse to save the woman he loves. Netflix fumbled the advertising for this one too, because who doesn’t want to see a Thai zombie film? So, I was excited to watch it, but then sad I did not like it. However, I think this one is on me. It is an action-horror with a lot of heartfelt moments, and that’s not my bag. I wanted more violence and zombie action because I am a broken and heartless ghoul. So, Ziam might be the only movie on this list that does not deserve my bombastic side eye. I am waiting for other people to watch it and let me know if they have a better time with it, though. 

While I was not the audience for these movies, I am assuming some of you will dig them. Worst-case scenario, you cross off a few more 2025 horror movies and have something to talk about at Friendsgiving. Happy Horrordays! I will see myself out now…

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