Now that the spring TV season is wrapping up, hot vampire summer is on the way.
With The Vampire Lestat premiering in June, I’ve been thinking a lot about how many wonderful LGBTQ+ horror shows there have been in recent years.
So, I compiled some of my favorites for Interview with the Vampire fans looking to kill some time before Season 3.
(Sophie Giraud/AMC)
From classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer to newer series like First Kill, this list is guaranteed to have something for everyone.
Here are seven frighteningly fun queer horror shows to watch before tuning into The Vampire Lestat!
1. What We Do in the Shadows
(Russ Martin/FX)
If you haven’t tuned into What We Do in the Shadows, then you’re missing out on one of the best vampire shows on TV.
The Staten Island vampires are certainly a far cry from Anne Rice’s vampires, but they’re unique in their own right.
Not only is this mockumentary-style FX sitcom hilarious, but it’s also unapologetically queer.
All the vampires openly talk about hooking up with one another, and there’s a delightful Pride Parade episode that’s absurdly fun.
(FX/YouTube screenshot)
Plus, Guillermo has a really touching storyline about coming out to his family.
The entire ensemble cast rocks, and this series is a must-watch for those looking for more gay vampire antics!
2. True Blood
We can’t talk about gay vampires without mentioning the original gay vampire show: True Blood.
This HBO series follows a telepathic waitress who discovers the elusive world of vampires.
It had so many vampiric allegories for queerness, such as the phrase “Coming Out of the Coffin.”
(John P. Johnson/HBO)
Importantly, True Blood also had a ton of queer characters, such as Lafayette, who openly embrace their sexuality.
There’s also a sapphic romance between Tara and Pam that’s equally intense and tender.
With 80 episodes to enjoy, True Blood is a hefty but necessary binge watch for any and all fans of queer horror series.
3. First Kill
Speaking of sapphic vampire romances, this list would be incomplete without mentioning First Kill.
While this Netflix show may have only lasted one season, it certainly deserved so much more love.
(BRIAN DOUGLAS/NETFLIX)
The series centers on Juliette, a vampire, and Calliope, a monster hunter, who fall in love in high school.
There may be larger mysteries unraveling around them, but their romance is undeniably the heart of the show.
It’s no prestige show by any means, but it’s a campy, coming-of-age series with bloody monster encounters for days.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The original queer horror show will always be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which follows a vampire slayer and her friends as they battle monsters.
Unlike the previous shows, it isn’t necessarily the vampires who are queer.
(WB/CW)
Instead, the queer romance occurs between Tara and Willow, two witches who are Buffy’s friends.
Before you get your hopes up, unfortunately, their relationship falls victim to the “Bury Your Gays” trope.
However, for a show that aired in the late ’90s and early 2000s, it was extremely progressive for putting a sapphic romance at the forefront of the horror genre.
Plus, you can’t call yourself a true horror TV show fan without having watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
5. Yellowjackets
Moving beyond queer vampires, another queer horror-related series I’ve been enjoying recently is Yellowjackets.
(Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME)
The show follows a group of girls as they reckon with their past experience of surviving a plane crash on their way to high school soccer nationals.
The horror stems from the borderline supernatural experiences they have out in the woods, as they engage in cult-like rituals and unconventional survival mechanisms.
Nearly all of the characters on the show are queer. Even their soccer coach is gay (and his boyfriend is played by Francois Arnaud of Heated Rivalry fame)!
Taissa and Vanessa’s romance is one of the TV sapphic romances I’ve been most invested in because they’re messy but so clearly into each other.
With Yellowjackets’ final season coming up, now is the perfect time to start watching!
6. Dead Boy Detectives
(Ed Araquel/Netflix)
If you love horror AND mystery, then Dead Boy Detectives is definitely up your alley.
This Netflix series follows two ghosts, Charles and Edwin, and their psychic friend, Crystal, as they solve cases together.
A central part of Season 1 is Edwin grappling with his sexuality and his feelings for Charles.
Plus, one of their friends, Jenny, also has a brief sapphic romance that unfortunately goes off the rails.
I would’ve loved to see Charles and Edwin eventually get together, but the series was short-lived.
7. Los Espookys
(Diego Araya Corvalán/HBO)
If you’ve read this list and watched all of these shows, allow me to offer a more niche recommendation.
Created by comedic genius Julio Torres, Los Espookys is about a group of queer Latine characters who professionally stage horror events for their clients.
The series is primarily in Spanish, but it’s easy to follow along with the subtitles.
It’s such a hilarious series that leans into the campy queerness and quirks of its ensemble cast.
I cannot recommend this series enough for those who love underrated shows that walk the line between comedy, horror, and drama.
(Screenshot/AMC)
Have you watched any of these shows?
Are there any other queer horror shows you’d recommend?
I’ll be taking note of all your recommendations in the comments below.
Keep an eye out for our coverage of The Vampire Lestat coming up this summer!
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Before The Vampire Lestat rocks the world in June, here are some delightful queer horror shows to tune into!
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Has Heated Rivalry got you looking for more romantic shows featuring queer characters? We’ve got some recommendations for you!
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Interview with the Vampire Season 3 will be under a different name: The Vampire Lestat, a confusing move that might not work for viewers.
You can view the original article HERE.
