Brian Fanelli

5 days ago | 1428elm.com | Brian Fanelli

Horror has a long and storied association with queer history. Some of the genre's earliest filmmakers, most notably James Whale, an openly gay man, dealt with issues of Otherness and identity, especially inFrankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Meanwhile, the pioneers of Gothic literature, specifically Mary Shelley and her husband, the poet Percy Shelley, had fluid sexualities. In honor of Pride Month, here are five must-see horror films by queer directors.

1 month ago | brightlightsfilm.com | Brian Fanelli

Instead of a shape-shifting alien that overtakes its human hosts, capitalism is represented in Romero’s film by the military and to a lesser extent, the zombies. Zombies have long been associated with capitalism. They literally consume and devour, to the point that by the beginning of Day of the Dead, they’ve reduced the world to military rule and few survivors.

Nov 7, 2024 | signalhorizon.com | Horror Homeroom |Brian Fanelli

Horror fans know Nick Frost best for his iconic performance as Ed, Shaun’s (Simon Pegg) slacker best friend in Shaun of the Dead. Frost went on to star in several other films, many of them comedies, including Hot Fuzz, where he again acted alongside Pegg. Frost’s career has also included lots of voice work in cartoons. As diverse as Frost’s career has been since that unforgettable role in Shaun of the Dead, it’s great to see him return to the horror genre in the British film Black Cab.

Nov 6, 2024 | 1428elm.com | Brian Fanelli

Love Bomb has the right kind of sultry music in its opening that reminds me of a late 1980s or early 1990s erotic thriller. I mean that only in a good way. Initially, the film focuses on an unsettling love triangle but then takes all kinds of unexpected twists and turns, making for an engaging, if slightly uneven, watch. Directed by David Guglielmo, with a script by Kathy Charles, Love Bomb contains three main leads, which morphs into a bizarre game of predator and prey.

Nov 1, 2024 | 1428elm.com | Brian Fanelli

With the massive success of the Terrifier movies, it's a great time to pay attention to indie slashers. He Never Left, directed by James Morris, makes great use of its location and establishes the lore of the Pale Face Killer, who terrorizes a small town. Morris and company crafted a lean and entertaining 90 minutes that slasher fans should enjoy. The opening sequence shows the Pale Face Killer (William McAllister) brutally killing a female victim in the late 90s.