Special feature – Queer for Fear

This fascinating special event explores gay and lesbian subtext in the horror film and examines the intertwining of queer history and monster movies. Hosted by Harry M. Benshoff, author of Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film, this programme traces the role of the “monster queer” throughout different eras of film history: the classical Hollywood period, WWII, the Cold War, the 1960s and 1970s, and the postmodern era. Benshoff provides insightful and entertaining commentary, illustrated by moments from such films as The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, Cat People, Psycho, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Hunger, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Fright Night, Hellraiser, The Silence of the Lambs and films by out gay directors such as The Brotherhood and this year’s fabulous opening film, Hellbent. This unique presentation shows how horror films betray straight society’s fear of the outsider, while appealing to queer audiences’ identification with their ostracized monsters.

	Special feature – Queer for Fear This fascinating special event explores gay and lesbian subtext in the horror film and examines the intertwining of queer history and monster movies. Hosted by Harry M. Benshoff, author of Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film, this programme traces the role of the “monster queer” throughout different eras of film history: the classical Hollywood period, WWII, the Cold War, the 1960s and 1970s, and the postmodern era. Benshoff provides insightful and entertaining commentary, illustrated by moments from such films as The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, Cat People, Psycho, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Hunger, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Fright Night, Hellraiser, The Silence of the Lambs and films by out gay directors such as The Brotherhood and this year’s fabulous opening film, Hellbent. This unique presentation shows how horror films betray straight society’s fear of the outsider, while appealing to queer audiences’ identification with their ostracized monsters.
	Harry M. Benshoff is a professor of Film History at the University of Northern Texas. Aside from Monsters in the Closet, Benshoff is the co-author of American Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality at the Movies, co-editor of Queer Cinema: The Film Reader and the upcoming, Strange Bedfellows, a history of queer American Films.