A review by nouhcake
It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror by Joe Vallese

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

“Queer affection for horror was actively being claimed, recontextualized, and integrated into the culture and community. And like most things touched by queerness, horror becomes more textured, more nuanced, and far more exciting when viewed through a queer lens.” 

As a queer individual and avid horror film enthusiast, I found ‘It Came From the Closet’ to be an absolute gem. Joe Vallese's introduction sets the stage brilliantly for this essay collection, which features 27 authors representing a diverse range of queer and gender identities. The exploration of queer representation in horror—whether that be implicit and explicit inclusion—was extremely captivating, revealing many details about the films that I hadn’t previously known. With over 80 films and TV shows referenced, I loved diving deep into each one. If you’re seeking a compelling read for Queer History Month (October 1st-31st), this book is a perfect choice.

“We share an insatiable love for these movies for different reasons. They want to see tits and blood, while I want to see how the final girl outsmarts and overpowers the killer/monster/demon/whatever, but for 90-ish minutes, some of the distance between us is bridged.“