Reviews - It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror

1.82k reviews for:

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror

Joe Vallese

4.15 AVERAGE

peggy_racham's review against another edition

4.25

Not my favorite format but loved the insight.

jhobbs2020's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

strawberrybooks's review against another edition

4.0

informative reflective medium-paced

This was a very insightful collection of essays on how different mainstream horror movies can reflect queerness and why queer people tend to latch onto horror as a genre. I loved the idea of this, but I found that these essays were a bit heavier on the memoir side of things rather than the media analysis side of things. Like, I get why this specific author relates to their chosen movie. But why would anyone else? I just was expecting more on that side of things, and otherwise would've rated it higher.

coffincandy's review against another edition

4.0

dark funny reflective

This is a must-read for horror movie fans!

I enjoyed just about every essay in this, and I love any chance to learn more about media that has shaped other writers. I was raised on horror, and I was happy to see various perspectives on it and its impact over the years.

This has the bonus of the writers looking at horror films through their own queer and trans lenses and life experiences. It contains thoughts on older films, more recent films, and some international films.

I think it would be fun to use this book as a watchlist—to watch one of the films mentioned and then to read its corresponding essay!

I know that as more queer horror films are released, this amazing conversation will continue.

Perhaps in several years, we can get another anthology like this with more films and more contributors!

🗣️PSA—Horror films that WILL be spoiled if you read this:

• Sleepaway Camp
• The Exorcist
• Jennifer’s Body
• Hereditary
• The Ring
• Pet Sematary
• Grace
• The Blob
• Society
• Godzilla
• Good Manners/As boas manieras
• Jaws
• The Wolf Man
• Dead Ringers
• The Birds
• The Leech Woman
• Candyman
• Friday the 13th, Part II
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Us
• The Blair Witch Project
• Is That You? / ¿Eres tu papa?
• Get Out
• Halloween
• Eyes Without a Face
• Child’s Play
• In My Skin / Dans ma peau