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

3.0

This book is a collection of essays on LGBTQ+ themes in horror films, with each essay from a different writer on a different film. I actually started this book way back at the end of October 2024, but I never really found myself falling into a good groove with it. Essay collections from a range of writers are always going to be a bit hit-and-miss, but some of these really missed for me (I find myself quite concerned about the sheer detail provided about one contributor’s adopted teenage son). However, some of these essays really hit the mark, and are worth reading whether you’re into horror or not; particular favourites were The Wolf Man’s Daughter, The Trail of His Flames, Black Body Snatchers, and Notes on Sleepaway Camp. This collection was originally published in 2022, so I would be interested to see a follow-up collection at some point in the future containing essays on films such as I Saw the TV Glow (far and away my favourite film from last year and one that I’ve found difficult to shake).