Burger King’s Halloween menu has returned for 2025, complete with an eye-catching orange “Jack-O-Lantern” Whopper bun covered in black sesame seeds.

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The seasonal lineup, which also includes Vampire Nuggets, Mummy Mozzarella Fries, and a purple Franken-Candy Sundae, has taken over social media as creators test out the so-called “Monster Menu.”

The question on everyone’s minds is, of course, how that orange-colored bread with the black sesame seeds tastes. Is it pumpkin-flavored, or is it more of a nightmare for the mouth? TikTok tasters are weighing in.

What’s in Burger King’s Halloween Whopper bun?

Burger King announced this year’s Halloween items on Sept. 29, calling it their “Monster Menu.”

For the first time, the Vampire Nuggets are available to the kids in the King Jr. Meal to go with their Scooby-Doo surprise.

“This year, we’ve dialed up the fun and flavor, not only with our ‘Monster Menu’ line-up complete with themed menu innovation, packaging, and a special crown, but also with collectible buckets and Scooby-Doo toys – creating even more experiences for everyone,” said Burger King Chief Marketing Officer Joel Yashinsky.

While the nuggets are shaped like fangs and bats and the mozzarella fries are completely normal other than coming in a mummy-themed container, that bun tends to be the scariest thing on the menu. This isn’t the first year Burger King has trotted out its orange Halloween bun, and every year, people wonder what that could possibly taste like.

Here’s the big reveal—it tastes like a bun. The orange color is not a product of dye, but a bit of added paprika that doesn’t impact the flavor of the bread. The sesame seeds, as always, taste like pretty much nothing. It’s a bit anti-climactic, but at least it’s edible.

TikTok food reviews are still a big draw in late 2025, and Halloween menus are often viewer favorites. It’s the best holiday of the year, after all, even among the many that involve a lot of eating.

Last week, @laneygrn tried some Burger King fare for the first time ever. She particularly enjoyed the Franken-Candy Sundae, opening her mouth so you can hear the sizzle of the green popping candy.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had Burger King ice cream,” she admitted. “This is good!”

@shhhhimeating Trying burger kings new Halloween monster menu #burgerking #halloween #eatingshow #mukbang #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – ShhhhImEating

She enjoyed her customized Whopper, as it is just a normal Whopper with a colorful bun, but she did call the orange and black theme “fun.”

Reviewer couple @cocoeatz, on the other hand, insisted that the bun did taste a little better than usual. However, this might just be their brain tricking them because it likes the bright colors.

@bigbackwithabigrackk Burger King Halloween Meal mukbang #mukbangers #mukbang #eatwithme #eatingasmr #asmr ♬ original sound – bigbackwithabigrack

“Dare I say, this is even better than the normal Whopper,” said one reviewer.

“Something about that orange bun,” said the other.

Morgan Chomps (@morganchompz) also concluded that the Jack-O-Lantern Whopper was as good as ever, but the color change didn’t improve anything.

“It’s nothing super new,” she added. “I mean, I’ve had a bacon and cheese Whopper before.”

She still gave her favorite fast food burger a 9.5 out of 10.

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There are so many great hat knitting patterns out there, but as I start thinking about knitting for winter (which is the only time I really wear hats) I want my hats to be as colorful as possible. And of course there are new colorwork hat knitting patterns being released all the time, but here are some that have caught my eye. 

You couldn’t ask for more color than is found in the Ridged Stripe Hat knitting pattern from Yarnspirations. This one uses a multicolored yarn to make the stripes easy, and slipped stitches to make those elongated stitches that move the colors around. It also has a foldover ribbed brim for plenty of warmth, and comes in one size to fit an adult. It’s a free pattern. 

Speaking of slipped stitches, they’re the key to mosaic knitting, which is how the Fold in the Cheese hat is done (shoutout to the Schitt’s Creek fans!). This one is worked in two colors of a DK or light worsted weight yarn, and using a multicolored yarn makes it look more interesting without any more work. It comes in three sizes and you can knit it as a beanie or slouchy if you prefer. You can find this pattern from Mary Annarella on Ravelry.

The color is subtle on Carrie McKie’s Surprise Hat (a free download from Ravelry) but it wouldn’t have to be. I wanted to include this one because I like the idea of it, having a colorwork pattern that looks good on either side so you can reverse the hat when you want to change up the look. This one also uses slipped stitches, and it’s fun to see how you can get different looks with such a simple technique.

The simplest way to add color to a project, apart from stripes, is by adding little stitches of color. A single knit stitch in a contrasting color looks like a heart, which is where the Loving Hat gets its name. This is super simple stranded colorwork done in bulky yarn, and the free pattern from Garter Stitch Witch includes sizing for babies through adults. 

If you’re ready for more detailed Fair Isle knitting, check out A Foray into Fair Isle from Little Blue Pedal Car on Etsy. This colorful hat knitting pattern would be a great stash buster because you can change colors with every band of colorwork. It uses worsted weight yarn and looks adult sized. 

Take stranded knitting in a totally different direction with the Bad Medicine Beanie from A Lil Loopy. This bold hat features large skulls all around the hat that are worked in a multicolored, super bulky yarn. The hat has one adult size and looks like it would be a lot of fun to knit. 

Bands of Colorwork Add Direction to This Sweater [Knitting]

Colorwork Cardigan Knitting Patterns [Knitting]

Knit Matching Colorwork Hat and Mitts [Knitting]

Trick or treat! Kiernan Shipka has become the Halloween queen thanks to her roles in thrillers like Totally Killer, Longlegs, The Silence, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and more.

To celebrate the 2025 spooky season, the actress told ET exactly how she’s getting into the spirit.

“My Halloween must-haves include watching and rewatching a long list of horror films, going to a haunted house or two, eating candy, and hitting a few parties on the big night. … I always like dressing up and I love decorations,” she shared.

When it comes to her look, Shipka likes to make the night one to remember with a creative get-up.

“Good drinks, good music, and committed costumes make it a great party,” she spilled.

“Sometimes my costume is planned out and sometimes it’s last minute. … Usually, the idea will just come to me at a random moment, and I write it down so that I remember when Halloween time approaches,” she added.

This time around? “I have a costume ready and it’s very hair and makeup focused.”

Ahead of the celebrations, though, the star makes sure she’s well-rested without any sleepless scaries.

Shipka teamed up with Hatch for their eerie new campaign trailer, Goodnight, Phone, which reminds everyone to log off before bed.

“Good sleep is so important. When I don’t get enough, I really feel it. I remind myself that I want to feel excited and present during a big event, so getting a good night’s sleep beforehand is a non-negotiable,” she said.

To ensure a restful evening, the Chicago, Illinois native relies on a few simple nighttime must-haves. 

“Before bed, I usually have some sort of snack. I like to review my day and make a to-do list for the next one, and then I’ll go ahead and do my skincare and take a little magnesium gummy.”

She then turns on Hatch’s Restore sleep clock to start her Unwind routine, complete with soothing sounds and relaxing lights.

“Maintaining this nightly ritual helps my brain recognize that it’s time to relax, and makes falling asleep not only a breeze, but also just a really nice experience. … I’ve also been loving the seasonal bedtime stories on my Hatch+, and saw they added The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, so I’m ready to get into it.”

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Happy Spooktacular October!
I hope you’ve all had a spooktastic week. I’m so excited that spooky season is here, it’s truly one of my favorite times of the year. Even though life feels a little chaotic right now, I can still feel all the cozy magic that this season brings.

I’m thrilled to share that our first piece of Halloween content is coming next week — it’s frightfully fun! We shot the story in New York, and I think you’re going to love it.

After a week spent at home, I’m looking forward to some travel later this month. There’s so much happening! I’ll be back and forth from New York, plus heading to Dallas, San Francisco, and a few new cities for our Williams-Sonoma fall/holiday tour (I’m sharing updates below!). It’s going to be such a fun season.

Before all of that kicks into high gear, I’m home for the next couple of weeks — hoping for sunny fall days and cozy nights. I’ll definitely be watching my favorite Halloween movies (Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, and of course, Harry Potter). Reruns of Gilmore Girls have also been on repeat lately. They always bring so much comfort and remind me of fall back home in Cleveland.

Speaking of home, the leaves are gorgeous right now! We’ve got that crisp chill in the air, and the trees are just past their peak — golden, orange, and so pretty.

That’s it for our weekly catch-up! I have so many fun things to share below. Wishing you a cozy Sunday – I’ll be burning a pumpkin smash candle mixed with an apple cider candle (the secret is burning them together!) while baking soft pumpkin sugar cookies today.

And don’t miss 31 Recipes to Cook in October 2025.

1. Things I’m Loving.

gifting…Lola Blankets. As we head into the holiday season, I’m noting everything I want to gift this season. Lola Blankets are top of my list for friends and as hostess gifts. I know if someone brought me a cozy blanket, I would be excited! I have some inside scoop that their holiday collections is launching very soon. All I have to say is you need to be on the lookout because I think it’s going to sell out fast! Also, I highly recommend the weighted blanket (I think it’s my personal favorite).

cozying up with…Hanna Andersson holiday PJs. Speaking of gifting, holidays, and getting cozy, how cute are the Hanna Andersson pajamas? I don’t have kids, but for those of you who do, I love the Halloween collection. It’s so cute! My cousin just had a little girl. I want to send her this Halloween HannaJams Sleeper. And for Christmas, Oslo would be so excited about these Dr. Seuss Grinch HannaJams Pajama Set. Also, the holiday collection has matching adult PJs. Get them for the family! This Holiday Plaid Matching Family Pajama set is cute and festive.

reading…What to Do With Your Life in October—31 Cozy Ways to Embrace the Month Ahead.

coats…everything in my cart (low)…the Nike Full-Zip Jacket Windrunner. This is great for outdoor workouts through the fall. I love that it’s good for travel too!

I also found this Water Repellent Wind Resistant Stretch Nylon Jacket from The North Face (and it’s on sale), as well as a very cute Cropped Unify Jacket from Alo.

Sweater-wise, I’m into this Twist Reversible Sweater on Nordstrom. And both my mom and I love White & Warren. I added this cute Cashmere Neckerchief to my Shopbop cart. She added this Cashmere Crewneck to her White and Warren cart.

I wear the Perfect White Tee brand all the time. They make for awesome layering pieces. Adding the Hendrix Tee 3 Pack to my Shopbop cart.

And a pretty Reformation Knit Shrug Dress Set. Easy to style with fall boots!

listening to…Unlock Your Brain’s Full Potential from Aspire with Emma Grede. I listened to parts of this 3 times over to help fully absorb the information. It’s a really great episode! Emma’s guest and her solos are always so good. I learn a lot! I loved last week’s episode too, Plan Your Life Like a Business. 

traveling…The Insider Guide to Milan: The Most Stylish Places to Stay, Shop, Dine, and Go. We’ll be heading to Milan for hockey during the winter Olympics (Red competes in Livigno), so I’m bookmarking everything on this list!

loving…the new Antique Arras Peel and Stick Wallpaper by Jeremiah Brent. Pretty!

shopping…the new New Balance sneaks. I have the 1906R Sneaker and love them. But I’m into these new WTAPS x New Balance Abzorb 2010.

shopping…Zara 50th Birthday Collection. The brand is dropping 50 new objects designed in collaboration with people across art, design, film, and fashion. All proceeds will benefit Women’s Earth Alliance. Very cool! You can start shopping tomorrow, October 6th.

everything in my cart (beauty)…excited to try the new Rhode peptide eye prep set. I always travel with eye patches and put them on at night after I shower. They’re easy to throw on, so I love them!

The Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette from Diptyque sounds like a lovely fall scent with notes of vanilla.

nails…I’m into a dark nail for October, and OPI has some pretty opaque colors! Dark Cherry Cutney is spooky but still pretty, and Malaga Wine is a nice fall shade that would be cute for Thanksgiving.

My hair has been getting easily tangled lately and taking forever to brush. I’m ordering The Care & Detangling Hair Brush after reading about how good it is! But you guys, which color brush should I get? I can’t decide between The Essential Cherry Red and The Essential Terracotta. And honestly, the “Octobre Rose” Limited Edition is really pretty too! What’s your favorite?

wearing…J.Crew is doing everything right this season. I’ve been living in their brushed cashmere V-neck sweater.

also wearing…I love fleece jackets in the fall. This season, I actually got two! The Cabernet Fleece Cady Quarter Zip. The cabernet is sold out, but the black is cute too (and fully stocked). And from Alo, the Sherpa Edge Shacket in espresso – just restocked (the navy and the black are cute too). Skims has a cute boxy jacket too.

following…Dr. Amy Shah. I recently listened to a podcast she was on. I’m excited to follow. Also, Doctor Tara, whom I found through the Aspire podcast linked above. 

getting excited…for all the new holiday decor launching! Currently scrolling the Mcgee and Co Holiday Boutique. They design classic, timeless decor, which is very much my style for holiday decorating. I love this pretty Faux Dried Oranges Garland.

reading…What Is Your Joy Span? and A Big, Juicy Round Up of Fall Recommendations.

everything in my cart (high)…how cute is this cardigan from Tanya Taylor. I really love the raisin shade for fall. If you’re more of a neutral color girl, this cardigan from Revolve looks really cozy.

This Low Waist Leather Maxi Skirt from Reformation has Thanksgiving dinner look written all over it. So pretty, and the color makes it perfect for the holidays. I’d definitely wear it with this pretty STAUD Canal Top Canal Top. Just add boots!

loving…the Bottega Veneta Milan Fashion Week 2026 show. This collection is the first from Louise Trotter, the brand’s first female designer. I loved the new collection, it really is so pretty! Another highlight, but this time from Paris Fashion Week, was definitely Dior. One of my favorite collections! And the first from the brand’s new designer, Jonathan Anderson.

2. October Pumpkin Recipes.

There are so many…if you want them all, CLICK HERE

Frosted Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Pecan Latte

Cream Cheese Swirled Cinnamon Pumpkin Butter Bread

Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Chai Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

6 Ingredient Spiced Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Coffee Icing

3. It’s Prime Day – this is what to shop.

beauty

fashion

home

4. The Fall/Holiday Tour Updates!

We have tour updates! After so many requests, two more cities have been added to this year’s fall and holiday tour with Williams-Sonoma — I’m so excited about this! If I could, I’d add even more stops, but time is so tight this season. (There’s a chance we may add one more, so keep checking back for updates!)

I’m especially thrilled to be back at Columbus Circle this December. That stop is going to feel so special!

Aside from signing books and snapping photos, what would make these nights extra meaningful for you? I’d love your ideas — email me, leave a comment, or just let me know what you’d like to see at these events.

See details and grab tickets below! 

Williams Sonoma South Coast Plaza

Costa Mesa, California
Wednesday, October 29th at 6 pm

Williams Sonoma at The Original Farmer’s Market
Los Angeles, California
Saturday, November 1 at 12:30

Williams Sonoma Hill Center

Nashville, Tennessee
Wednesday, November 5 at 6 pm

Williams Sonoma SouthPark Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
Thursday, November 6 at 6 pm

*Williams Sonoma Columbus Circle
New York City, New York
Friday, December 2 at 6 pm

Note – correct date above (the link will be updated soon!)

5. Online Hate and Cruel Comments.

When did it become OK to speak to people you don’t even know in such a negative – sometimes even hateful – way? It’s something I’ve been feeling deeply lately, and it’s hard to understand.

The body shaming. The cruel, unnecessary comments. Even the threats and relentless criticism. It’s painful—and it’s not okay. We shouldn’t treat anyone this way.

I try every day to create recipes and content that make people feel happy, inspired, and connected. So it’s hard to read words meant to tear down rather than lift up.

Please remember:

• If you don’t have anything kind to say, don’t say it at all.

• Words have power. They can hurt – even those who seem strong on the outside.

Before posting something negative, ask yourself: How would I feel if someone said this to me, or to someone I love? Would I want to cause that kind of hurt?

I hope we can all choose kindness more often. That’s what I want this space to be, a place filled with love, warmth, and inspiration.

6. An October Giveaway.

It’s a spooky one! I am very excited to be gifting 10 winners over on Instagram the Staub pumpkins! Everyone LOVES these when I break them out every season.  Giveaway ends Thursday night (October 9th).

enter here

7. Favorite Links.

31 Spooky Movies to Get You in the Mood for Halloween

For the Best-Tasting Lasagna, I Always Sprinkle It With This

7 Surprising Self-Care Practices Experts Say Will Transform Your Health This Fall

These New Hotels in Paris Are Design-Forward, and Less Than $250 a Night

The Must-Have Pantry Staples We’ll Stock in Our Kitchens Forever and Ever

This Adaptable, No-Fuss Dinner Is My Greatest Parenting Triumph

The Halloween Costume You Should Wear, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

Contemplating Collagen Supplements? Here Are All The Benefits

The $2 Trader Joe’s Seasonal Staple I’m Stirring Into Yogurt Every Morning

8. This Week’s Fall Styles.

J.Crew

Shopbop

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.

Monday: Creamy Garlic Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

Tuesday: Crockpot Sticky Sesame Ginger Chicken

Wednesday: Apple Cider Smothered Chicken

Thursday: Brie and Cheddar Butternut Squash Beer Soup

Friday: Sage Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta Alfredo

Saturday: Ghostly Ginger Cocktail

Sunday: Baked Cinnamon Apple Butter French Toast

And don’t miss 31 Recipes to Cook in October 2025.

Let’s be real—Halloween costumes are cute (until your kid changes their mind the night before), candy is fun (until the sugar crash), and trick-or-treating is a blast (until you’re carrying your preschooler four whole blocks home). But you know what your kid will actually enjoy and love long after October 31st? A Halloween Build-A-Bear.

This isn’t just about buying another stuffed animal (because let’s face it, the toy bins are full). It’s about making a memory. From picking out the spooky-cute bear (hello, vampire bats and pumpkin cats!) to dressing it in exactly the right costume, it’s an experience. 

The best part? You get to sneak in some quality time with your kid. It’s hands-on, creative, and let’s be honest, kind of adorable. 

We all want those magical mom moments where everything clicks—and this one’s easy, low-stress, and ends in hugs (not tantrums). Whether your kid is into ghosts, skeletons, glittery witches, or even axolotls, there’s a Halloween Build-A-Bear waiting for them.

So go ahead. Hit the mall, grab a coffee, and head to Build-A-Bear. You’ll walk out with a happy kid, a stuffed friend in costume, and the kind of memory that doesn’t melt like chocolate in a plastic pumpkin bucket.

Trust me—this is one Halloween treat that’s totally worth it.

Even if you’re a horror movie fiend all year-round, there’s something special about watching them in October. Instead of just following your ghoulish whims, you’re participating in a time-honored gay tradition. And that’s community, baby! As a gift to our community, we’ve gathered a list of queer horror to stream and told you where to stream it. This list is divided by streaming service and has all-time greats, hidden gems, and recent faves. They range from fun and campy to truly horrifying to truly horrifying and fun and campy. We hope there are some discoveries here for even the biggest horror fan.

In the past, this list was sorted by streamer, but a lot of these films and shows are available on multiple platforms and as it grew, it made more sense to instead present them alphabetically. The streaming platforms are then listed below each title. If you’re looking for options on just one platform, you can command+F for that platform’s name to make your life easier. Almost every horror movie and show on this list is available to stream for free with your platform subscriptions, but there were a few of our horror favs we had to include that you’ll have to pay a few bucks to rent.

HAPPY HORROR MONTH, STREAM QUEENS!

This list was originally published in October 2023 and has been updated and expanded for 2025.

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All Cheerleaders Die

Tubi

I find this movie about a group of cheerleaders who are turned into undead creatures who devour men for strength thanks to the witchy ex-girlfriend of one of the girls on the squad QUITE UNDERRATED. It even more explicitly fits the hyperspecific but very important to me subgenre of Queerleader Horror than Jennifer’s Body, and queer actress Caitlin Stasey gives a great performance as the central queer character. And her toxic relationship with her ex is a compelling driving force for the mythology. – KKU

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Annihilation

Paramount+, Tubi

“Came Back Wrong” horror is one of my favorite tropes, and that’s the point from which we start in Annihilation, a disturbing eco-horror film adapted from the novel by Jeff VanderMeer with a stacked ensemble cast in which Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, and Jennifer Jason Leigh are standouts. It’s one of the few films that made both Shudder’s list of the 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments and Autostraddle’s 25 Scariest Queer Horror Movie Moments compiled by Drew and I. – KKU

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Bad Things

AMC+, Shudder

One of my favorite movies of the year, Stewart Thorndike’s second feature queers The Shining with a heavy dose of mommy issues. Gayle Rankin and Hari Nef lead an absolutely perfect cast and Thorndike’s camerawork is worthy of its Kubrickian influence. When I interviewed her, Thorndike mentioned being surprised by her work’s divisiveness, and I’ve been similarly surprised! Some people have loved it, some have hated it, but I definitely think it’s worth a shot. And, hey, it’s the only film on this list featuring two different romantic relationships between a cis woman and a trans person! – Drew

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Bit

Prime, Tubi

When this movie first came out, I was a big fan. It was just so rare to see a queer trans woman on-screen! And in a movie about separatist lesbian vampires starring Nicole Maines? What a joy! I do still like it, but as more media has been made about queer trans women, I’ve held onto this one a bit less. Some of its problems — in plotting and theme — feel more glaring. But hey! It’s still a movie about lesbian separatist vampires that stars Nicole Maines. – Drew

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Black Swan

Disney+, Hulu

I recently revisited this film, which I originally saw in theaters many times before I came out, and it holds up for a lot of the reasons I was obsessed with it in the first place. Beauty and brutality are twisted sisters in this ballet psychological thriller packed with haunting performances. I know people are mixed on what “really” happens between Nina (Natalie Portman) and Lily (Mila Kunis), but that ambiguity is a big part of the draw of this film, and to deny its queerness is to overlook so much of the character-level storytelling. – KKU

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Bodies Bodies Bodies

Prime

Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of the best new slashers to come out in recent years. There’s a queer relationship at the center of it, comprising characters played by Amandla Stenberg and Maria Bakalova. I love everything from the movie’s banging soundtrack to its fun twist. – KKU

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The Carmilla Movie 

Prime, Tubi

Based on the Canadian webseries, which was of course based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 gothic novella Carmilla — often cited as the root of the everlasting lesbian vampire craze — The Carmilla Movie picks up five years after the webseries’ ending with Carmilla and Laura living and loving in Toronto. They head to a mansion in Austria after Laura has some bad dreams that start impacting Carmilla’s humanity, and various supernatural conflicts unfold, including ghosts and exes. It’s a sexy, thrilling, sometimes funny vampire movie. – KKU

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Carnage for Christmas

AMC+, Tubi

This queer and trans holiday horror film follows transfemme protagonist Lola as she returns to her hometown for the first time since transitioning and gets swept up in the town’s chaos concerning a possibly resurfaced serial killer. – KKU

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The Carnivores

Prime, Tubi

There are lesbian horror movies and then there are LESBIAN horror movies. This movie about a lesbian whose girlfriend is more in love with her dog than with her very much falls into the latter category. It’s too bad the movie itself doesn’t quite live up to that premise or its stellar lead performance from Tallie Medel. That said, I still think it’s worth watching, especially for dog lesbians — or emphatically NOT dog lesbians — who have seen all the more popular fare and are looking for new queer horror to stream. – Drew

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Cat People

Rent on Apple TV ($3.99) or Prime ($3.79)

For queer fans who want to go back to some classics of the queer horror subtext canon, Cat People is an essential watch. The film was written by gay screenwriter DeWitt Bodeen, and as such you do not have to look too hard to see the movie’s latent queer themes. – KKU

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Cuckoo

Hulu

A horror film with a great Final Girl, jumpscares that land, AND a sapphic makeout scene so good it ended up on our list of The Best Lesbian Movie Make Outs of All Time? Cast Hunter Schafer in more horror, Hollywood! She absolutely slays here. – KKU

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Dracula’s Daughter

Rent on Apple TV ($3.99) or Prime ($3.99)

One of the earliest lesbian films, this Dracula sequel pulls just as much from the other vampiric literary classic, Carmilla. Made after the introduction of the Hays Code, efforts were made to remove any lesbianism from the film, but they did not succeed. While there may not any explicit kissing, there is a lot of suggestive glances and hovering. As in Carmilla, the lesbian vampire is a predator who aims to seduce a nice girl away from “normal” behavior. And yet despite this intention, it’s easy to be seduced by the trope itself! – Drew

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The Fall of the House of Usher

Netflix

Easily the campiest of the Netflix Flanaverse, The Fall of the House of Usher is somehow both very morbid and very fun. Come for the fact that just about every character is queer (and hot); stay for the actually pretty juicy critique of Big Pharma and corporate empires. And be sure to do a deep dive on every episode with our recaps. – KKU

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Fear Street

Netflix

Of the three interconnected but aesthetically distinct Fear Street installments, part one, which mimics 90s-style slashers is undoubtedly my favorite. But there’s queerness throughout the trilogy, the show’s central themes of class divisions and a cursed town echoing through the decades and centuries. Watching all three in a row would make for a fun night in, especially if accompanied by delivery pizza and 2-liters of soda to really lean into the 90s nostalgia. – KKU

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Freaks

Criterion

Many classic horror movies found the humanity in monstrous outsiders, but Tod Browning’s follow up to Dracula turns its attention to real life outsiders. This is a really complicated and interesting movie in terms of disability, but it also includes a trans person in its cast of others. Real-life circus performer Josephine Joseph plays a version of herself. Here she portrays her transness by having the appearance of a “male” side and a “female” side, but she eventually had gender reassignment surgery and lived her life entirely as female. She is one of the earliest examples of a known trans person appearing on-screen. – Drew

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Good Manners

Tubi

I am quite literally always trying to get people to watch this genre Frankenstein of a movie. Body horror! Monster narrative! Tragic lesbian love story! Social commentary on class in Brazil! Domestic horror! Musical?! This movie really does have it all. With this one, I always think it’s best if you go in knowing as few specifics as possible. – KKU

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The Haunting (1963)

Rent on Apple TV ($3.99) or Prime ($3.79)

In this haunted house, we recognize the 1963 version of this movie and the 1963 version ONLY. You never really see anything terrifying in this movie — you hear it. And you see it in the eyes of the characters. Their fear becomes your fear. This movie really proves that all you need is good sound design and a talented ensemble cast to pull off horror. – KKU

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The Haunting of Bly Manor

Netflix

If you’re worried The Haunting of Hill House might be too scary for you, might I suggest Flanagan’s other adapted-from-literature Netflix horror series, The Haunting of Bly Manor, which I think is less frightening than Hill House while still delivering some classic frights. It’s a loose adaptation of Henry James’ 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw as well as other works by James. But most importantly, it’s a lesbian love story at its core — featuring ghosts, hauntings, and time loops. If you want to experience the full impact of the slow-burn queer romance, you’ll have to watch the whole thing. But in my opinion, the best episode of the series works very well as a standalone installment: episode five (“The Altar of the Dead”). – KKU

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The Haunting of Hill House

Netflix

The first thing I did when finishing the Mike Flanagan series loosely based on Shirley Jackson’s iconic gothic horror novel of the same name was go back to the beginning and start it again. I was instantly obsessed with this sprawling series about a family, their various traumas, and the haunted house that comes to define them well into their adulthood. While very different adaptations, it would be fun to pair this with a screening of 1963’s The Haunting, which you’ll find toward the end of this list and which is also featured on our Scariest Queer Horror Movie Moments list. If I have the time, I usually like to do a full rewatch of this series during the month, but if you want a more compressed experience, you can’t go wrong with rewatching either episode five (“The Bent-Neck Lady”) or six (“Two Storms”). – KKU

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Hausu

Criterion, HBO Max

While not usually categorized as queer horror, this classic of Japanese cinema deserves a place on this list. It may explicitly be about girls who are trying to escape the expectations of heterosexual marriage, but you know what’s a great way to do that? Being gay! The relationships between the girls feels so queer it becomes undeniable. Paired with the flamboyant style, it ends up feeling formally queer as well as in its story. I’m not sure if there’s any proof that was intentional but just watch the movie and you’ll see! – Drew

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Hell Motel

AMC+, Shudder

This Shudder original Satanic slasher series is a bit all over the place, but when it’s fun, it’s quite fun. The proprietors of this reopened gimmicky haunted hotel where a couple were murdered years before are a lesbian couple with very different aesthetics (mommi4goth). When the series leans into slasher tropes, it’s actually at its best. It’s actually the attempts at originality that don’t quite land. – KKU

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Hellraiser (2022)

Disney+, Hulu

Definitely different in aesthetic and scope from the original, the new Hellraiser stars Jamie Clayton as the pain-loving Pinhead. It doesn’t quite leave a mark in the same way as that original film (though I could be biased, as original Hellraiser is an all-time favorite of mine), but there’s still much to admire here, especially in Clayton’s performance. – KKU

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Hellraiser

Tubi

Gay author and filmmaker Clive Barker’s kinky masterpiece launched a franchise, but there’s nothing like the original. By finding the pleasure in pain and the pain in pleasure, Barker created a sticky queer world that’s deeper than our cultural image of Pinhead. This is a film about forbidden desire and even today remains one of the most accomplished queer horror movies. It’s great we now have more movies that go beyond subtext, but sometimes subtext is the best way to express a feeling. – Drew

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The Hunger

Tubi

More erotic than it is scary, The Hunger is nevertheless a queer horror delight that has stood the test of time. In addition to featuring one of the best lesbian sex scenes of all time, it’s also one of the best vampire films ever. – KKU

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Interview with the Vampire

AMC+, Netflix

In this very gay, very sexy series based on the iconic novels by Anne Rice, we get a very fleshed out and complicated portrayal of a toxic queer relationship and messy queer family. The costumes, set pieces, and sexual dynamics are scintillating, but the storytelling is also quite smart when it comes to themes of abuse, power, control, and homophobia. Just an all around good horror series with lots of squelching and blood. – KKU

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I Saw the TV Glow

HBO Max

Jane Schoenbrun’s sophomore feature at first appears to be more coming-of-age than horror. But as the world of the in-universe show The Pink Opaque blends with the reality of the characters, moments of genuine terror are born. By the end, it’s clear that sometimes the regret is scarier than anything on a TV screen. – Drew

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It’s a Wonderful Knife

Disney+, Hulu

If you love horror and also love Christmas, then this is the slasher for you! The queer romance, to me, feels a little shoehorned in, but there are some creative kills and genuine thrills to this holiday horror film. – KKU

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Jagged Mind

Disney+, Hulu

Abuse becomes a time loop in the twisty and disturbing Jagged Mind, a lesbian thriller that, while imperfect, will sink into your skin. – KKU

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Jennifer’s Body

Disney+, Hulu, Tubi

Bitingly funny, chillingly gross, and undeniably bisexual in its bones, Jennifer’s Body is finally getting the retroactive critical acclaim it deserved in the first place. Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried are fantastic, and their character’s obsessive best friendship makes for great sapphic tension underscoring a gory and sinister horror-comedy. – KKU

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Knife + Heart

AMC+, Shudder

Few horror films explore the thin line between desire and fear as explicitly — literally explicitly, as it’s set in the world of the pornography industry in late 1970s Paris — and acutely as Knife + Heart, a penetrative blade of a film that’s lush and lurid in its imagery. Art, porn, and violence intermingle in a story not at all concerned about portraying queerness or its many queer characters as “good” or “safe.” It’s as horrific as it is (homo)erotic. And it will haunt you long after watching. – KKU

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The Lure

Criterion, HBO Max

This genre-bending mermaid musical horror movie was likely not intended to be about a gay trans girl and her straight trans girl best friend. (Michalina Olszanska and Marta Mazurek who play the central mermaids, Gold and Silver, are both cis.) And yet with its literal bottom surgery and riff on The Little Mermaid — a trans girl favorite — it’s no surprise that it’s left such an impression on the community. But beyond this imposed subtext this is still a weird and wonderful work of queer cinema that includes a sung-through scene of lesbian fish sex that makes The Shape of Water look like Mr. Limpet. – Drew

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Lyle

Tubi

It’s unnecessary to say that Stewart Thorndike’s fierce horror movie is more than its pitch – what if Rosemary’s Baby was gay? It’s unnecessary, because the film doesn’t settle in that premise and it doesn’t go beyond it. Instead it dives deep into the thematic mess that question raises. I’m still not sure what the film is saying, and I’m not sure it’s really saying anything. It’s just asking questions we don’t ask; expressing feelings often left unexpressed. And as an experience it’s an absolute ride. – Drew

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Matriarch

Disney+, Hulu

You’ll note that this list isn’t necessarily of the best queer horror movies and shows to stream, but we wanted to include as many titles as possible to account for different tastes, interests, and horror thresholds. Matriarch, in my opinion, is not a very good film, though it had promise in its premise. Folk horror vibes and cursed mother-daughter dynamics collide here, and maybe you’ll find more to like about it than I did. After surviving an overdose, the protagonist goes back to her hometown and childhood home and has to face the mother she’s estranged from. – KKU

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Midnight Kiss

Hulu

While this list primarily features horror shows and films that center queer women and sapphic stories, I’m too big a fan of this recent gay boy slasher to not include it. In it, a gaggle of gays and their token straight girl friend head to Palm Springs to celebrate New Year’s but end up hunted by a masked serial killer. It’s homosexual holiday slasher fun! – KKU

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Monsterland, “Plainfield, IL”

Disney+, Hulu

Monsterland is an anthology horror series that features a different monster in every episode, and there’s an episode featuring Taylor Schilling and Roberta Colindrez as wives! The episode admittedly makes some missteps in its portrayal of mental illness and doesn’t have as nuanced of a view of “monstrousness” as other episodes do. But if you’re only interested in watching the gay episode, this one’s it. – KKU

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Mulholland Drive

Rent on Apple TV ($3.99) or Prime ($3.79)

Just a fantastic movie all around, David Lynch’s iconic 2001 surrealist thriller is proof that abstract doesn’t have to mean incoherent in film. It has Lynchian strangeness, yes, but it’s also ultimately structured well, its tight pacing building genuine fear and suspense throughout. It’s my personal favorite work of Lynch’s — and not necessarily because it’s gay; it’s also just really good. – KKU

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Nope

Peacock

Jordan Peele’s latest is somehow as audacious as it is funny and entertaining. Beyond its grand visual achievements, it is structurally inventive and thematically dense. Oh and it stars the one and only Keke Palmer getting to play her whole queer self. I’m still convinced we’ll someday get a director’s cut where she at the very least flirts with Barbie Ferreira’s character but even in the theatrical release she is explicitly queer. It’s not the point and yet in a movie partially about who is centered in film history and who is forgotten, this aspect of her character cannot be ignored. – Drew

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The Old Dark House

Criterion, Tubi

James Whale is best known for directing horror classics Frankenstein and The Invisible Man. But his queerest movie — and one of his best — is this quirky and hilarious hidden gem. Subtext comes right up to the edge of text in this one with one male character played by an actress in drag and some suggestive moments between two other women. It’s also just so campy and formally queer! – Drew

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The Other Side of the Underneath

AMC+, Shudder, Tubi

Based on her stage production, A New Communion for Freaks, Prophets, and Witches, Jane Arden’s uncategorizable masterwork was number one on our list of the 25 Scariest Queer Horror Movie Moments. Far from your average scare fare, this film oscillates between the uncanny terror and joyful surrealism inspired by the headspace of its protagonist with schizophrenia. Arden herself struggled with mental illness and campaigned against the psychiatric treatments of her time. Those experiences are on full display here — the horror coming as much from the the protagonist’s inner mental state. Equal parts queer magic, political fury, and arlecchino nightmare clowns, it’s time this underground classic took its rightful place on the surface. – Drew

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The Perfection

Netflix

The first part of this movie is delicious and genuinely frightening. Allison Williams and Logan Browning are rival cellists who hook up before things take a very, very wrong turn. There’s a jaw-dropping moment that leads into an even more jaw-dropping twist. Unfortunately, everything after that doesn’t quite live up to the beginning. Nevertheless, it’s still a polished and unique work of high quality trash. – Drew

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Perpetrator

AMC+, Shudder

Some of you may know Jennifer Reeder as the director of Fawzia Mirza’s wonderful romcom Signature Move. But she usually works in horror! Her latest feature is about Jonny, a queer teenage girl who goes to live with her aunt (played by Alicia Silverstone!) as her 18th birthday approaches. Jonny isn’t a regular teenager and this new town isn’t a regular town. Other teenage girls keep going missing and Jonny takes it upon herself to figure out why. If you’re not familiar with Reeder’s unique — and bloody! — body of work this is a great place to start. – Drew

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Rebecca

Criterion

If you watch Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel as a love story between the mousy second Mrs. DeWinter and the older millionaire Maxime, then Mrs. Danvers is undoubtedly the villain. But if you watch the film as a love story between Mrs. Danvers and the late Rebecca, the villain becomes the murderous Maxime. Played by queer woman Judith Anderson, Mrs. Danvers is one of Hitchcock’s greatest characters. He may have used queerness to other his villains but he let them be three-dimensional characters and, as a result, created some of the best queer characters in classic film. – Drew

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Saint Maud

Prime

Writer/director Rose Glass has already shot a second feature starring Kristen Stewart that’s set to be released early next year. So while we wait, check out her startling debut about a pious nurse with a secret who begins taking care of a hedonistic lesbian dancer. This is a very Catholic film about sinning and saving. It’s definitely more interested in its titular character than the lesbian, but it can be fascinating to watch horror from the perspective of our villains. – Drew

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Scream V

Disney, Hulu, Paramount+

Tis the season for a full Scream franchise rewatch, but of course for our purposes here we’re focusing on the ones with explicitly gay characters. Scream V introduces us to Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy, the niece of Randy Meeks who shares her deceased uncle’s vast knowledge of horror tropes. While I’m not in love with this entry into the franchise and think it’s mostly just checking an inclusion box by making Mindy gay, I do like her a lot as a character and enjoy a lot of the new additions to the cast even if they’re in a bit of a flop of a story. – KKU

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Scream VI

Paramount+

There’s definitely one kill in this movie that rubs me the wrong way, but I won’t spoil it since this is still the newest of the Screams. That flaw aside, I do think Scream VI improves upon some of the mythology set up by Scream V and also expands queer core four member Mindy’s role. It also brings back Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby, who might not technically be canonically bisexual but pings enough for me to make the executive gay decision to count her among the Scream Queers. – KKU

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Seance

AMC+, Tubi

A supernatural slasher set in an all-girls boarding school, Seance features a queer main character in its ensemble cast of scream queens. It was written and directed by Simon Barrett, who wrote one of my favorite neo-slashers, You’re Next. – KKU

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The Short Films of Jennifer Reeder

Criterion

If you like Perpetrator, you can watch more of Jennifer Reeder’s unique and horrifying body of work on The Criterion Channel! They have nine of her short films ranging in length between five minutes and a half hour. They also have an interview with Reeder about the films! – Drew

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Sissy

AMC+, Shudder, Tubi

Aisha Dee plays influencer — ahem, “mental health advocate,” according to her — Cecilia/Sissy in this very good, very gay Australian horror movie from 2022. It takes place at a gay bachelorette party (or hen party, because you know, Australia), which thrusts Sissy into the same space as her former bully. Psychological gay mayhem and mordant humor mix in this thriller in which Dee is an easy standout. – KKU

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Something in the Water

Disney+, Hulu

I may not have loved this work of lesbian shark horror, but some of its creative swings are admirable, including the fact that so much of it takes place quite literally in the middle of the ocean with no reprieve for its treading characters. The shark is also very scary — when you can’t see it. You’re honestly better off watching Jaws, not just because it’s one of the greats but because there is genuine homoerotic tension between its central men! Read Jen Corrigan’s essay on the queerness of Jaws! – KKU

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The Strings

AMC+, Shudder

Calling all arthouse horror fans! This is the slowest of slow burns but the rewards are plentiful. Teagan Johnston — who also wrote the films songs — plays Catherine, a queer musician isolating at a remote cabin after a break up — a break up break up and a band break up. What begins as lonely and mundane, ultimately builds to moments of absolute terror. This movie has ghosts, great music, incredible cinematography, and queer make outs. What more could you want?? – Drew

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T-Blockers

AMC+, Tubi

Here we have another work of trans horror. As Drew writes in her review: “Pulling from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, zombies, rape/revenge movies, and indie hangout comedies, Mackay’s film is a hodgepodge of genres coming together to tell a story about being a teen trans girl in 2023.”

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Thelma

Rent on Apple TV ($3.99) or Prime ($2.99)

Moody and cerebral, this Norwegian supernatural horror film looks directly at how repressed queerness can psychologically torture a person with ruinous, even violent, results. – KKU

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They/Them

Peacock

Here’s another film I do not necessarily recommend, but I know some people found things to enjoy about it, and it is billed as a gay slasher, so there’s that! If someone tries to tell you it’s the first queer slasher, however, that’s not true. That title belongs to Hellbent (available for rent on Prime and about a group of gay men) and Make a Wish (a bewildering lesbian slasher unavailable to stream ANYWHERE). But if you want something easier to find, you can watch this slasher set at conversion camp. It’d at least be a good candidate for a drinking game. – KKU

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Titane

Tubi

There was a lot of pressure on Julia Ducournau’s sophomore feature after her remarkable cannibalistic debut Raw. I’d say being the first woman to solely win the Palme d’Or lived up to that pressure! Rather than repeat herself, this movie is more idiosyncratic and challenging. It’s funny and brutal and baffling. Some trans people have taken issue with the way the film traffics in transmasculine imagery, but personally its complex approach to gender really worked for me. If you like strippers, firemen, cars, daddy issues, and body horror, check this one out! – Drew

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Wayward

Netflix

I’m seeing this series mostly described as a thriller, but I think it absolutely teeters into horror territory, especially in its finest moments. Mae Martin has crafted a psychological nightmare that is totally of-the-moment despite its 2003 setting. They play the series’ transmasc protagonist and are supported by an impressive ensemble, including Toni Collette and some killer young performers. – KKU

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Wendell & Wild

Netflix

If you want some spooky fare for October, but aren’t a horror person, here is the perfect solution! A collaboration between stop motion legend Henry Selick and horror genius Jordan Peele, this is a Halloween-ready kids movie with a lot on its mind. It has a goth Black girl lead, a Latino trans boy by her side, and a plot all about the dangers of private prisons. It also has demons and skeletons and all sorts of undead delights! – Drew

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We Need to Do Something

AMC+

I really disliked this movie but maybe you’ll disagree! It does have a romance between two goth girls. But it also punishes those goth girls for casting a spell on a creepy boy? As someone with my own personal experiences, I found its treatment of mental illness and cutting to be poorly done. And the dialogue in general rang false. But, hey, years of Covid does make trapped in a room horror more relevant! And, again, you might like this more than me. (Probably not.) – Drew

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We’re All Going to the World’s Fair

Rent on Apple TV ($4.99) or Prime ($4.99)

This movie is a true masterclass in slow-build horror and creating tension and stakes in really simple, borderline mundane ways. It’s very atmospheric horror, and its effects will stick with you for a while. Not much happens, but that lack of action is an inherent part of the horror here. – KKU

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Wreck

Disney+, Hulu

I love this genuinely sweet lil slasher-comedy, which takes place on a cruise ship during its first season and then at a remote “wellness retreat” for rich people in its second. It’s great at skewering the ultra wealthy, and it’s also great in its storytelling about chosen family. There are so many queer characters, and the two central characters are a gay boy and a lesbian, a friendship combo very near and dear to my heart. Not everyone will love the twist of season one, but I sure did! – KKU

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Yellowjackets

Netflix, Paramount+

It’s unclear exactly when we’ll be getting more episodes of our beloved queer cannibal horror show, but I’ll take any opportunity to do a rewatch! If you are somehow reading this on this particular website and are NOT familiar with the series, it explores the horrors of being stranded in the wilderness, being a teenage girl, surviving something horrible, and yes, cannibalism. – KKU

Join Brenda K.B. Anderson on Tuesday, October 28th at 10:00 a.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. ET for a free LIVE event where she’ll show you how to create a stylish Halloween collar that instantly transforms any black top or dress into festive spooky-season attire, making it a fun accessory for both kids and adults.

More Sewing Projects to Explore
• Batty Treat Bags
• Trick or Treat Bag with Applique
• Spiderweb Coasters
• Candy Corn Stuffie

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]]> http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/spiderweb-collar/feed/ 0 http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/cabled-hat-knitting-patterns-knitting/ http://livelaughlovedo.com/hobbies-and-crafts/cabled-hat-knitting-patterns-knitting/#respond Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:09:26 +0000 http://livelaughlovedo.com/2025/09/24/cabled-hat-knitting-patterns-knitting/ [ad_1]

Now here’s a Halloween project that’s equal parts whimsical and practical—the Free Knitting Pattern for a Flying Witches Bookmark. If you’re like me and can never have too many bookmarks tucked into your knitting books, novels, or even cookbooks, this one is a seasonal treat.

The design features a row of little witches flying across the night sky—perfectly captured in stitches. It’s a flat, quick-knit project, which makes it fantastic for using up leftover yarn scraps. Black, purple, orange, or even a pop of metallic silver or gold would really bring those broom-riders to life.

This is a great in-between project: when you don’t have time for a big knit but still want that satisfying finish, a bookmark like this ticks all the boxes. It would also make a sweet handmade gift for your book-loving friends around Halloween—pair it with a thriller or ghost story and you’ve got a thoughtful present.

Skill-wise, it leans toward the adventurous beginner or intermediate knitter, since it involves following a motif chart. But the project is small enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed. Plus, you’ll have a finished piece to show off before you know it.

All in all, the Flying Witches Bookmark is a quirky, fun Halloween knit that adds a dash of handmade magic to your reading routine. Small, stash-busting, and full of charm—what’s not to love?

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