Spicy Spooky Movies to Fire Up Your Long Weekend
Spicy Spooky Movies to Fire Up Your Weekend
To celebrate Sonora Taylor's upcoming release Someone to Share My Nightmares I thought I'd share some of my favourite spooky flicks that utilise sex, romance and sensuality to ramp up the tension. All of these movies are spectacular at delivering different flavors of romance and sexuality, and a lot of them have sapphic/homoerotic vibes as well. I also find campy horror to have its own special brand of sexual tension, and so I've included some of those in there as well, because there's nothing spicier than some good innuendo and wordplay!
Please note that most of the movies on this list contain explicit content and may trigger some viewers. I advise that if you have content triggers of a sexual nature you do a little digging on each of these offerings just to make sure they won't be harmful. Some of them also may include or allude to kink/fetish elements or be explicit in on screen sex. Additionally, some contain substance abuse and domestic abuse. (I also have some of these listed on my Letterboxd if you need them!)
Suspiria (2018)
I really, really, really love this super dark update to Dario Argento's original Suspiria story! There's something so unchained, raw, and animalistic about the way the modern dance is utilized in the film. It has some of the most incredible choreography and body movement, and there is unrelenting sexual tension in every thrust, twirl, slide, and leap. The red rope costumes are evocative of Shibari work, and it adds a truly sexy and dark kink factor to the cumulative final number. I love the sapphic vibes and energy of the (more or less) all-lady cast. It starts off slow, muted, and despondent in the beginning, and then begins an obscene escalation that culminates in a totally bonkers bizarre last 20-30 mins. Talk about a climax, dear heavens to Betsy, this certainly packs a wallop.
It Follows
Using sex as a trope for death and destruction is nothing new for the horror genre, but I do love watching people reinvent the wheel a bit, and this one certainly does the trick. The plot revolves around a curse that is passed from teen to teen via sexual transmission. It's an excellent metaphor for consent, STDs/STIs, and related. The film makes great use of the way anxiety and fears look different to everyone, even if they're all about the same thing/subject. I love that The Entity transforms into multiple looks and has a new shock tailor made for each character. It is an evil that can look like anyone at any time, including those closest to you or most trusted. The layers upon layers of tension are really great! It's also beautifully shot with some very clever jumpscares and visuals. It's a lot of fun with a touch of retro late 70s/early 80s vibes, and some unique tidbits and details.
Elvira Mistress of the Dark
Bless our long time Queer Icon, Elvira!!! This movie is full of innuendos, double entendres, and just good goofy fun. It's got a naughty streak that is top tier for teens and adults, but just clever enough to be watchable with tweens/kids (hopefully some of the stuff will go over their head like did for me as a smol!). Honesty, what could be spicier than our queen of Halloween?! Have you seen her bodacious outfits? Exactly. Anyway, we stan a good Elvira flick in this house and it's an excellent introduction to her if you're new to the schtick (and you can check out her new special with Shudder after!).
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Best viewed live, but still fun at home! If you've not seen this or haven't heard of it by now, you're living under a rock; I also won't explain it to you because you're best going in unknowing and enjoying the ride. But suffice it to say it's perfect for those who love a little tension via prolonged antici--------
------pation.
(you're welcome)
Crimson Peak
Anyway, this bizarre little number from creator Guillermo Del Toro is a very divisive movie. You either love it, or you vehemently hate it. I personally find it to be delightful, and I think the sexual tension betwixt the three main characters is just delightful. Honestly, though, I think the costumes in this movie are so luscious and richly coloured and the fabrics are simply divine that it really sets a mood. Imagine the tension of having to get through so many layers before romancing someone? (UGH. The wait alone might take me out, quite frankly.) I love a good velvet flounce and a bit of ruffle and lace, though. Plus, sorry to say it, but Victorian Gothic Architecture is just absolutely deliciously sexy in and of itself. And look, the cast? The cast! Yes please I love them all so much that I simply cannot choose a favourite. Cheers to everything about this movie oozing dark romance and being visually compelling to boot!
Jennifer's Body
Critics be damned because this one just made it into the Criterion Collection! Lesbihonest, there's nothing we love more than a good feminist horror tale, and this one hits the spot. Megan Fox is a true gem! This has some truly iconic sexy moments between Jennifer and her "bff" Needy, as well as some great seduction-to-murder scenes. Can't stop thinking about that classic tongue-and-lighter scene though, ugh! And who can resist a good slow motion walk down the hallway scene? NO ONE, that's who. If you've not seen it, you must. It's also directed by Karyn Kusama, another leading lady in horror that we truly love.
Interview with a Vampire
Anne Rice, queen of the vampire romance that overtook the paranormal genre by storm. Everything about this movie oozes sexiness, and it is the iconic classic in every late Gen X/Millennial Goth's collection. Studio execs made zero mistakes about their casting choices with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (pre-shenanigans for both of them, so, sorry we know better now but they were pretty sexy here even if they're way less so now thanks to misogyny) and although it was questionable due to her young age, the magnificent Kristen Stewart really carried so much of the film on her back as the Immortal Child Claudia. Questionable content aside, the entire mood of this movie just oozes sex appeal and plenty of spicy queerbaiting and homoerotic bromance. I mean really it's sort of self explanatory though as Vampires really lend themselves to the sexy vibes. A bit dated now, I'm sure, but still iconic. If you're looking for sexy goth cosplay tips, this movie has you covered at the very least!
Also recommended: Queen of the Damned because whew boy Aaliyah really slayed that role with everything she had; it's not a good movie but she sure as heck is sensual and powerful!
Editor's Note: Editor Elle advises forgetting everything you love about the book before going into this film, or avoiding it completely if you have an 'undying' love of the Anne Rice series.
Only Lovers Left Alive
What's more romantic than the idea of two soulmates finding eternal love and immortal romance? Maybe the fact that they're played by Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston would do it. This is a darkly comedic romance with plenty of bittersweet melodrama. Two doomed artists living out their days in a poetic love story, trying to find new meaning in the monotony of immortality. How do you keep things spicy after eons and eons together? It's hard enough for mortals as it is! It's lush in its cinematography, engaging in its acting, relatable in its romance, and just overall truly a delight to behold.
The Neon Demon
Serving us neon tinged beautiful ladies in the LA modeling scene with a side of vampirism and smattering of bloody gore and a healthy dose of sapphic tension? Yes ma'am I'm in. I'm sorry, did that not sell it enough for you? Allow me to continue: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Christina Hendricks, Abbey Lee KErShaw, Bella Heathcote, and Keanu Effing Reeves. Still not into it? What about an appearance by our new sexy cenobyte overlord, Kamie Clayton!? It's a gorgeously shot movie, saturated in plenty of bisexual lighting and 90s neons! The soundtrack is to die for. The casting is to die for. It's got real "step on me" energy! Anyway, I love it and it's pretty and shiny and full of nice ladies and glitter so I guess what's not to love about that really!
Verotika
Look, if I'm being real this is the least spicy on this list but the one with the most butts and boobs and dangling bits of any of them. Why is it on this list, you ask? Nothing will cool down a bad date faster than suggesting you watch this one! Glen Danzig has poured all the earnest energy in the world into making this film, and yet somehow it really just isn't enough. Boobies, butts, and buckets of blood should really be easy ingredients to mix up and make a really erotic horror cake, but it's so flat and underbaked. This is the "soggy bottom" of spicy horror, but it's so campy and obscenely bad and in such poor taste that I still felt it worth mentioning because there is a ridiculous amount of sex and nudity, it's just not good at it. If disasters and trainwrecks are your kink, this will be right up your alley. Worth it for those eyeballs alone, really. It's so horrendous though that it's only equivalent comparison of "level of sexy" would be a cold shower set to tuba music.
Climax
I'm torn on this one. On one hand, it's an incredibly trippy and utterly captivating and creative psychosexual drama, on the other hand, it makes me really want to start a fundraiser to send Gaspar Noe for some serious psychotherapy. I'm really, really afraid of all the terrifying visuals and things that this man puts out in the world, and I'm concerned about his mental wellbeing, but also he churns out some of the most exquisitely beautiful and disturbing art I've ever seen. (I can't bring myself to stomach Irreversible, due to its incredibly drawn out and graphic rape scene, but I've seen others.) This movie won't be accessible to the masses, but it really leans in on the sensuality of dance as an art and the beauty of the human figure and movement. That is, until it all goes off the rails in a very bad hallucinatory substance abuse manner. It's got a lot of triggering content, and it's not going to be easy for most audiences. But if you're brave enough to view, you'll be rewarded with one of the most stunning dance movies I've ever laid eyes on, and one of the most creative "singular shot" aesthetic films I've ever witnessed. It's spectacular filmmaking, just difficult to digest. Avoid like hell if you can't take spinning cameras, flashing lights and visuals, and pulsing beats; it's chock full of way too many stimuli for the photosensitive and auditorily sensitive folks.
The Handmaiden
I am a huge fan of Asian import films, and especially of the Korean category. This film is incredible in every aspect: part heist movie, part thriller, part romance, with a sprinkling of horror elements. The story has plenty of twists and turns to keep you occupied through the long runtime, and the sexual energy weaves amidst the characters with as much tension as a ballerina doing pirouettes on a tightrope. It's a dizzying tale of intrigue, romance, and destruction and you won't be able to tear your eyes from the screen! The cast has an incredible chemistry and it makes for spectacular relationship dynamics. In addition, it has some of the most beautiful cinematography and composition throughout; every scene is beautiful. A word of caution though, as this contains its fair share of abusive men, gaslighting, and manipulation. Truly it is so genuinely compelling and fascinating, and twists itself into quite an interesting and elegant final act.
Do you have any favourite horror movies tinged with romance, sexuality, and erotic tension that I didn't include on this list? Please tell me in the comments, because lord knows I love movies and always welcome suggestions for new viewing!
By Ellen Avigliano
Twitter: @imaginariumcs
Instagram: @imaginariumarts
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com
