During a recent interview with Fandango promoting Materialists, Celine Song’s Past Lives follow-up and unexpected swing into romantic comedy, Pascal sat between fellow stars Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans, serving chaos, charm, and more than a few suggestive glances.
At one point, the trio was asked to share their “unicorn traits,” or the unique qualities that make them relationship material. Evans went the earnest route, calling himself “very supportive.” Johnson joked that she’s selfish. And then Pascal, with a sly smile and dramatic pause, delivered the line we’ve all been desperate to hear:
“I’m a pleaser.”
Cue everyone melting.
— (@)
The interview, part of Materialists’ early promo push, offered a glimpse at the chemistry behind the film’s central love triangle, which follows Lucy (Johnson), a Manhattan matchmaker, as she finds herself torn between the broke actor she left behind (Evans) and the rich new man who walks into her life (Pascal). Inspired by classic ‘80s romcoms like Broadcast News and Terms of Endearment, Materialists seems poised to revive the genre with both elegance and emotional wreckage.
But while Pascal may be channeling Harrison Ford in Working Girl onscreen, offscreen, he’s doing something even more powerful.
This week, he joined over 100 artists, including Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and Daniel Radcliffe, in signing an open letter from The Trevor Project opposing the proposed elimination of $50 million in federal funding for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention.
“We will not stay silent,” the letter declares. “Stripping away this lifeline leaves LGBTQ+ youth with the message that their lives are not worth saving. We refuse to accept that message.”
So yes, Pascal is a pleaser. But he’s also a protector. A unicorn with range, if you will.
It’s yet another reason in our growing list of why Pascal will forever have a place in our hearts.
7 queer horror films you may have already missed in 2025
Shudder; New Line Cinema
Hello and welcome to the latest Creepy Kiki, PRIDE’s weekly dissection of all things that go bump in the (gay) night.
We’re officially halfway through 2025 and just a few months away from spooky season, and already this has proven to be a really exciting year for the horror genre in general, but especially for queer horror. That said, this week I thought it would be the perfect time for a mid-year horror binge, and playing a little game of catch-up by focusing on the seven queer horror films that dropped this year that you may have already missed — shocking, I know!
From haunted houses to haunted minds, queer obsession, and coming-of-age, 2025 is already proving to be a year for thought-provoking, transgressive, hilarious, and chilling horror. So, without further delay, here are the queer horror films you may have missed and where to watch them.
‘Dead Mail’
Shudder
Dead Mail is a true oddity of a film, and I mean that in the very best way possible. It feels less like a movie that was released and more like one that was discovered somewhere, tucked away on a dusty, hidden shelf.It follows a host of characters and revolves around a bloody piece of mail that shows up in the lost mail department of a small town post office. Jasper (Tomas Boykin), the post office’s investigator, begins tracking down leads. If he’s successful in putting the pieces together, they’ll lead him to a grisly discovery set in the world of competitive synthesizer building. Yes, competitive synthesizer building. It's a story about loneliness and obsession, and it’s queer in every sense of the word. The definition of a hidden gem.
Dead Mail is currently streaming on Shudder.
‘Fréwaka’
Shudder
Fréwaka is another wonderfully unique film. This folk horror outing from writer-director Aislinn Clark, delivered largely in the Irish language, follows a lesbian named Shoo (Clare Monnelly) who, fresh off the passing of her mother, takes a job caretaking for an ailing woman (Bríd Ní Neachtain) who’s convinced that the fae folk are trying to break into her home.
While at first adversarial, the two women grow closer, bonding over their shared history of trauma. As such, when Shoo begins to suspect that there might indeed be something ancient and evil in the basement trying to get in, it’s not immediately clear if this is a supernatural horror or a case of folie à deux. Lesser films would leave the answer frustratingly ambiguous, while this one blessedly chooses a side and leaves audiences with a haunting climax that is equal parts chilling, aching, and inevitable.
Fréwaka is streaming now on Shudder.
‘Clown in a Cornfield’
Shudder
Proving once again that queer horror can also just be a ton of fun, Clown in a Cornfield is a classic teen slasher that’s both nostalgic and surprisingly queer. This film is based on the first volume in the popular book series by Adam Cesare and follows Quinn (Katie Douglas), a teen who moves from the city to the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri. Once there, she begins making new friends and is excited for a fresh start in the flyover states. Things take a turn, however, when she and her friends find themselves the target of Frendo the Clown, the town's former mascot, who’s picking off teens in a string of gruesome killings. You know, classic slasher stuff.
Why is it on this list? Well, it features a queer twist that I won't be spoiling, but I can confirm that it's meaningful to the plot of the film!
Clown in a Cornfield is currently in theaters and heading to digital on June 10.
‘Companion’
New Line Cinema
Companionmade waves when it hit theaters in January, and if you missed it, now’s a great time to circle back on this darkly funny take on modern dating. The film centers on a group of friends spending a weekend together at the lake house of one of their rich (and shady) pals. Following a fatal incident, it quickly becomes clear that no one there is quite who they seem and the love stories between each of the couples are tested — and their truths revealed. The film stars Harvey Guillén and Lukas Gage as one of the couples and, frankly, they steal the show.
Companion is streaming now on Max.
‘The Parenting’
HBO Max
The Parenting proves that the only way introducing your partner to your parents can be any more terrifying is to have the proceedings crashed by a thousand-year-old demon. In this star-studded (I’m talking Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, and Parker Posey) horror comedy, Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn star as a couple who invite their respective parents for a weekend of getting to know one another.
Think Meet the Parents but make it gay and add a lot more ectoplasm — and a naked Brian Cox — and what you end up with is The Parenting.
The Parenting is streaming now on Max.
‘There's a Zombie Outside’
Gravitas Ventures
There's a Zombie Outside may have flown under your radar, but this very queer — textually and subtextually — film focuses on a gay filmmaker (Ben Baur) whose reality begins to blur as a monster from his film begins creeping around at the edges of his reality, while he and his boyfriend and their friends are away at a cabin retreat.
Metaphors for queerness, identity, and artists' struggles abound in this indie horror film. So if you like horror packed with theme and symbolism, this is a must-see. Plus, it features a cameo from drag legend Peaches Christ!
There's a Zombie Outside is available to rent on Prime Video.
‘Bloody Axe Wound’
Shudder
OK, I admit it, this last selection is a bit of a cheat. Not because it isn't queer (it is very queer) and not because it isn't a solid horror comedy (it is), but because it technically hit Shudder on December 27, 2024. But I’m making the call and including it here anyway because it's just over the line and likely got lost in the holiday season shuffle. It's also great, and sapphics deserve nice things, too!
Bloody Axe Wound follows Abbie Bladecut (Sari Arambulo), the daughter of a slasher killer (Billy Burke) who, as dad’s health begins to fade after one too many resurrections, has been tapped to take his place. There's just one problem: she's already fallen in love with Sam (Molly Brown), one of the nubile teens she’s tasked with killing as part of her initiation.
It's quirky and sweet and perfectly blends the queer coming-of-age genre with a supernatural slasher. It’s a strange combo, but it just works.
Bloody Axe Wound is streaming now on Shudder.
And with that, this week’s Creepy Kiki is adjourned! I’ll be back with more highlights on queer horror next week. In the meantime make sure you like and follow us on YouTube for more queer news and pop culture content.
While Pride month may be a time to hit the streets and let our rainbow flags fly, it's also a great time to catch up on all the queer TV and movies headed our way this month, too!
This June sees the return of some of our favorites, including new seasons ofThe Gilded Age, The Ultimatum: Queer Love, Ginny & Georgia, and Squid Game. It’s also introducing new, soon-to-be favorites like King of Drag, Iron Heart, and Ponyboi. But that’s not all—not even close.
We’re feeling the love this month. Keep scrolling to see what we’ll be watching all month long—and where you can watch it, too.
All film and series descriptions are courtesy of their respective studios and networks.
The Venus Effect - June 2
Twenty-something Liv’s life is turned upside down when the chaotic and headstrong Andrea comes crashing into her countryside gardening store. Andrea is everything Liv isn’t, and she’s completely infatuated. As the two women grow closer, their different lifestyles begin to clash, and Liv discovers that relationships, love and family can come in many forms.
Where to watch: On VOD
Next Gen NYC - June 3
Next Gen NYC follows a tangled web of friends raised in the spotlight — or at least close enough for good lighting — as they stumble into adulthood one brunch, breakup, and spontaneous decision at a time. Whether stepping out of their parents’ shadows or creating their own legacies from scratch, these twentysomethings are determined to conquer Manhattan — if they can figure out how to adult first. Together, they’ll navigate friendships, careers, and romance, proving that trouble runs on espresso martinis and questionable decisions.
Where to watch: Bravo
Stick - June 4
In Stick, Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After the collapse of his marriage and getting fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager). “Stick” is a heartfelt, feel-good comedy about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Ginny & Georgia (season 3) - June 5
Georgia has just been arrested for murder during her wedding, ruining her fairy tale ending and putting the spotlight on the Millers like never before. It's always been Ginny and Georgia against the world, but the world has never come for them quite like this. Now, Ginny needs to see where she stands when push comes to shove – Is the two of them against the world something Ginny really wants to sign up for?
Where to watch: Netflix
I Don’t Understand You - June 6
I Don’t Understand You is a pitch-black horror comedy featuring Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells as a couple on the verge of adopting their first child. The two set off to Italy to celebrate their babymoon/anniversary, but the language barrier soon leads to a series of very unfortunate events, plunging them into a waking nightmare.
Where to watch: VOD
BMF (season 4) - June 6
BMF season four continues the journey inspired by real-life street legends and brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi), who created one of the most influential crime families in the country, Black Mafia Family. This season, as Meech and Terry fight to keep their American Dream alive, staying ahead of their rivals and law enforcement takes a toll on their relationship. The brothers occasionally put aside their differences for their common goals, but the events of what happened in Mexico will change them forever.
Where to watch: Starz
Loulou - June 6
A closeted trans teen struggles with identity and harassment while seeking her father’s approval. Pushed to confession, she finds solace when learning her gender isn't a sin and begins her journey to acceptance, despite a disinclined family.
Where to watch: VOD
Throuple - June 6
The film follows a lonely gay singer-songwriter as he navigates the messy terrains of modern desire, friendship, and unconventional love. When he unexpectedly becomes romantically entangled with a married couple, he’s forced to reevaluate the relationship he desires. All the while, he lives in fear that he’s losing his lifelong best friend to her new girlfriend.
Where to watch: On VOD
Clown in a Cornfield - June 10
In a fading Midwestern town, the local legend of Frendo the clown becomes all too real as teenagers start to go missing one by one, before meeting spectacularly sticky ends.
Where to watch: VOD
Franklin - June 10
Franklin follows the story of a gay adult entertainer, Franklin Scott (Eric Russell), whose journey toward Hollywood stardom collides with the complex realities of family, trauma, and self-discovery.
Where to watch: VOD
Misericordia - June 10
Jérémie returns to Saint-Martial for the funeral of his former boss, the village baker. He decides to stay for a few days with Martine, the man's widow. A mysterious disappearance, a threatening neighbor, and a priest with strange intentions make Jérémie's short stay in the village take an unexpected turn...
Where to watch: VOD
The Real Housewives of Miami (season 7) - June 11
The Real Housewives of Miami returns to Bravo, and this season, loyalty is a luxury as friendships test their furthest limits. Relationship shake-ups spill into the drama by shifting alliances, setting the stage for new and redefined bonds. As families grow and opulence reaches new heights, the sunshine stays strong in the 305.
Where to watch: Bravo
FUBAR (season 2) - June 12
Luke Brunner is a veteran CIA operative who, up until recently, was on the verge of retirement. After his last mission in saving another operative, who just so happened to be his daughter, he's back and face to face with new villains. This one is an old flame from Luke's past who threatens to destroy the world...if she doesn't destroy his life first.
Where to watch: Netflix
Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful - June 12
A one-of-a-kind pop opera fueled by fantasy, featuring thirteen original new songs from the visual album Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus.
Where to watch: In theaters (Limited)
Bonjour Tristesse - June 13
At the height of summer, 18-year-old Cécile (Lily McInerny) is languishing by the French seaside with her handsome father, Raymond (Claes Bang), and his girlfriend, Elsa (Naïlia Harzoune), when the arrival of her late mother's friend, Anne (Chloë Sevigny), changes everything. Amid the sun-drenched splendour of their surroundings, Cécile's world is threatened and, desperate to regain control, she sets in motion a plan to drive Anne away with tragic consequences.
Where to watch: On VOD
Echo Valley - June 13
In the edge-of-your-seat thriller Echo Valley, Kate (Oscar winner Julianne Moore) is a mother struggling to make peace with her troubled daughter Claire (multi-Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney) — a situation that becomes even more perilous when Claire shows up on Kate’s doorstep, hysterical and covered in someone else’s blood. As Kate pieces together the shocking truth of what happened, she learns just how far a mother will go to try to save her child in this gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and survival.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Sally - June 17
Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure, she carried a secret. Revealing the romance and sacrifices of their 27 years together, Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, tells the full story of this complicated and iconic astronaut for the first time.
Where to watch: Disney+
The Buccaneers (season 2) - June 18
In the first season of The Buccaneers, a group of fun-loving young American girls exploded into the tightly corseted London of the 1870s … setting hearts racing and kicking off an Anglo-American culture clash. Now the Buccaneers are no longer the invaders — England is their home. In fact, they’re practically running the place. Nan is the Duchess of Tintagel, the most influential woman in the country. Conchita is Lady Brightlingsea, heroine to a wave of young American heiresses. And Jinny is on every front page, wanted for the kidnapping of her unborn child. All of the girls have been forced to grow up and now have to fight to be heard, as they wrestle with romance, lust, jealousy, births and deaths … themes consuming all women of any age, no matter what year it is. Last time we got a taste of England. This time we’re in for a veritable feast.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Don’t Tell Larry - June 20
After Susan tells a harmless white lie to her truth-obsessed co-worker Larry to land a promotion, things spiral out of control when the lie leads to tragedy, with all signs pointing to Larry as responsible. Fearing her secret will be exposed, Susan recruits her cubicle-mate Patrick for a series of escalating cover-ups that unleash pure chaos, turning their workweek into an unpredictable, all-consuming clusterf*ck.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Gilded Age (season 3) - June 22
The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear.
Where to watch: HBO Max
King of Drag - June 22
History is in the making with the first major Drag King competition series — serving you bold, brilliant, and unapologetic talent like never before. Hosted by the legendary Murray Hill, King of Drag brings fierce performances and a celebration of masculinity in all its forms.
Where to watch: Revry
Ironheart - June 24
Set after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Marvel Television’s “Ironheart” pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).
Where to watch: Disney+
The Ultimatum: Queer Love (season 2) - June 25
Six new couples, made up of women and non-binary people, put their love to the test by moving in with other partners. Are they ready for marriage — or is "the one" actually someone else?
Where to watch: Netflix
Hot Milk - June 27
Sofia travels to the Spanish coast with her domineering mother, who seeks a cure for a strange illness. A tantalizing world awaits Sofia, if she can escape her mother’s demands.
Where to watch: In theaters
M3GAN 2.0 - June 27
Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules. Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around.
Where to watch: In theaters
Ponyboi - June 27
Unfolding over the course of Valentine’s Day in New Jersey, a young intersex sex worker must run from the mob after a drug deal goes sideways, forcing him to confront his past.
Where to watch: In theaters
Rent Free - June 27
The sophomore film from Fernando Andrés (Three Headed Beast), Rent Free follows best friends Ben and Jordan, who, after hitting emotional and financial rock bottom, come up with a scheme to spend an entire year living “rent free” with the help of friends, family and strangers alike in a rapidly changing Austin, Texas.
Where to watch: On VOD
Sorry, Baby - June 27
Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on… for everyone around her, at least. When a beloved friend visits on the brink of a major milestone, Agnes starts to realize just how stuck she’s been, and begins to work through how to move forward.
Where to watch: In theaters
Squid Game (season 3) - June 27
A failed rebellion, the death of a friend, and a secret betrayal. Picking up in the aftermath of Season 2’s bloody cliffhanger, the third and final season of Netflix’s most popular series finds Gi-hun, a.k.a. Player 456, at his lowest point yet. But the Squid Game stops for no one, so Gi-hun will be forced to make some important choices in the face of overwhelming despair as he and the surviving players are thrust into deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve. With each round, their choices lead to increasingly grave consequences. Meanwhile, In-ho resumes his role as Front Man to welcome the mysterious VIPs, and his brother Jun-ho continues his search for the elusive island, unaware there’s a traitor in their midst. Will Gi-hun make the right decisions, or will Front Man finally break his spirit?
From left: 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' 'Love Lies Bleeding,' and 'Z Nation.'
Marvel; A24; SyFy
To celebrate queer actress Katy O’Brian being on the big screen again in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, we’re taking a look back at all of her most iconic roles.
O’Brian got her first taste of fame when she starred as a minor recurring character in two episodes of The Walking Dead, and although she worked on shows like Z Nation and Black Lightning after that, it wasn’t until she starred beside Kristen Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding that she became a household name.
From television series to blockbuster movies, O’Brian has used her beauty, brawn, and talent to rock our socks off. But what is her best role? Let’s rank them to find out!
7. 'The Rookie'
The Rookie
ABC
In the Nathan Fillion starring cop show The Rookie, O’Brian plays training officer Tim Bradford’s newest rookie, Katie Barnes. She may have only been in a single episode of the show about the LAPD’s oldest rookie rising through the ranks, but you’re going to want to check it out so you can see O’Brian in uniform. ‘Nuff said.
O’Brian starred as Major Sara Grey and her Earth-1 doppelgänger in 11 episodes of the DC superhero series Black Lightning. On the show, she played a soldier working for the corrupt U.S. government's secret American Security Agency. Not only does O’Brian successfully play two characters, but she also pulls off being highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and a marksmanship expert without breaking a sweat. Her time as a bodybuilder and martial artist in real life paid off!
The long-awaited reboot of the popular ‘90s action flick, Twisters featured giant tornados on a path of destruction and O’Brian as the cowboy hat-wearing Dani, acting alongside Glen Powell, Kiernan Shipka, and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
O’Brian has become a genre fave for roles like this one. In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, she plays a humanoid resident of the Quantum Realm, where she’s the leader of the resistance freedom fighters. Not only is her costume iconic, but we love seeing O’Brian facing off against the forces of evil. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Evangeline Lilly and O’Brian share a screen?
Starring as George in the zombie apocalypse series Z Nation was O'Brian’s breakout role, and we can see why. Not only is she tough as nails, but she’s gives off major butch energy in her studded leather jacket with rolled up sleeves, smudgy black eye liner, fingerless leather gloves, undercut hairstyle, and tight pants.
O’Brian starred in seasons 2 and 3 of the hit Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian, where she played the delightfully villainous Elia Kane. She may be playing a problematic bad guy, but her acting is top-notch and sold us on her being an Imperial communications officer.
Love Lies Bleeding will always be at the very top of any list. Not only is it an amazing, bloody, sexy lesbian erotic thriller, but O’Brian plays an insanely hot bodybuilder who goes to pound town with KStew. It’s transgressive, gritty, and has one of the best lesbian sex scenes ever put to film. Do yourself a favor and watch it pronto!
Welcome to the Creepy Kiki, PRIDE’s weekly dissection of all things that go bump in the (gay) night. This is the first installment in a series celebrating queer horror, so join us each week for more stories that chill, thrill, and unapologetically kill — with flair.
Director John Hughes was one of the defining voices of the 1980s. He was the architect behind some of the most enduring archetypes of the teen comedy genre. But what if you took some of his most influential work, like 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, and Some Kind of Wonderful and tossed them in a blender with some red dye and corn syrup? What you’d end up with is Fear Street: Prom Queen, the latest entry in Netflix’s oh-so-queer horror franchise that debuted with a trilogy of movies and dominated the summer of 2021.
This new entry, set in 1988 between the events of the first two of those films, introduces us to a new cast of doomed characters just days away from their senior prom. At its (bloody) heart is Lori Granger, who in typical form for the franchise’s fictional town of Shadyside, comes from a family that seems cursed with violence. By her side is her horror-loving, pot-smoking, and very queer-coded best friend, Megan Rogers, played by out actress Suzanna Son.
Suzanna Son as Megan Rogers and India Fowler as Lori Granger in Fear Street: Prom Queen.
Alan Markfield/Netflix
Against all odds, Lori finds herself nominated for prom queen. The only thing standing between her and coronation is the “wolf pack” — her school’s group of vicious, popular girls — oh, and an axe-wielding maniac, picking off the would-be prom royalty.
It’s a perfectly ’80s setup for a slasher movie, and the film takes full advantage of finding delightfully gory ways to slice and dice through its significant body count. But what really makes this a must-see for queer fans is Megan, who is an amalgamation of classic '80s (and '00s) sidekicks Duckie, Watts, and a whisper of Janis Ian; and that Son helps infuse the character with the kind of queer-coding that would also have been period appropriate.
Suzanna Son as Megan Rogers in Fear Street: Prom Queen.
Alan Markfield/Netflix
This film marks the actress's freshman foray into the horror genre, having first broken out in her Gotham Award-nominated role in Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, followed by a scene-stealing performance as Chloe in HBO’s The Idol.
But her road to becoming a scream queen might just have been predestined. “My birthday is the day before Halloween,” she jokes to PRIDE. “The nurses at the hospital were actually dressed up like witches, and I think that's so funny. It's something that's followed me.”
It may have awakened something in her as well. Son credits starring in Fear Street for turning her into a fan of the genre — but that first came with conquering a fear of her own. “I was pretty nervous to do Fear Street,” she admits. “I had never screamed in public. I had never run on screen before. I was very self-conscious. So, in a way, it was like boot camp and it also made my love for horror so much stronger.”
The Killer, India Fowler as Lori Granger and Suzanna Son as Megan Rogers in Fear Street: Prom Queen.
Alan Markfield/Netflix
The secret to a good scream? Son, who’s also a lifelong piano player with her first album debuting soon, says it's the same as singing. “You don't know what sound is going to come out, and if you don't commit, and if you're not a little bit relaxed, it's gonna sound like crap,” she explains. “You really just have to just throw yourself away.”
She has plenty of opportunities to show off those pipes in Fear Street, as she’s stalked through the halls of Shadyside High by a masked killer. Her newly found love of horror is also something she’s been sharing with her wife, talent manager Ana Bedayo. “She was really scared,” says Son.
Son, on the other hand, has dived into the deep end of the genre and isn't looking back. “I'm good to go. I will watch Sinners on shrooms in IMAX, and my wife is freaking out and I have to console her while I'm on shrooms, which is crazy,” she says. “So if that gives you any bit of the dynamic, she's such a chicken, but I love her so much because she will watch all of the horror [movies] with me, and I'll just maybe I'll watch it first, and then I'll have to tell her there's a jump scare coming.”
Her new passion for the genre has lead to her discovering film like Nicolas Pesce’s The Eyes of My Mother, a psychological horror entry about a young woman’s emotional detachment growing into violent behavior, which Son says she connected with in a surprisingly profound way, “It's so sad, and there's something about it that reminds me of my childhood, which is so fucked up, just like the way... I don't even want to get into it, but, yeah, there's just something nostalgic about it,” she shares. “It's also a beautiful film. All the trauma aside, it's stunning... that changed my life, actually. It was like, horror can be beautiful.”
Like many queer folks, Son has found a refuge in the horror genre, and the catharsis it offers in a world where reality can feel quite scary. “Feeling those feelings in a safe place, on my couch with my wife, there's something nice about [it], that life isn't so scary anymore,” she explains. “I can go to that place and be scared when I want to and when I'm in control of it.”
Not only has the horror genre offered a safe space to process feelings of fear, but it’s also been a place where queer audiences have seen themselves reflected, either subtextually in films like A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge or textually as in Miriam Blaylock in The Hunger — or, more recently, in a multigenerational lesbian love story central to the Fear Street trilogy.
India Fowler as Lori Granger, David Iacono as Tyler Torres and Suzanna Son as Megan Rogers in Fear Street: Prom Queen.
Alan Markfield/Netflix
Like most of the queer viewers who tuned into that three part saga of sapphic love and human sacrifice, Son was a fan. “No notes! Honestly, I just love a love story that isn't all about sadness,” she says of Prom Queen’s predecessors.
While the new film falls more into the subtextual column, queer fans will likely pick up on the loads of queer coding in the film — as unintentional as it may be. Son shares that director Matt Palmer (Calibre) intended the dynamic between Megan and Lori to be “platonic love”; we'll leave it up to the audience to decide what they see. If they end up viewing the dynamic through rainbow colored glasses, well, they’re in good company. “It was how I interpreted the page, really,” admits Son. “I saw all these words on the page and, yeah, they just felt so real. I don't know how to put it. I just felt the friendship and the kinship, and I have lost some best friends before, and it was reminding me of that feeling.”
Suzanna Son attends "Fear Street: Prom Queen Shadyside High Senior Prom '88" immersive experience hosted by Netflix at The Fonda Theatre on May 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Netflix
While Fear Street: Prom Queen might be Son’s first foray into horror, it won’t be her last. Next up, she’s starring in the upcoming season of Monsters, which will focus on famed serial killer Ed Gein, whose crimes inspired some of the most iconic queer villains in horror history, including Silence of the Lambs’ Buffalo Bill and Psycho’s Norman Bates himself. While Son can’t say much about her Monsters role, including the name of her character, it's one she admits she “mourned” when she had to say goodbye to them.
Son seems destined to be a figure in queer horror history, and we can’t wait to see what she conjures up — while safely peeking out between our fingers, of course.
To see PRIDE's interviews with the Fear Street: Prom Queen cast, check out the video at the top of the page.
