24 of the Best Scary Lesbian Horror Films, Thrillers, and TV Series to Watch [Updated 2023]

Although Chia and I are both scared of horror movies (see our comic here), that doesn’t mean we won’t watch one especially if it features a good lesbian storyline or wlw scene. And while we’re less afraid of watching psych and crime thrillers, we still need to turn on all of the lights in our home afterwards. But we never say no to a good lesbian character or plot. 😅

As with so many lesbian movies and TV shows though, horror films and thrillers rarely meet the bar when it comes to great acting, storyline, cinematography, etc. Many are incoherent or simply too tacky to enjoy.

So here’s a list of scary lesbian movies, thrillers, and shows that are actually worth watching for a spooky date night, Halloween, or whenever you want!

Scary Lesbian Movies & Thrillers:

1. Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game goes awry in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong. Sophia and Bee are a lesbian couple featured in the movie and are hugging each other in the image.

Picture this: a wild and wacky slasher whodunit designed for the TikTok generation. It all begins when a bunch of seven 'bright' friends find themselves stuck in a swanky mansion, thanks to a hurricane. What to do when you're trapped? Obviously, they decide to play a game - 'bodies bodies bodies.' Think of it as a cheeky twist on the classic party game of Werewolf, where someone's the secret murderer, and you've got to put your detective hat on to unmask them. How? Well, the killer sneaks around, tapping folks on the back, and - surprise, surprise - they're 'dead.' When a 'body' is found, everyone shouts out the name of the game and gets to play judge and jury.

Sounds easy-peasy, right? Wrong! Dead wrong, in fact. This seemingly harmless game night spirals into utter chaos with more twists than a rollercoaster. As it turns out, when the friends stumble upon a real corpse, things take a sharp turn for the terrifying. 

Does it have a happy ending? Not quite, but it's still a fun watch.

Watch the trailer below:

2. Thelma (2017)

A college student starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities. Image features Thelma kissing the female crush that she has.

Thelma is a Norwegian supernatural thriller.  Thelma is a lonely and repressed young woman who begins college in Oslo, Norway and starts to experience extreme seizures. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities and that when her feelings for another female student, Anja, triggers uncontrollable psychokinetic powers. 

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, but there are some lingering questions... 

 Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

3. Lizzie (2018)

In 1892 Lizzie Borden lives a quiet life in Massachusetts under the strict rules established by her father. Lizzie finds a kindred spirit in the live-in maid, Bridget, and friendship soon blossoms into a secret romance. But tension mounts in the Borden household, leading to a violent breaking point. Lizzie and her maid are touching their foreheads together in the image.

Lizzie is a biographical thriller based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of the gruesome axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. The movie stars Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart who share a lesbian romance together and have a lot of on-screen chemistry. If you're interested in the back story behind the Lizzie Borden murders, you can read more here.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, but the lesbians don’t end up together (probably for the better).

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

4. The Handmaiden (2016)

With help from an orphaned pickpocke, a Korean con man devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman out of her inheritance. The two female heroines are pictured with one leaning her head on the other.

The Handmaiden is South Korean erotic psychological thriller and based on Park Chan-Wook’s adaptation of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith. It’s a superbly well done movie with a gripping plot and characters that are thrilling, sexy, horrifying, and empowering as well. It also has a romantic and happy ending which makes it even more worthwhile to watch! This is one of our favorite lesbian movies of all time.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, in the best possible way! 🌈

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

5. Monster (2003)

Monster is based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer. Aileen is shown with her female lover in an alleyway, leaning on her intimately.

Monster is a biographical crime drama film written and directed by Patty Jenkins about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a former street prostitute who murdered seven of her male clients between 1989 and 1990 and was executed in Florida in 2002. It stars Charlize Theron who won an Academy Award for her role as Wuornos, and Christina Ricci as her semi-fictionalized lover, Selby Wall (based on Wuornos's real-life girlfriend Tyria Moore). 

Does it have a happy ending? No, but the movie is still so good and a must-watch.

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

6. May (2002)

May is a 2002 American psychological horror slasher film, May is shown looking at one of her female obsessions, wearing revealing sleepwear.

May is a psychological horror film that follows a lonely young woman traumatized by a difficult childhood, and her increasingly desperate attempts to connect with the people around her. The lesbian scenes happen between May and her colleague, Polly, who begins making moves on May.

Does it have a happy ending? No, not at all, but it’s got all the gory horror you would want in a horror movie.

Watch the trailer below: 

Watch the full movie here.

7. Brides to Be (2016)

Two women arrive at their secluded wedding venue in the woods and begin to sense that sinister forces are at play behind the scenes. Trapped with them are one of their childhood friends and the strange son of the property's owner. The two women are pictured about to kiss.

Brides to Be is a dark thriller that’s the follow-up of Together Forever. Robin and Jenna are getting married and while Robin is excited beyond words, Jenna is plagued by panic attacks and struggles to write her vows. But when they arrive at their secluded fairy-tale venue, sinister forces besiege them, threatening to tear them apart.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, thankfully! 🌈

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

8. Sissy (2022)

High school best friends Cecilia and Emma run into each other after a decade, and Emma invites Cecilia to her hen's weekend away. Stuck in a remote cabin with her high school bully, Cecilia quickly develops a taste for revenge. Two of the friends are shown in the image, one leaning against the other who appears to be loosening her pants.

Cecilia is living the life many millennials dream of: an independent, successful social media influencer, basking in the adoration of 200,000 followers.

Then, by the quirks of fate, an old friend, Emma, reappears and invites Cecilia to Emma's bachelorette weekend, set in a remote mountain cabin with her close-knit circle of friends, including her fiancée Fran. Seems like a chance for nostalgia and new beginnings, but Cecilia finds herself trapped with a former bully, Alex, and Cecilia's dormant traumas are revisited. What follows is a nightmarish whirlwind of blood-soaked mayhem, as the past refuses to stay buried.

Does it have a happy ending? No, but is an entertaining thriller that hits close to home in the age of social media and influencers.

Watch the trailer below:

9. The Carmilla Movie (2017)

Five years since they vanquished the apocalypse, Laura and Carmilla enlist help from their old friends from Silas University to uncover a supernatural threat tied to Carmilla's past. Laura is shown leaning back on Carmilla.

Based off on the Carmilla webseries, the move picks up 5 years later since Laura and Carmilla heroically averted the apocalypse, and Carmilla traded her immortal vampiric existence for the unpredictable world of human life. Nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto, the duo has carved out a cozy niche in a charming apartment. Laura remains dedicated to sharpening her journalism talents, while Carmilla navigates the complex terrain of a vampire-free existence. Their life together is a soothing routine, a tranquil haven.

But as life has a habit of serving up surprises, tranquility soon takes a nosedive. Carmilla, their resident vampire-turned-human, begins to exhibit curious signs of "re-vamping," showcasing a rekindled taste for crimson delights and, to Laura's bafflement, the occasional accidental nibble. Simultaneously, Laura finds herself trapped in an enigmatic world of ghostly dreams that defy reason.

The stage is set for a tumultuous encore. To untangle this enigma and rescue not just humanity but also Carmilla herself, they must rally their trusty comrades from their alma mater, Silas University. With the unknown supernatural threat closing in, the intrepid couple faces a mission that might just test their mettle more than the apocalypse did.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, thankfully! 🌈

Watch the trailer below:

10. Fear Street (2021)

Fear Street is a horror movie trilogy featuring two main lesbian couples. In the image, they are kissing passionately in the woods.

Fear Street is a Netflix trilogy based on the teenage horror fiction series written by American author R. L. Stine. There are 3 movies to this trilogy: Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666. The film follows a group of teenagers in Shadyside who are terrorized by an ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued the town for centuries. As the movie begins, the main characters, Deena and Sam, were in a closeted relationship and had just recently broken up but ultimately end up reconciling and getting back together as they navigate the spooky events of the town and try to stay alive.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, thankfully! 🌈

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

11. Mulholland Drive (2001)

A dark-haired woman is left amnesiac after a car crash. She wanders the streets of Los Angeles in a daze before taking refuge in an apartment. There she is discovered by Betty, a wholesome Midwestern blonde who has come to the City of Angels seeking fame. In the image, Betty is looking at the brunette as she stares off into the distance.

Fresh off the bus in Hollywood, the golden-haired Betty is on a quest to make it big in the movies when she crosses paths with an enigmatic, amnesia-stricken brunette. Little do they know, their fates are intertwined. They soon join forces to unravel the mystery shrouding the second woman's past and another story is brewing in the shadows.

As the story advances, a sense of foreboding creeps in, and the plot starts to resemble a house of mirrors. Eventually, it plunges headfirst into a grittier, unfiltered reality where our two leading ladies find themselves in roles you'd never see coming.

Does it have a happy ending? No, but still an entertaining watch with a lot of twists.

Watch the trailer below:

12. Bound (1996)

Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. In the image, Violet is looking at Corky as Corky looks off into the distance.

Bound is an oldie but goodie. It revolves around the lesbian romance between a newly-released ex-con and the girlfriend of a Mafia money-launderer who together come up with a plan to walk off with a suitcase of $2 million cash. When the mafia finds out, they scramble to stay alive.

Does it have a happy ending? Yes, thankfully! 🌈

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

13. Benedetta (2021)

A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair, but it's her shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its very core. In the image one woman is intensely looking at the other, a nun.

Based on a true story, a 17th-century nun joins an Italian convent and becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. At the same time, she also begins to have shocking religious visions that threaten to shake the Church to its core.

Does it have a happy ending? Meh, no one dies but they don't end up together.

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full movie here.

Scary Lesbian TV Series:

14. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch The Haunting of Bly Manor

The Haunting of Bly Manor is an American supernatural horror drama series that tells of a young au pair, Dani, hired by a man to look after his niece and nephew at the family country house after they fall into his care. Arriving at the Bly estate, she begins to see apparitions that proceed to haunt the premises. The beautiful lesbian relationship that unfolds happens between Dani and the gardener, Jamie. See our post here on the 32 sweetest moments between Jamie and Dani in Bly Manor.

Does it have a happy ending? Not in the traditional sense, but the bittersweet ending does give you some hope and the lesbian love story is sooo worth it. 

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full series here.

15. Ratched (2020)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Ratched

Ratched is a psychological thriller series based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and starring Sarah Paulson. A young nurse, Mildred Ratched (Paulson), begins working at a leading psychiatric hospital in 1947, but beneath her stylish exterior lurks a growing darkness and secret. The lesbian relationship happens between Ratched and Gwendolyn Briggs (played by Cynthia Nixon), who is the Governor’s press secretary and campaign manager.

Does it have a happy ending? So far… the series is still ongoing.

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full series here.

16. Mindhunter (2017)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Mindhunters

Mindhunter is a crime thriller that centers around FBI agents Holden Ford, Bill Tench, and psychologist Wendy Carr (who is the main lesbian character). They operate the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and interview imprisoned serial killers to understand how they think, with the hope of applying this knowledge to solve ongoing cases. It takes place in the late 1970s as the FBI tries to expand criminal science by delving into the psychology of murder and getting uneasily close to all-too-real monsters. 

Does it have a happy ending? Unfortunately, in 2023, the series was declared officially over after being on hold.

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full series here.

17. Dead to Me, Season 2 (2020)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Dead to Me

Dead to Me is an American drama series created by Liz Feldman. The story revolves around a powerful friendship that blossoms between Jen, an uptight widow and Judy, a free spirit with a shocking secret. The lesbian relationship occurs in the second season between Judy and Michelle after they meet at the senior living center where Judy works and Michelle’s mom is staying.

Does it have a happy ending? Kinda, but it’s getting crazy… the series is still ongoing.

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full series here.

18. Killing Eve (2018)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Killing Eve

Killing Eve is a gripping British drama spy thriller TV series that features the talented Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. The show follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British intelligence investigator tasked with capturing the charming psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). As the chase progresses, the two develop a mutual obsession with one another.

Does it have a happy ending?  The show has finally come to its conclusion with its fourth and final season. While every season has brought Eve and Villanelle closer together and we finally get some moments we've been waiting for, I'm one of those people who would like a new ending please...

Watch the trailer below:

Watch the full series here.

19. I’m Not Okay With This (2020)

Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch I'm Not Okay With This

    I’m Not Okay with This is a coming-of-age drama series based on the comic book of the same name by Charles Forsman. It centers around a teenager who navigates the complexities of high school, family and her sexuality while dealing with her newly discovered superpowers.

    Does it have a happy ending? It’s still underdeveloped and sadly the series has been canceled after one season due to COVID, but it’s still worth watching! 

    Watch the trailer below:

    Watch the full series here.

    20. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

    Best Scary Lesbian Series to Watch

    This is a throwback to the 90s. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural thriller about a young woman, Buffy, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends. It features one of the OG lesbian ships on TV between Tara and and Willow.

    Does it have a happy ending? Yes for the overall series, but no in terms of the lesbian relationship though it's still worth watching!

    Watch the trailer below:

    Watch the full series here.

    Honorary Lesbian Horror Films & Thrillers Mention:

    These are not truly lesbian films or shows but do feature some WLW scenes or a minor lesbian side character.

    21. A Simple Favor (2018)

    Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch A Simple Favor

    A Simple Favor is a crime thriller film based on the novel of the same name that stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. The story centers around a small town vlogger, Stephanie (Kendrick) who tries to solve the disappearance of her mysterious and elegant friend, Emily (Lively). While this is not truly a lesbian movie, both lead actresses have a ton of chemistry together and Kendrick and Lively share a super sexy kiss in one of the scenes. If anything, you should just watch this movie for the eye candy–Blake Lively in suits is to die for. 

    Does it have a happy ending? Everyone got the best ending for their character... but you really only need to watch this movie for Blake Lively.

    Watch the trailer below:

    Watch the full movie here.

    22. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

    Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch The Haunting of Hill House

    The Haunting of Hill House was the first series in the Haunting anthology that came before The Haunting of Bly Manor. It’s a supernatural horror drama loosely based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson. The plot alternates between two timelines, following five adult siblings whose paranormal experiences at Hill House continue to haunt them in the present day, and flashbacks depicting events leading up to the eventful night in 1992 when the family fled from the mansion. One of the siblings, Theo Crane, is an out and proud lesbian who plays a complex and important character in the series. Many of the cast members from this series are also in The Haunting of Bly Manor. 

    Does it have a happy ending? Yes, but not without tragedy.

    Watch the trailer below:

    Watch the full movie here.

    23. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

    Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a crime thriller featuring Rooney Mara (who also stars in Carol) based on the Swedish novel of the same name. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Mara), a young computer hacker, who also happens to like women.  

    Does it have a happy ending? Kinda, but it’s a dark movie.

    Watch the trailer below:

    Watch the full movie here.

    24. Black Swan (2010)

    Best Lesbian Scary Movies and Thrillers to Watch Black Swan

    Black Swan is a psychological thriller featuring ballerinas Nina (Natalie Portman) and Lily (Mila Kunis). After the prima ballerina is forced into retirement, artistic director Thomas Leroy searches for a new dancer to portray the dual role of the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. Nina auditions for the role and gives a flawless performance as the White Swan, but fails to embody the Black Swan. The newcomer, Lily (Mila Kunis), on the other hand embodies the Black Swan perfectly. While the rivalry between Nina and Lily gradually turns into a perverse, fascinating friendship and romance, Nina slowly discovers her dark side.

    Does it have a happy ending? No… but the movie is beautifully done and Natalie Portman won an Academy Award for her performance.

    Watch the trailer below: 

    Watch the full movie here.

    Check out our Ultimate List of Lesbian Movies to Watch here.

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    1 comment

    update the killing eve one :(

    caroline

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