Gay vampire movies are exclusively independently made with small budget and undiscovered actors. In each a filmmaker has come up with a new spin on the vampire genre, telling a compelling story unique to gay and queer characters. The production quality may be low, and the fangs store bought, but at the heart of each film is a well told story.
There's a common theme across many gay vampire movies, unique to the queer experience. In many, vampirism is a way to become stronger and more powerful, allowing the new vampire to fight back against bullies. Each movie in its own way reframes the vampire genre through the queer lens, allowing a deeper understanding of social issues by subverting vampires. Plus some with hot shirtless guys who remain young and beautiful forever could be a commentary on vanity in the gay community.
There are a large number of vampire movies from the last hundred years, with lists ranking the top 10, 20 or 100. But these lists exclude the best queer vampire stories. Our list focuses on the ignored movies, the ones with gay protagonists.
Related: The best gay vampire short films
Looking down this list you'll notice the most popular year for gay vampire movies was 2011. Scab kick started the rising popularity in 2005 followed by the 2009 movie Eulogy for a Vampire. Then when 2011 hit we saw a burst of films before nothing premiered in 2012. Four more films dropped between 2013 and 2015, at which point the drought began. With any luck the most recent movie So Vam could be the start of a new wave in gay vampire cinema.
1. Scab (2005)
- Fangs
- Turning
- Biting
Scab follows Ajay, who gets a nasty surprise from a one-night stand who didn't take no for an answer. The guy was forceful and left Ajay craving the red stuff. When his friends Teague and Floor come to the rescue, a road trip to Las Vegas results in some blood shed and a few new vampires. The way the vampires are made is, to say the least, gay and comes with a bit of baggage for Teague who's pining for Ajay and Floor, who's straight. Throughout the film there is plenty of fang action, buckets of blood and some cute victims.
Scab took a refreshing approach to vampires, subverting the genre and delivered an LGBTQ2 spin. To this day, Scab was only released on DVD in France, and has never been in wide release.
2. So Vam (2021)
- Fangs
- Turning
- Biting
Reviewers have been savage with So Vam, but for the most part they missed the point. In the context of gay vampire films, So Vam is a surprisingly new story done well. Echoing the director, this is a trans and queer vampire story by a trans director with out actors. Our hero Kurt is a bullied teen who catches the eye of a predatory vampire. Kurt is rescued and turned, and he soon discovers he now has the power to fight back.
While at parts the acting can be weak, the story is well told. Kurt is an adorable fledgling vampire, and not your typical gay vampire. So Vam also marks the first Australian entry into the gay vampire movie genre, and the first by a trans director. Production quality is at the top end compared to the other movies on this list, not just from improved technology but a director able to creatively execute a clear vision. Stream So Vam exclusively on Shudder, or you can rent or buy on Apple TV.
3. Vamperifica (2011)
- Fangs
- Turning
The king is coming out! In the dark middle ages the last vampire king got killed and since that time vampires hide and search for their new king. As they finally find him in New York in 2012 the king is everything but happy that he should be the new leader of the vampires.
Vamperifica is an award winning gay vampire movie that is funny and bloody at the same time. Similar to other films in the genre, our hero flexes the definition of a gay vampire. You can rent or buy Vamperifica on Apple TV.
4. Vampire Boys (2011)
- Fangs
- Turning
For Jasin and his brood to survive, he must turn a mortal to spend eternity with. He has his sights set on Tara until fresh-faced college student Caleb enters the picture. But time is running out, and if Jasin wants Caleb turned, he'll need to convince him soon.
We do very briefly see fangs but for the most part these vampires are all talk and little bite. One vampire in the brood is played by Dylan Vox who's appeared as a vampire before, in The Lair and Brides of Sodom. Tara (played by Zasu) is the only character to return for the sequel.
5. Vampire Boys 2 (2013)
- Fangs
- Turning
- Biting
A new brood of vampires is in town, including Jasin's jealous ex out for revenge. Jasin builds an army of vampires to protect himself, while Tara has returned, looking for payback from her rejection.
In some ways the sequel ends up being better than the first film. There are a lot more fangs in Vampire Boys 2, while the storyline and performances aren't quite on par. On balance the second movie could be ranked before the first.
6. Vampires: Brighter in Darkness (2011)
- Fangs
- Turning
- Biting
After a disastrous relationship, Toby Brighter is set up on a blind date by his sister, Charlotte. Toby's date, Lucas Delmore, is charming, charismatic, physically flawless, and a vampire. Toby is soon pulled into a dark world of blood, demons and the supernatural.
Vampires: Brighter in Darkness began as an episodic web series before being turned into the full feature movie, and it spawned a sequel, Lucas Rising.
Gay vampire movies to avoid
1313: Boy Crazies (2011)
While David DeCoteau has managed to make some amazing low-budget films over the years, 1313: Boy Crazies was unfortunately a massive disappointment. Aside from very little story, most of the 73 minute film is taken up with blue dream like sequences where our hero Trent wanders the house in his underwear. The same scenes are used over and over eating into the runtime. Then suddenly near the end, action filled blue scenes conclude the story. At no point do the vampires have fangs, though they may bite. It's possible they are energy vampires, but then the method of feeding makes less sense. Overall the premise is unable to deliver a watchable film.
Love Bites (1992)
Similar to Boy Crazies, Love Bites suffers from some unfortunate choices in filmmaking. Far too much of Love Bites is shot from the widest angle possible, giving a sense that this was an amateur production. The story is interesting but sadly not enough to overcome the quality.