The air is redolent with the scent of all things pumpkin and in addition to auguring autumn, spicy October is all about Halloween, our national queer holiday. FX, AMC, Shudder and others have a slew of horror series and classic films lined up.
American Horror Story: Delicate
The latest season of the FX "American Horror Story" franchise from the incredibly prolific doyenne of gay TV, Ryan Murphy and his "AHS" co-creator Brad Falchuk is "Delicate." From "Glee" to "Pose" Murphy brings the queer and trans tales and also exposes the cracks in cis-het life.
"AHS" always has a coterie of queer and trans actors and storylines. "Delicate" has all that and more—the more being the addition of Kim Kardashian to the retinue, and she's not terrible.
The twelfth season of the FX horror anthology series is based on Danielle Valentine's book "Delicate Condition." FX explains, "In 'American Horror Story: Delicate,' after multiple failed attempts of IVF, actress Anna Victoria Alcott (Emma Roberts) wants nothing more than to start a family. As the buzz around her recent film grows, she fears that something may be targeting her, and her pursuit of motherhood."
That "something" is the locus of the horror and the sense of creeping dread is palpable as Anna gets more and more deeply into her hormones.
"American Horror Story: Delicate" debuts two new faces to the "AHS" franchise: celebrity entrepreneur Kardashian and out queer actor and model Cara Delevingne. Also in the series are Matt Czuchry, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, trans actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez who is beloved from "Pose," Odessa A'zion and out actor Zachary Quinto, who was in "AHS's" very first season, "Murder House" in 2011.
"Delicate" just dropped, is streaming on FX and Hulu and will be split into two parts.
Fear Fest
AMC and Shudder also has its annual "Fear Fest" of classic films and TV horror throughout the month. We found ourselves watching "The Exorcist" at 1 a.m. on AMC and it was just as good as it was the first time we saw it as a teenager. We followed that with Stephen King's "The Shining," which remains terrifying and iconic.
The schedule will have you shuddering throughout October with 80 films and 400 hours of programming. "Fear Fest" includes the iconic film franchises "Halloween," "Friday the 13th," "Scream," "Leprechaun," the lesbian fave "Alien," and Stephen King classics like "The Shining," "Firestarter," "Christine" and "Misery."
Also, perfect for this political season, is King's prescient 1983 "The Dead Zone," where a Trumpian presidential candidate, Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen) becomes the obsession of Johnny Smith (played with unerring creepiness by Christopher Walken), who has a vision of Stillson ordering a nuclear attack on the USSR (yes, it pre-dates the breakup of the Soviet Union). You'll definitely want to catch that one.
Two of our personal favorite horror classics, "Rosemary's Baby" and "An American Werewolf In London" are also on the schedule as are films from gayer-than-gay director Don Mancini's "Chucky" franchise, like the stellar "Child's Play" and the very gay "The Lost Boys."
Check the AMC schedule for showings. www.halloweenmoviesontv.com
Creepshow
Based on George A. Romero's iconic 1982 horror-comedy classic, "Creepshow" is still the most fun you'll ever have being scared. A comic book comes to life in a series of vignettes, exploring terrors ranging from murder, creatures, monsters and delusions to the supernatural and unexplainable. "Creepshow" has also always delivered queer content (we will never forget the lesbians of "Lydia Layne's Better Half" in the debut season).
"Creepshow" Season 4 premieres Friday, October 13th with a six-episode binge premiere on Shudder and AMC+ and new episodes airing weekly at 10/9c on AMC.
Love in Fairhope
There are few things scarier than relationships, but Hulu's new "Love in Fairhope" bills itself as a "uniquely unscripted romantic series," and it does seem to be that.
Executive-produced by Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon and the producers of "Vanderpump Rules," "Love in Fairhope" follows five women —Mya Jo, 20; Olivia, 31; Abby, 32; Lashoundra. 41; and Claiborne, 73— at different stages in their lives as they experience re-imagined romance in the picturesque small town of Fairhope, Alabama, a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone else's business. Narrated by Heather Graham, the nine chapters cover everything in these women's lives, from new beginnings and second chances to breakups and breakthroughs.
In the series, Olivia and Tori are navigating life and love as a lesbian couple in the Bible Belt. We found it surprisingly moving to see the two women in bed together with Tori's hand on Olivia's stomach as she asked her if she wanted kids.
"Love in Fairhope" isn't as drama-filled as "Vanderpump Rules," but it's immensely watchable TV and the generational aspect makes for an intriguing layer of discourse and fantasy.
Becoming Frida Kahlo
It's not just Halloween month. It's also LGBTQ History Month. PBS is showing the three-episode documentary "Becoming Frida Kahlo," about the Mexican artist, Socialist revolutionary and uncompromising bisexual.
This compelling portrait of Kahlo strips away the myths to reveal the real Frida — a passionate, radical artist living through extraordinary times. The documentary calls Kahlo "the most famous female artist of the 20th century," but says "over the years, Frida Kahlo's story has been distorted. This series sets the record straight on this extraordinary woman. It reveals how Mexican independence and politics shaped both Frida as an individual and as an artist. It explores the impact of her epic love affair with fellow artist Diego Rivera. And it shows how she ultimately strived to be independent — free from the control and influence of men." The series is airing on PBS, PBS Passport and via Amazon and YouTube.
Uýra — The Rising Forest
An extraordinary PBS POV about the trans indigenous artist. Some Bay Area readers may have caught "Uýra — The Rising Forest" at the Frameline festival, but if not, make sure to watch this gorgeous, compelling and immersive documentary.
Uýra shares ancestral knowledge with Indigenous youth in the Amazon to promote the significance of identity and place, threatened by Brazil's oppressive political regime. Through dance, poetry and stunning characterization, Uýra confronts historical racism, transphobia and environmental destruction, while emphasizing the interdependence of humans and the environment. In Portuguese, with subtitles, it's on PBS, PBS Passport, Amazon and iTunes.
Queer X Awards
Revry, the first global LGBTQ streaming service, announces their annual Queer X Awards on October 11, 2023, to mark National Coming Out Day. Presented by Discover, the event recognizes and honors outstanding individuals and allies who have made an impact.
Since its inception in 2016, the Queer X Awards have strived to be a symbol of inclusivity, spotlighting achievements of people who have helped shape the LGBTQ+ landscape.
"The annual Queer X Awards symbolizes a momentous celebration of extraordinary achievements within the LGBTQ+ community," said Damian Pelliccione, co-founder, and CEO of Revry. "Happiness, pride, and celebration are essential to shift the focus from mere representation to actively cultivating joy and acknowledgment within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond."
This year's awards are hosted by Arisce Wanzer, a transgender model and actress who has walked in fashion weeks in Miami, New York City and L.A., and Dexter Mayfield, a dancer and plus-size model from CBS's "Come Dance with Me." Past honorees and presenters include Jennifer Lopez, Angelica Ross, Bowen Yang, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Patton Oswalt and Kim Petras, among others.
The Queer X Awards amplify diverse voices and stories that have historically been marginalized. Redken will also sponsor this year's awards and will feature a unique show opening in a Redken salon celebrating a space for the entire spectrum of queer identity and experiences.
The 2023 Queer X Awards will be streamed on Revry's streaming channel, available on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, VIZIO WatchFree+, Plex, Rakuten TV, Xumo, and more.
National nightmares
Politics and TV are inextricable these days. Here are a few tidbits you need to see in case you aren't watching political TV 24/7 like we are.
On "60 Minutes" Oct. 1, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley responded to comments by Donald Trump suggesting that Milley deserves to be executed for communications the general had with China. You can't make this stuff up. In his speech about democracy on Sept. 28, President Biden called out Trump's actions, unlike even one of the seven Trump-toadying quisling GOP presidential candidates at their Sept. 27 debate.
Also, at the same time Trump said he would execute his own former Joint Chiefs head, Trump said when re-elected he would shut down MSNBC/NBC. Because that's what wannabe dictators declare--executing and silencing their perceived enemies. (CBS)
Speaking of that gross GOP debate, which was two hours of our life we will never get back, Vivek Ramaswamy delivered the most egregiously anti-LGBTQ rant of the night (though Mike Pence was a close second). (Twitter)
And ICYMI, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) dragging the Biden Impeachment Inquiry GOP is so chef's kiss, pitch-perfect, all-the-things good, you might need a cigarette after watching it. Plus, she is dressed fabulously.
So for the good, the bad and the ungodly, you know you really must stay tuned.
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