We’ve been eagerly awaiting news on Kristen Stewart’s previously announced queer ghost hunting docuseries for some time now, and we’re thrilled and chilled to say that the first trailer for it has finally hit the internet!
On the surface, Living for the Dead is doing what so many paranormal investigation shows before it have already done—visit allegedly haunted sites around the country, share stories from the people there and the history of how it gained its spooky reputation, and see what the investigators discover for themselves.
And look, there’s a reason that format remains popular. Humans are fascinated by the idea of the supernatural, and every group of people that go to check out one of these supposedly haunted locations brings something new to the story. We could have hundreds of these shows and probably not tire of them.
But, judging from the trailer, Living for the Dead brings a wonderfully casual queer vibe to this type of series that looks like it’s going to resonate well with LGBTQ+ paranormal fans while still appealing to a broader audience. Something about it already feels like watching The L Word for the very first time and having that feeling of recognition that, no matter how heightened or dramatic, something we’ve seen dozens of times is now being shown through a specifically and unapologetically queer lens.
Hulu/YouTube
Ghost hunting shows usually call to mind green-tinted night vision footage. While that’s absolutely a necessary part of the experience, the trailer also shows off not only the incredible, historic places the group will be visiting, but captures them in a way that feels far more cinematic than a lot of the low budget, realistic pioneers of the genre gave us. Hopefully they maintained this look beyond just the trailer, because it’s such an elevation.
Hulu/YouTube
What’s the point of paranormal investigations if they don’t leave you at least a little bit freaked out, right? Living for the Dead looks to have everything from spirits to enough lifeless clowns to leave even the biggest Stephen King fan avoiding the circus for a hot second.
Hulu/YouTube
How eye-popping are these looks? With anything horror so often leaning into the dark and drab, it’s refreshing to see not only some serious color going on, but to see the dark without the drab. It’s no wonder it’s already been clocked as a “gay Scooby-Doo.”
Hulu/YouTube
Considering the series is brought to us partly by the creators of Queer Eye, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the goals of the show seems to be leaving the people living amidst these supernatural incidents with some sense of peace—but it does bring a layer of humanity that looks like it balances well with everything else the show is trying to accomplish.
Hulu/YouTube
It’s unclear from the trailer just how much KStew, who came up with the idea for the show with her friend CJ Romero and serves as an executive producer, is actually present beyond the narration. And despite her name being the initial draw for a lot of us, I have to say, this looks pretty incredible regardless of how much she does or doesn’t end up being on screen. But we’re still always hyped to see her.
Living for the Dead stars Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor, and Roz Hernandez. The season consists of eight episodes and premieres on Hulu October 18.
