How 'Freaky' Is Switching Up Gay Representation in Horror Films

Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton star in Freaky, the highly-anticipated, body-swapping horror film that's ready to switch up the genre in terms of LGBTQ+ representation.

"I'm gay and I wanted to write a character who is not coming out, not struggling with his sexuality," says writer/director Christopher Landon in PRIDE's exclusive featurette.

So enters Josh, played by Misha Osherovich, who is described as an "out, confident, proud, outlandish, he doesn't hold back, wonderful, gay, queer human being."

"He's really fun to play," says Osherovich. LGBTQ+ people don't get much representation in thriller/horror films so Josh is a refreshing change of pace. 

"Those are the kinds of gay characters that we really want to see, especially in a genre film," adds Landon.

Paired with Celeste O’Connor's character Nyla, the Black girl and the gay kid are two characters who "are usually the underdogs in these kinds of films," but in Freaky, they're thriving. Well, sort of... 

"The first person to die in horror movies were always minorities or gay people," Landon points out, but Freaky makes fun of that trope while kicking it aside.

Freaky will be released digitally on January 26 and on Blu-ray & DVD on February 9! Watch the trailer below!