Pride 2026: A Q+ Celebration
June 11
Wayward
At first glance, Wayward looks like a small-town mystery. But the deeper you go, the stranger—and more unsettling—it becomes. Created by and starring Mae Martin, the series follows Alex Dempsey (Martin), a trans police officer who relocates to the seemingly idyllic town of Tall Pines, Vermont, with his pregnant wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon). Before long, Alex begins uncovering disturbing secrets connected to the local boarding school for troubled teens and its enigmatic leader, Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette). Inspired in part by real experiences from the troubled teen industry, the series blends psychological thriller, mystery, and horror into something uniquely unsettling.
What makes Wayward such a great watch is that it never relies solely on suspense. Beneath the mystery lies a story about identity, belonging, control, and the ways institutions can shape or attempt to erase who people are. The show’s queer characters aren’t simply present; their experiences are woven directly into the themes of the story, creating a narrative that feels both personal and universal.
Anchored by strong performances from Martin and Collette, Wayward balances eerie atmosphere with genuine emotional depth. It’s the kind of series that keeps you guessing while also giving you plenty to think about long after the credits roll. If you’re looking for a queer thriller that isn’t afraid to get weird, this one deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Where to watch? Wayward is available to stream on Netflix.
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
Kat Dunn’s Hungerstone takes the bones of Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic novella Carmilla and transforms them into something fierce, gothic, and entirely its own. Set during the Industrial Revolution, the novel follows Lenore Crowther, the aristocratic wife of a wealthy steel magnate whose marriage has grown cold after years of disappointment, silence, and unfulfilled expectations. When a carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into her life, Lenore finds herself drawn toward desires and possibilities she has spent years suppressing.
As girls in nearby villages begin falling mysteriously ill, Lenore becomes increasingly consumed by questions about her marriage, her identity, and the role she has been forced to play within a deeply restrictive society. Dunn uses the familiar framework of gothic horror not just to tell a vampire story, but to explore hunger in all its forms: hunger for freedom, intimacy, power, and self-determination.
Atmospheric, seductive, and deeply emotional, Hungerstone understands why Carmilla has endured as a cornerstone of queer literature while bringing fresh urgency to its themes. It’s a novel filled with longing, rage, desire, and the thrill of discovering who you might become when you stop denying yourself what you truly want.
Where to buy? Hungerstone is available to purchase at all reputable booksellers.
My Own Private Idaho
More than three decades after its release, My Own Private Idaho remains one of the defining works of queer cinema. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film follows Mike Waters (River Phoenix), a young street hustler living with narcolepsy, as he searches for the mother who abandoned him. Along the way, he travels with Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves), the rebellious son of a wealthy mayor, whose complicated relationship with Mike forms the emotional center of the story.
My Own Private Idaho refuses to fit neatly into any one category. Part road movie, part coming-of-age story, part Shakespearean drama, and part dreamlike character study, it moves between realism and surrealism with an effortless confidence. Phoenix delivers one of the most celebrated performances of his career as Mike, bringing extraordinary vulnerability to a character searching for connection in a world that often leaves him adrift.
Heartbreaking, beautiful, and endlessly influential, My Own Private Idaho helped redefine what queer films could be. Its impact can still be felt across LGBTQ+ cinema today, but beyond its historical significance, it remains a deeply moving story about unrequited love, friendship, loneliness, and the search for a place to belong.
Where to watch? My Own Private Idaho is available to stream on Netflix in some regions. It’s also available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Google Play.
Happy Pride 2026! Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Images Courtesy of Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon MGM Studios, Focus Features, Getty Images, Disney+, Apple TV, Crave.
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