It's Gay Versus Zombie in New Indie Flick

 

Written and directed by Michael Varrati, There's a Zombie Outside follows a struggling artist obsessed with cult cinema. Soon, he struggles to differentiate fact from fiction when he starts seeing a monster from his movies in real life.

“I’ve always loved how horror movies use monsters to represent so much more," Varrati shared. "Yes, our movie is about a zombie…but it’s also about our relationship with the art and media we consume…and how sometimes, when we give our identity fully over to this nebulous thing, it can make monsters of us all."

He added:

Over the course of my career, I’ve seen the intersection of queer identity and the horror genre take many forms …often these narratives seek to justify our place and space in the world. Which is good and important. But I’m also interested in what it means for the queer creative – to feel like we have to ask the mainstream for permission. 

Does that limit the nuance of our stories? We deserve explorations of queer joy, yes…but also queer listlessness, queer frustration, and queer rage. That need is the beast at the heart of this movie.

"Horror has always been a space for outsiders, and collaborating with Michael Varrati has allowed me to keep exploring the intersection of queerness and the genre in meaningful ways," star Ben Baur said. "There’s a Zombie Outside was especially personal—playing a version of myself forced me to confront my own fears and vulnerabilities in a way I never have on screen. This film isn’t just about the titular zombie; it’s about the struggle to be in control of and tell our own stories."

"I hope audiences see themselves in it—and maybe even feel a little less alone.” Baur added.

There's a Zombie Outside lurches onto streaming on March 4.