13-06-2025
Cleveland filmmaker slashes horror norms with queer cinema
Queer culture and the horror genre haven't traditionally gone hand in hand, but one Northeast Ohio filmmaker is hoping to change that.
The intrigue: Westlake native Roger Conners' new film, "Meat the Movie," premieres at Capitol Theatre on Thursday.
Conners describes it as an "LGBTQIA+-themed slasher film" that is an "unabashedly queer piece of cinema."
What they're saying: "If you're a fan of the horror genre and you're queer, you've felt underrepresented," Conners tells Axios.
"My goal from day one was to make a horror movie for queer fans of the genre and a movie reflecting the Cleveland queer scene."
Flashback: Conners' life in the arts began as a teenager at Cleveland's Near West Theatre. He went on to star in several independent horror films, earning the proud moniker of "Scream Queer" from his peers.
Conners directed his first film, "Rebirth," in 2020 before turning his attention to "Meat."
The plot: A friend circle lets one of its own take the fall after a night of debauchery that leaves one of them dead.
Years later, a killer named "The Stud" — whose look takes inspiration from fetish wear and queer culture — begins murdering the group members one by one.
Zoom in: Conners shot most of the movie with primarily local talent in downtown Cleveland and a mansion in Hocking Hills.
The big picture: The timing of the movie's release is important for Conners, given the obstacles currently facing the LGBTQ+ community.
