Interview: Riki Lindhome & Katy O’Brian Talk Queer Joy and Zombies in QUEENS OF THE DEAD
- creepykingdom
- Oct 31
- 4 min read
By Shannon McGrew
In QUEENS OF THE DEAD, from director Tina Romero, daughter of legendary horror director George Romero, a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn on the night of a giant warehouse party, where an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies must put aside their drama and use their unique skills to fight against the brain-thirsty, scrolling undead.
For the release of QUEENS OF THE DEAD, Creepy Kingdom’s Shannon McGrew spoke with actors Riki Lindhome (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle) and Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), who play queer couple Lizzy and Dre, who find themselves separated from one another during the zombie apocalypse. During their chat, they discussed everything from Tina Romero’s unique vision to the film’s mix of camp, chaos, and heartfelt representation.
Thank you for chatting with me today! The movie is so fun, and there’s this joyful energy around it, even though zombies are taking over. Can you both talk about what drew you to the film and your characters?
Riki Lindhome: I just thought the script was so great, and it was the thing that you would want to see on screen. It wasn’t the typical people; it was these characters that I think all of us are craving, but you never see, and I just wanted to be a part of it. She had me at the log line: zombie apocalypse in a drag club.
Katy O’Brian: I was really resistant at first because I was like, do I really want to do another zombie thing? But it being queer was a really big sell, and it being funny and campy, I haven’t done anything like this. Then, listening to Tina and her vision, it felt like something I needed to do for my joy.
The film features drag icons, queer performers, and horror favorites, such as a cameo from Tom Savini. What was the energy like on set being around all these fabulous people?
Riki Lindhome: I was in a hospital and a car, and they were all in the club [Laughs].
Katy O’Brian: We had a lot of fun [Laughs]. I think almost everyone there was a Broadway actor at some point, so there was a lot of singing. I have a beautiful video of us zipping up Cheyenne Jackson, and he and Jaquel Spivey were singing this beautiful ode to something —it was awesome. Everyone was excited to be there. Beautiful personalities, complete silliness, and yet somehow we got it done.
Riki Lindhome: I still had fun, I just didn’t have the glitter [Laughs]. It was a more serious environment.
At least you got to see a zombie baby, and not everyone gets to interact with one.
Riki Lindhome: I did, and that was terrifying! They did not have to add one thing in post, like it was creepy. From afar, it kind of looked like a baby, and you would get closer and you’re like, that is disgusting. I loved it [Laughs]. It was a puppet, and the actor holding it was the puppeteer, so she had made it and was the artist behind the whole thing.
What’s so beautiful about this film is that we have queer stories front and center, and they're not tied to the trauma imposed on queer people on a daily basis. How do you both see this film contributing to the ongoing evolution of queer horror?
Katy O’Brian: I think it helps that it was written by a queer person and everyone in it was queer. It feels like a more authentic experience than something melodramatic or preachy. It’s just people existing how they literally exist every day, minus the fact that there are zombies [Laughs]. I’m hoping that helps contribute to not othering ourselves; instead, it’s something that’s making us seem like this is just a day in the life of.
Riki Lindhome: It was so clear that Tina had experience in the club world, came from that world, loves that world, and knows that world. It didn’t feel like there were stereotypes; it felt like there was a group of insane people in an insane situation.
Both of you have worked in many different genres. What’s something about horror that feels especially liberating?
Riki Lindhome: I like that you can’t be too big. No performance’s too broad. Even though my performance wasn’t that broad, sometimes I can be too big, and I wasn’t scared of that.
Katy O’Brian: The thing that I like about the horror genre in general is you might watch a drama and you’re like, man, I cried during that movie, but a week later you’re not crying anymore. With a horror film, you can watch it, and for the rest of your life, it haunts you, and you feel that emotion of “Am I going to be attacked by Freddy in my dreams tonight? Is my friend going to be taken over by a demon?” You feel that heart-pounding emotion for a long time.
QUEENS OF THE DEAD is now in theaters.
