Queer horror continues to explore exciting stories as only possible through the lens of the LBGT+ community. This FrightFest gem carves out a singular niche in its depiction of a struggling queer artist and his supernatural love interest. Think 1990’s Ghost, only gay.
Ladybug may not be perfect, but its unique indie sensibilities and an assured lead performance from Anthony Del Negro (who also co-wrote the script with director Tim Cruz) are a blast to watch unfold.
Struggling artist Grayson (Del Negro, Exploited, Cynthia) heads to a remote cabin in need of some serious TLC, tasked with creating a new collection of art by his agent and close friend, Wendy (Scout Taylor Compton, Rob Zombie’s Halloween, The Long Night). His last painting sold for $60,000, and striking while the iron is hot could be particularly lucrative for Grayson and Wendy. Fresh off a rocky breakup with his ex, Noah, Grayson wastes no time hopping on the Fixr app to get back in the dating world. Ladybug immediately stresses the importance of the titular insect when Grayson comes across one in the cabin, picks it up, and sets it free, as some creeper lurks in the distance seeming to watch his every movement.
Sawyer (Zachary Roozen, Requiem for a Scream, Into the Dark: Crawlers), the handyman
—there to fix a variety of things in the cabin not least of which is the overflowing, disgusting mess of a toilet—starts flirting with Grayson from the second he arrives. The innuendo flies fast and loose, right from Sawyer stating that “this job is always getting me wet.” There can be no denying Sawyer appears to be quite a hunk, and when he notices Grayson’s interest in art, he asks to be painted in the nude. Sawyer begins dropping by frequently, as Grayson’s art takes an exciting turn in between calls from Wendy and a worrying frequency of nightly migraines.
The developing love story between the duo may not be the main focus, but it is a happy accident. A lurking sense of danger threatens to destroy everything. Once Wendy shows up at the cabin right at the crux of a major revelation, the film charges into its final act with an assured direction. Compton provides a much-needed jolt to the proceedings, imbuing Wendy with her a real personality. Del Negro and Roozen also notably have great onscreen chemistry that makes their growing bond an easy one to dial into. At its core, Ladybug is an unconventional ghost story, hiding sexual trauma and murderous tendencies just beneath the surface. Definitely keep an eye out for the next projects from Del Negro and Cruz—their approach to this strange indie movie marks their arrival as vital creatives in the queer filmmaking space.
Ladybug screened at 2024’s FrightFest.
