Hideous (2022 film)
A horror musical about a young queer boy with HIV.
Hideous is a 2022 short film directed by Yann Gonzalez, serving as a companion piece to Oliver Sim's debut solo album Hideous Bastard. The film is a three-part horror musical that explores the experiences of a young queer boy living with HIV, starring Sim himself alongside Jamie xx and Jimmy Somerville.
- Director
- Yann Gonzalez
- Release year
- 2022
- Premiere
- 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 22 May
- Genre
- horror musical
- Starring
- Oliver Sim, Jamie xx, Jimmy Somerville, Bimini
- Distributor
- Mubi
Lore & Background
The short film Hideous was directed by Yann Gonzalez and released on 8 September 2022 on Mubi with a trailer. It is a three-part horror musical centered on a young queer boy living with HIV, incorporating footage from the music video for the single 'Hideous' and structured around a talk show premise where Sim appears as a guest. The film stars Oliver Sim as himself, with Jamie xx appearing as the Sound Guy, Jimmy Somerville as the Guardian Angel, and drag queen Bimini as the Queen of Doom, alongside Fehinti Balogun, César Vicente, and Kate Moran.
Reader's Guide
Hideous premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 22 May before releasing exclusively on Mubi on 8 September. The film was shot in London and serves as a visual extension of the themes of queerness and HIV explored in Sim's album Hideous Bastard. Its significance lies in its direct, artistic engagement with HIV stigma and queer identity, using horror and musical elements to address personal and communal experiences. The collaboration with Gonzalez, known for his stylized horror, and the inclusion of HIV/AIDS activist Jimmy Somerville underscore the film's role in contemporary queer cinema.
Did You Know?
- The short film Hideous is a three-part horror musical about a young queer boy living with HIV.
- Hideous was released exclusively on Mubi on 8 September 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hideous (2022 film)?
Hideous is a 2022 short horror musical directed by Yann Gonzalez, created as a visual companion to Oliver Sim's debut solo album *Hideous Bastard*. It is structured in three distinct parts and blends musical performance with horror imagery.
Who stars in Hideous (2022 film)?
Oliver Sim takes on the lead role, supported by Jamie xx, Jimmy Somerville, and Bimini. The cast brings together musicians and performers across the project's three segments.
What is the story of Hideous (2022 film) about?
The narrative centers on a young queer boy living with HIV, using the horror-musical format to externalize his fears, desires, and daily reality. The three-part structure allows the film to shift tone and perspective across the boy's experience.
Where and when did Hideous (2022 film) premiere?
The film made its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 22 May. It was subsequently distributed to a wider audience through the streaming service Mubi.
Why is Hideous (2022 film) notable within the horror-musical genre?
It is one of the few short-form horror musicals to place a queer, HIV-positive young person at its center, merging genre spectacle with deeply personal storytelling. Its origin as a direct companion piece to a recorded music album also blurs the boundary between film and album in a way that is uncommon in the genre.
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