The intersection of horror and musicals is where I thrive. And while horror musicals may not have had as much record-shattering commercial success as traditional comedies, I promise you there are more out there thank you think.
From cult classics like Evil Dead The Musical and Carrie to under appreciated reflections on death like Ride the Cyclone and Jasper in Deadland, horror musicals build community amongst a fiercely loyal fanbase.
Even as broadway and the theatre industry in general struggle to stay afloat, new horror musicals like The Lost Boys and Teeth are finding both stages and audiences. Unfortunately for the common folk outside of places like New York City, live theatre is largely inaccessible.
That's where musical films come in to save the day! From the comfort of your own home, you too can experience the endless terrors.
Here are eight horror musicals you can watch tonight.
Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors is, in my opinion, the most artfully adapted musical to a feature film format.
The story follows dorky florist Seymour Krelburn (Rick Moranis), who has just discovered a “strange and interesting” plant. When it turns out this plant eats blood, things start going unusually well for Seymour—that is, until he needs to start killing in order to feed it.
Caught between the love of his life, Audrey (Ellen Greene), and the whims of a “mean green mother from outer space,” Seymour must fight to do the right thing.
Sweeney Todd
In this Stephen Sondheim classic, a barber, the titular Sweeney Todd, was wrongly imprisoned for years, going mad with his desire for revenge. Now that he's free, he sets out to avenge the cruel fate of his wife.
Teaming up with a sinister meat pie maker, Mrs. Lovett, he slashes the throats of his barber clients and provides the bodies for especially delicious pies.
Reefer Madness
This wild satire is one of my favorites, not least of all because it heavily features Alan Cumming.
Adapting the ridiculous 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film of the same name, this musical follows pristine high school students Jimmy (Christian Campbell) and Mary Jane (Kristen Bell). With one dalliance in marijuana, their lives quickly devolve into scandalous sex, unhinged violence, and eternal damnation.
Anna and the Apocalypse
This holiday movie is good for musical mayhem all year round.
It's Christmas time in Little Haven, but all is not jolly. In fact, the town has been overrun by a deadly zombie outbreak.
High schooler Anna (Ella Hunt) and her friends sing through their emotions while killing the undead and searching for their families.
The Phantom of the Opera
This Andrew Lloyd Webber classic delivers gothic yearning to the max.
Christine (Emmy Rossum) is a talented young soprano who believes the ghost of her father has sent an Angel of Music to tutor her. In actuality, she is the subject of obsession for a disfigured—and violent—musical genius.
Repo! The Genetic Opera
This musical film is basically what would happen if Hot Topic threw up on a pile of sheet music. Nonetheless, it has a fairly loyal cult following—and some undeniably catchy songs.
In the wake of a global epidemic, a biotech provides an exploitative organ financing program. Unfortunately, those who can't pay are subject to deadly repossessions.
17-year-old Shilo Wallace (Alexa PenaVega) has a rare blood disease that confines her to indoors. But a forbidden journey through the complicated world outside changes everything.
Cannibal! The Musical
This bizarre yet delightful film is from the mind of Trey Parker of South Park fame, filmed during his time as a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Based on a true story, a group of men set out on a harrowing journey from Utah to Colorado. After a series of misfortunes befall them, the travelers find themselves stranded and starving.
Alferd Packer (Trey Parker) is found as the sole survivor, having sustained himself through cannibalism.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
An ultimate cult classic, this sexually devious musical gave voice to the queer community in a time when many of our present-day identities lacked widely agreed-upon terms.
A repressed young couple, Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon)—seek help after a blown-out tire. They end up at a mysterious castle owned by the glamorous Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).
What unfolds is a night of abominable scientific breakthroughs, reckless sex, murder, and alien politics.
