Horror and musicals: it’s not necessarily the most common combination. The typical blood and guts of the horror genre don’t always blend well with characters who suddenly break out in song.
But for those of us who are devoted genre fans, we know there are some seriously stellar horror musicals out there. So for those of you who love a great toe-tapping song to go with your horror, here are five musical horror and dark fantasy films that are very worth singing along to.
Phantom of the Paradise
Let’s start out strong with this 1974 underrated gem, Brian De Palma’s utterly unhinged take on Phantom of the Opera, Faust, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
And honestly, with a combination like that, you know it’s going to be weird. The story follows Winslow Leach, a singer-songwriter who ends up in the aforementioned Faustian bargain with diabolical record producer Swan.
But even after his false imprisonment and a disfiguring accident, Winslow Leach does not go down easily, and he’s soon terrorizing Swan’s concert hall, The Paradise, and insisting that Swan spotlight Winslow’s favorite performer, Phoenix (an excellent Jessica Harper). It only gets stranger and more off-the-rails from there.
The rock musical numbers are appropriately over-the-top, and while the film was a box-office and critical failure at the time, it’s since been reassessed as a cult favorite. If you haven’t seen Phantom of the Paradise lately (or ever), give it a try. It’s a heady blend of rock and horror that might be exactly what your genre-loving heart needs this fall.
Labryinth
Jim Henson puppets. David Bowie. A fantastic early performance from future Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly.
And of course, a litany of songs that you seriously can’t get out of your head. I mean, really, what more could you want?
While you can’t necessarily call Labyrinth horror, it’s certainly within the realm of dark fantasy, and it’s absolutely a fabulous musical, so it more than earns its place on this list.
From “Magic Dance” to “Within You,” there’s a tune for every mood in this 1986 classic. Labyrinth remains one of the best and coolest film soundtracks of all time, and it’s always worth a re-watch, so consider taking a trip into the world of the Goblin King.
At the very least, the music’s fantastic and unforgettable there.
The Lure
If you ever longed for a musical version of The Little Mermaid without the sweet, saccharine charm of the Disney version, then The Lure is definitely the film for you. The story follows two mermaid sisters who use their siren song to become part of a successful pop band, complete with colorful, kitschy musical numbers.
But one sister’s desire to transform into a human—as well as her dubious relationship with one of the guys in their band—soon threatens the sisters’ tenuous existence. This is truly a gut punch of a film, and the sisters’ relationship is by turns beautiful, horrifying, and heartbreaking.
If you haven’t yet seen The Lure, then put it at the top of your To Watch list. It’s a horror musical that’s more than worth your time.
Sinners
The most recent film on this list and also an instant horror classic, Sinners took the film world by storm last year and for good reason. Every aspect of the movie is superb from the acting to Ryan Coogler’s direction to the production design and of course the songs. The musical sequences are gorgeously shot, and the music is truly transcendent.
And while the movie of course deserved to take home even more Academy Awards than it did (in particular Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress), it was beyond incredible to see Sinners break the all-time record for the most nominations of any film in history.
It was also such a joy as a horror fan to see Michael B. Jordan win the Best Actor Oscar for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. We need more horror on the awards circuit, and Sinners more than proved that the genre absolutely has earned its place in cinema.
And with those magnificent songs that stick with you, the fans will be humming along for many years to come.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Honestly, no list of horror musicals would be complete without this long-running fan favorite. And truly, what a soundtrack. From “Dammit Janet” and “I Can Make You a Man” to “Sweet Transvestite” and “Time Warp,” these are songs that have worked their way into pop culture and managed to stay there for almost fifty years.
Needless to say, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has more than stood the test of time, and with Tim Curry’s recent passing, there’s never been a better time to revisit this iconic horror musical. You’ll be doing the Time Warp again in no time.
Feature Image: The Mary Sue
