Misc
THE ULTIMATE HORROR PLAYLIST
Horror is filled with magnificent little earworms that burrow into your brain and lay eggs there.
Here I have captured all those wonderful rotten, little maggots and organized them into a happy Spotify playlist for you. I won’t explain every track for all our sake, but I will let you know why they were all included. As diverse as horror is, many reasons warrant a song’s inclusion.
Horror fans need a soundtrack when they feel spooky, so of course, Horror Press has you covered.
Scroll to the end for our Spotify playlist.
The Classic Horror Theme Songs
It was naturally going to happen, so let’s rip this bloody band-aid off and point out the obvious. The impact the theme of the core slashers (e.g., Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Friday the 13th) had is undeniable. It just wouldn’t be an ultimate horror playlist without them. You’ll also find my personal favorite: “Hello Zepp” by Charlie Clouser, aka the Saw theme song. I know instrumentals aren’t everyone’s thing, so if this includes you, don’t worry; these only make up a small portion of the playlist.
HONORABLE MENTION:
“Tubular Bells” from The Exorcist, while equal parts creepy, iconic, and wonderful, is over twenty minutes long. I saved you all a potential skip and didn’t include it. It feels wrong, but is it really?
Oldies Turned Creepy
After much deliberation about whether “Got 5 on It” by Luniz and Michael Marshall is considered an “oldie” – as it came out nearly 30 years ago – I pushed those negative thoughts down to a deep, dark place and decided only to include (for this segment) songs from before 1970.
Recorded on old equipment, the songs’ old age is reflected in their audio quality, giving them a ghostly impression. Then, added to that, the pieces were used in horror so effectively that they left a residual creepiness on every subsequent listen. “Tiptoe through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim is a given, as Insidious succeeded in making the upbeat track terrifying.
Some other noteworthy additions include:
- “Turn Around (Look at Me)” by The Vogues in Final Destination 3
- “We’ve Only Just Begun” by Carpenters in 1408
- “Tonight, You Belong to Me” by Patience & Prudence in American Horror Story: Murder House
The Songs from the Slashers
While we covered theme songs already, other songs existed within these films that bear separate mention. Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Strangers, and House of 1000 Corpses delivered fantastic tunes. “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave is beloved by Scream fans everywhere; meanwhile, Scream 6 added “Still Alive” by Demi Lovato.
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare gave us another favorite of mine, “I’m Awake Now” by Goo Goo Dolls, and anyone who remembers Urban Legend knows that “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler makes for some of the best driving music.
The Quintessential Horror Movie Music
These songs can be found across multiple horror productions and are standalone unofficial horror anthems. Some examples include:
- “Living Dead Girl” by Rob Zombie
- “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Marilyn Manson
- “Bodies” by Drowning Pool
- “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus
Songs to Fight Zombies To
Whether you’re beating a zombified pub owner to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen or need a theme as background to the chaos – as exhibited in Dawn of the Dead with “The Man Who Comes Around” by Johnny Cash – horror proved these are go-tos in the event of a zombie apocalypse.
On a separate note, the winner for “Worst Song to Get Tortured to In a Zombie Apocalypse” can be found in the seventh season of The Walking Dead, as Negan tortured Daryl to an endless onslaught of the upbeat “Easy Street” by The Collapsable Hearts Club.
The Vampire’s Playlist
Enough about the brain-eaters; let’s talk about the bloodsuckers. Anyone who’s seen it knows “Cry Little Sister” from The Lost Boys is a given. Then, Queen of the Damned alone comprised a horror soundtrack perfect for the spookiest occasions. The tracks “Forsaken” by the lead singer of Disturbed David Draiman and “Change (In the House of Flies” by Deftones were both standouts from the film. Finally, lest we ever forget how perfectly “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge encapsulated the Countess and Donovan’s hunting scene in American Horror Story: Hotel, it’s also included.
AS SEEN ON THE MEMES
It would be foolish to disregard the internet’s contribution to horror music. You may not recognize some of these songs by name, but you will certainly know them when you hear them.
- “Rhinestone Eyes” by Gorillaz
- “The Ghost” by NIVIRO
- “Bloody Mary” by Lady Gaga
- “The Cigarette Duet” by Princess Chelsea
Sounds of The Series
While many horror series could fill up their own playlists (here’s looking at you longingly from afar, American Horror Story), a few stand out. “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps, made famous by Netflix’s hit series Wednesday, will undoubtedly grace every Halloween playlist for the rest of time. “Today” by Smashing Pumpkins is another notable inclusion, as it was used masterfully in the pilot of Yellowjackets. The lyrics insinuate that “today is the greatest” because it’s the best day there ever will be again; there will be no more days after. Those perfectly summed up the Yellowjackets girls’ last minutes of ordinary life.
Something for the Witches
After you’ve finished attempting the Seven Wonders on a quest to be the new Supreme, you can unwind with Stevie Nicks’ “Seven Wonders” as featured on American Horror Story: Coven. Or, if you’d prefer to call the corners, The Craft brought us an entry from Siouxsie and the Banshees through “Sick Child.”
When you’re really feeling witchy, you’ll enjoy “Time of the Season” by Zombies, as featured in The Conjuring.
Honorable Mentions
Some songs need no introduction, for if you’re familiar with the films they appeared in, you’ll recognize them immediately.
- “Redbone” by Childish Gambino: Get Out
- “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones: Pet Sematary
- “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” by Harry Belafonte: Beetlejuice
- “Killing Moon” by Echo and the Bunnymen: Donnie Darko
The Ultimate Horror Playlist
I have said it before and will repeat that I’m a sucker for well-done music in horror movies. Whether it’s set to the final fight of the film, the ultimate reveal, background music for killer scenes, or a jingle to remember a monster, music can improve the experience of watching a scary movie.
See if you can identify the films that belong to those I didn’t name.
While on Spotify, remember to get caught up on the Horror Press Podcast! If there are any songs you feel deserve to be included, reach out to us in the comments or on social media and let us know!
Stephen King probably has the most iconic mix of villains of any horror creator. Yes, Wes Craven has both Krueger and Ghostface, and John Carpenter has Michael Myers and the blue-skull aliens, but let’s be real. King comes out on top for his sheer variety of colorful, nightmare-inducing, iconic, sexy characters.
Hold up, did I say sexy? That can’t be right. Oh…it seems I did, and that can only mean one thing: a smash or pass ranking of Stephen King’s most iconic villains. Pennywise the Clown and Leland Gaunt can steal your soul, but can they steal your heart? And just to clarify the ranking, we are going solely on the characters themselves, not the actors who have portrayed them.
SMASH or PASS: Stephen King Villains Edition
SMASH: Annie Wilkes
Yeah, she’s crazy, but come on. She loves to read, is resourceful, and knows her way around… a sledgehammer? Just don’t kill off her favorite character, and you’re safe. Her farmhouse also seems super cozy, so any time spent there would be lovely. As long as she doesn’t have any problems with my screenplays, I’ll take my chances.
PASS: Leland Gaunt
This is the hardest pass on this list. Everything is a mind game with this guy. Sure, he’ll pay for dinner, but he’ll probably later make you pay him back by stealing a dog or performing some other bizarre task. Everything would be a bargain and transactional. With no clear communication, he is actually the worst imaginable partner on the list. Besides, according to the book, he is a reptilian demon riding a white horse? Check, please…
NEUTRAL: Pennywise
Pennywise’s attractiveness varies wildly. This interdimensional shapeshifter can be literally anything…Sure, Bill Skarsgard is plenty attractive, and his take would absolutely be a smash, but knowing there’s a cosmic spider under there might be a turn-off. He is also a cannibalistic chaos demon, but so are half the characters on this list. You win some and lose some when you open Tinder in Derry, Maine.
PASS: Randall Flagg
Every iteration of Flagg going back to the books has portrayed him as really hot. So why a pass? Well, his whole character is built on the concept of false promises. He feels like your worst ex-situationships. Always promising something bigger, he is a total manipulator who will use you for his own power. Also, he looks real nasty with the devil horns…and not in a good way.
SMASH: Christine
Hear me out. Let’s ignore the fact that she’s a cosmically possessed car. Christine is loyal, loving, and protective. Sure, she’s manipulative and pure evil, but she is obsessed with you. Flagg, for instance, would dump you the second he got what he wanted. But Christine wants you and only you. Maybe that’s worse, given you now have to walk down the aisle with a 1958 Plymouth Fury. But hey, if you don’t have commitment issues, Christine might be your gal.
PASS: Jack Torrance
Going off of the book, it’s a no, solely because when he qualifies as a villain, he is possessed by a sentient hotel. In the movie, he is psychotic from the start of the film. There is no way to spin the possessed Jack Torrance in a positive light.
SMASH: Kurt Barlow
I have no defense for this. I just have a good feeling about him. How can you say no to those eyes! Vampires are sexy. Well, some vampires. I feel like he has kind of an Eggers’ Nosferatu appeal? You LITERALLY cannot resist him. So hey, this seems to be a SMASH whether I want it to be or not.
PASS: Warden Samuel Norten
Unlike most of the villains on this list, Norten is not a fun, supernatural being. This is a real kind of evil. There is not even a joke to be found with this one-this guy sucks. Pass on all accounts. What does it say about your politics when I would rather take my chances with an interdimensional spider-clown?
SMASH: Rose the Hat
Does this even need an explanation? Rose is BY FAR the most attractive Stephen King villain. Sorry Mike Flanagan, the eerie little glowing eyes are kinda hot. I am sure that was not your intention. But here we are. As long as you don’t have the shine, you should be safe. Not sure if I would be down to join her weird RV demon-polycule, but otherwise, it’s a done deal. Actually, you know what? Why the Hell not. Let’s get some shining-mist together!
SMASH: The Creep
It’s so hard to find funny guys, right? Not anymore! The Creep is a total jokester. Funny, intelligent…what’s not to love? Well, the rotting skin and exposed skeleton can be a turn-off, but no one’s perfect. It’s what’s on the inside that counts!
Ah, Urban Legend…the plucky younger sibling franchise to Scream. If this is the first time you realize that it’s a franchise at all, that is totally fair. The cult classic slasher’s only theatrical sequel was a critical and box office flop. The third film, Bloody Mary, was direct-to-video. The film has an interesting comparative pitch to Scream. While Scream is a meta-slasher toying with the rules of horror, Urban Legend has its killer basing its slice-and-dicin’ off of famous urban legends…and then they just basically did a version of Scream 3 for its sequel. It’s a fascinating trilogy, particularly in how the movies connect. In Final Cut, the first film exists as an urban legend itself. Bloody Mary, however, is a complete standalone that could be read as an urban legend within the universe of the first entry.
The Urban Legend Franchise Ranked From Worst to Best
So…how do these three films rank against each other? Are the sequels worth checking out at all? Pull up a chair, relax, and start mixing your Pop-Rocks and soda; this is the worst-to-best ranking of the Urban Legend trilogy.
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005)
Unsurprisingly, the straight-to-video, nearly completely forgotten supernatural entry is last. Directed by Mary Lambert of Pet Sematary acclaim, the movie is a straightforward supernatural horror. Three teen girls say “Bloody Mary” three times into a mirror, and it resurrects a vengeful spirit.
The movie is not terrible by any means. It is just pretty standard, with some good moments of schlocky, 2000s fun. For those that grew up in this era, it can be a goofy little nostalgia trip! The cheesy SFX, hilariously awkward teen acting, and cinematography of a Coke commercial make it a really easy watch. It’s almost like a much bloodier Goosebumps episode! However, for those not fans of this divisive era of TV-horror, it can be a bit of a slog.
The idea of making a movie that feels in-Universe to the first film is clever. However, it is unclear whether that was the exact intention. Despite this critic’s personal, nostalgic love of this film, it is not connected to the franchise at all. Even if this was a masterpiece, this detail makes it hard to put it anything above last place. Sorry Bloody Mary, I still love you.
Urban Legend (1998)
Ready the guillotine. Light up the torches. Find the IP address this article was written on-but let me explain. Yes, it is controversial not to put this one in first place. Still, it is really more of a tie than second placement. This and Final Cut are vastly different, which makes the franchise interesting, nearly incomparable. They each succeed in their own sub-genres…but this one misses the mark.
Urban Legend is a cult classic for a reason. It is completely itself as a late-90s, teen campus-slasher. The movie takes a simple premise, combining it with a likeable cast and a gothic, dark-academia setting. It feels like it was made for slumber parties and sleepovers. A combination of 80s slashers and campfire tales? Amazing. Plus, the soundtrack is killer.
That being said, the mystery, story, and characters are all just okay. The answers to the mystery (spoilers…?) fall in line with I Know What You Did Last Summer, and many films from the 80s. Prom Night, April Fool’s Day, and The Burning all come to mind. If this came out before Scream, this would be number one, for sure. It is probably, technically, the best film of the franchise, if I had to be objective. However, it just doesn’t reach the levels of originality the final film on this list does.
Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)
Urban Legends: Final Cut is fantastic. No, really. It’s great, and one of the most underrated slashers of its time. While Scream picked apart the slasher genre in a meta-horror classic, this movie picks apart the horror film industry. The film has a lot of commentary on toxicity in the industry, and it is matched by an on-brand mystery.
A big issue with movies is finding a decent throughline. Look at the first Urban Legend, for example. The reason the killer kills has nothing to do with urban legends themselves-it is just a creepy MO. However, the killer in Final Cut has a motive rooted in filmmaking itself. The movie stays on brand, delivering on its promise. It is distinctly different from Scream, while still being perfect for fans of that franchise.
Without spoiling, the mystery is great. While the final reveal is somewhat predictable, the twists and turns of the story itself are great. For fans of lost media horror like Red Rooms or Cigarette Burns, the mystery veers into that. One part of the film involves a student film with a mystery splice in the film spool. While the movie is funnier than it is scary, and somewhat outdated at points, it still feels the most rewatchable of all three movies.
