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 13^th) 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 13^th, 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!