By now, it is common knowledge that rock music and horror movies have enjoyed a long-term symbiotic relationship. The rough edges and grizzly gore in the horror genre benefit from the visceral, emotive breakdowns that heavy music provides. The two genres share overlapping audiences who love to celebrate their union. Throughout the years, we’ve seen an array of iconic movie soundtracks that feature some of rock’s most celebrated musicians. Here are eight undeniable standout soundtracks to add to your watchlist and playlist this Halloween season.
The Crow
The Crow has become synonymous with gothic style, music, and culture—and for good reason. The movie itself perfectly captures the film noir aesthetic while the soundtrack, for lack of a better term, rocks. It’s a no-skips tracklist spotlighting The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Helmet, Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against The Machine, and more.
House Of 1000 Corpses
It goes without saying that any movie directed by Rob Zombie will have a good soundtrack. The horror metal juggernaut successfully combines his music chops with his horror passions, and House of 1000 Corpses is the pinnacle of those efforts. The tracklist features 13 original Rob Zombie songs and a feature from Ramones, too.
Jennifer’s Body
All you have to do is look at the Jennifer’s Body soundtrack to deduce that the film was released in 2009. The movie takes place in a high school, so it makes sense that the soundtrack incorporates the bands that were beloved by teenagers in that era. They included all of the 2000s emo essentials: Panic! At The Disco, Cobra Starship, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Resident Evil
Undoubtedly, this soundtrack was made by a metalhead. It shows in every crevice of the tracklist, from Slipknot to Adema to Mudvayne to Fear Factory. The songs in this movie’s soundtrack have unrelenting ferocity from start to finish. There are only a few exceptions, with vibey interludes provided by Depeche Mode and The Crystal Method. Even with those softer lulls, the rock edge remains present throughout.
Mandy
Although this may seem like an unlikely choice, the heavy metal influences are subtly present throughout the entire film and begin the moment we see Mandy working in a record store wearing a Black Sabbath T-shirt. Director Panos Cosmatos has been quoted as saying that he wanted the movie to sound like a disintegrating rock opera. Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson brought the vision to life with a soundtrack that exudes doom, dread, and heaviness that perfectly suits the movie’s bleak revenge story.
Queen Of The Damned
Horror movies and rock music go hand in hand. Queen Of The Damned is another unmistakable example, as the soundtrack includes Deftones, Papa Roach, Disturbed, and more. They also capture a moment in time from artists who were taken from us too soon, including Wayne Static of Static-X and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park.
Lords Of Chaos
This 2018 horror drama hybrid is a cult classic amongst the metal community. It revolves around the truth and fiction behind the Norwegian metal band Mayhem’s tumultuous and bloody story. Throughout the film, you’ll hear glimpses of the band’s original songs in performance sequences. What makes this soundtrack extra special are the contributions from Sigur Ros to capture the atmospheric backdrop of Norway.
Suspiria
No one taps into the emo feels more than Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. The 2018 remake of the epic supernatural horror film benefits greatly from the emotive, soft sounds of Yorke’s soundtrack that accompany the graceful dances and dreary horrors that unravel.