8 Times Our Favorite Songs & Musical Artists Entered The Spooky Genre
Though the horror genre has always incorporated soundtracks that grip audiences with fear, discussions around the music industry’s contributions to horror have only recently entered the mainstream. Here are a few of our favorite music moments in horror movies.
US, 2019
US (2019) — NWA + 5 On It
How composer Michael Abels managed to turn the 90s babies’ favorite songs into sinister tracks that preceded some of the eeriest moments in US, we have no idea. But we applaud him for it. Released in 2019 to critical and commercial acclaim, US served as Jordan Peele’s second entry into the horror Hall of Fame. The song “5 on It” first made its appearance at the beginning of the film and the dad, played by Winston Duke's fine ass, was excited to hear it. But the joy associated with this song ends in the first few minutes. For the rest of the movie, the stripped-down “Untethered” version of the song served as a menacing refrain that something scary was just around the corner. And how can we forget “Fuck the Police” playing while Elisabeth Moss was being murdered by her doppelgänger? Actually, we can’t, because it was absolutely terrifying but also kind of amazing.
Get Out, 2017
Get Out (2017) — Redbone by Childish Gambino
“Stay woke” and “Don’t close your eyes” are famous lines from “Redbone” by Childish Gambino, and serve as a warning to the characters (and even the audiences) to watch their surroundings and remember to keep themselves safe. This is a fortuitous reminder for the main character, played by Daniel Kaluuya, who finds himself kidnapped by his white girlfriend and her family who want to exploit Black people’s bodies to host the souls of their aging white community. This movie gives the song a whole new meaning of what it means to “get out” and “stay woke.”
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, 1998
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) — Brandy
Not only did Brandy star in the sequel to one of our favorite horror movies, but she also made it through to the end, cementing herself as one of horror’s first Black final girls. Although she was duped by the main villain into bringing her friends on a deadly island vacation (reminder y’all: the capital of Brazil is Brasília, NOT Rio!), Brandy fiercely fought to protect her friends. And when everything got a little too stabby for her tastes, she was absolutely ready to leave the island instead of trying to investigate what happened. A woman we respect!
Halloween: Resurrection, 2002
Halloween: Resurrection (2002) — Busta Rhymes
Michael Myers had haunted the characters of the Halloween franchise for two decades before meeting his match in Brooklyn’s very own Busta Rhymes. Playing a contrived version of himself, Busta is remembered for his goofy one-liners, obsession with karate movies, and his attempt to make his own version of House of Villains but his was the “I Got Murdered by Michael Myers” edition. And honestly? We would have tuned in. Busta is also remembered for being the first person to actually kill Michael Myers, electrocuting the killer and proclaiming him “chicken-fried”, one of the most ridiculous (and memorable) one-liners he could have come up with. And if Busta had remembered to “Korean chicken-fry” Michael (frying the chicken twice), maybe Myers would have stayed dead instead of returning for the critically panned Halloween Ends released back in 2022.
Queen of the Damned, 2002
Queen of the Damned (2002) — Aaliyah
We worship Aaliyah as our Princess of R&B but did you know she also played the vampire queen Akasha? Queen of the Damned was an early aughts iteration of the eponymous novel by Anne Rice and was applauded for its stellar soundtrack and casting of Aaliyah in the main villain’s role. In the film, she stole every scene she was in and imbued the character with her seductively smooth movements and fierce attitude. Unfortunately, this role was her last as Aaliyah’s plane crashed while flying from production, but we will always remember her legacy as a talented actress, singer, and international sweetheart. ALL HAIL QUEEN AALIYAH!
Freddy vs Jason, 2003
Freddy vs Jason (2003) — Kelly Rowland
Outside of her role as a member of the famed Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland had the opportunity to star in a movie that featured our favorite villains Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees going head to head. This film marked a departure from the previous installations as it incorporated comedic elements, and Kelly Rowland was the perfect performer for the job. Although the role was not without some controversy, Kelly had a memorable fight with Freddy Krueger and remains to this day one of the very few characters that ever truly went toe to toe with the villain.
Bones, 2001
Bones (2001) — Snoop Dogg
Starring Snoop and the iconic Pam Grier, Bones focuses on the journey of a murdered man who rises from the grave to avenge his death. Though the film was critically panned upon its release, it has since been hailed as a cult classic. And it’s easy to see why. Snoop plays a superpimp from Hell still in love with a still-foxy Pam and the movie, heavily inspired by Blaxploitation films of the seventies, never pretends to be anything different than exciting and flamboyant. And let’s just say Snoop’s silk press would have anyone, especially Kamala Harris, quickly making an appointment to get their hair as laid as his.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, 1998
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) — LL Cool J
Memorably playing a security guard who never did his job, LL Cool J is another horror movie character who fortunately makes it to the end without being gruesomely murdered by Michael Myers. Although 25 years later, audiences are still debating how LL’s character was shot in the head and why, when he rose up, he stopped Jamie Lee Curtis from delivering the final killing blow to Michael Myers. Fortunately, she got her lick back, but maybe LL should have just stayed dead if his first order of business when returning to life was preventing a Bad Bitch from doing what a Bad Bitch needed to do.