In my previous favorite 10 list, I went over my favorite horror themes and how important they are to horror films and the impact they have on public consciousness. Now I am going to list off a group of films that stand out for their overall soundtrack, ones in which there may be a particularly noteworthy song but also has a full soundtrack that is just as important. As usual, this is obviously subjective and are just my favorites as opposed to an objective best of list. Obviously when it comes to songs like this overall musical taste comes into play so that is obviously a factor here but in all cases I looked at films that really stood out musically and carried some strong iconic importance. But a lot is just ones that have songs I dig. If you agree or disagree, sound off below and let me know down in the comments with your own preference.

10. Jeepers Creeepers (2001)

This is one of the thinnest of the selections here as the soundtrack is a bit minimal but the selection of old school recordings mixed in with the score really punctuates the creepiness and desperation here. Modern trappings are not going to save you from an evil that has been killing for hundreds of years. The title song Jeepers Creepers becomes that much more terrifying when you realize just what significance it has to the overall story.

9. Death Proof (2007)

As with most Tarantino movies, Death Proof offers up a collection of music from the 60’s and 70’s that really set the mood for the film and in the case of a driver hunting and killing women with his car, these songs are effectively jaunty and upbeat which makes everything that goes on in the movie that much more unsettling. These songs also place the film squarely in the genre it is meant to be and that helps to establish tone and let’s you know what you are in for.

 

8. Planet Terror (2007)

It may seem like cheating to have both movies from Grindhouse on the list but they are distinct films with a distinct feeling and distinct soundtracks. In this case, the majority of the music here was composed and performed by director Robert Rodriguez himself (often with collaborators) and as such it is intrinsic to setting the mood and tone. The selection of jazzy sax, twangy guitars and kind of sleazy southern rock feel compliment the cheap and trashy nature of the film genre Planet Terror is going for. It is also just really good and sets the mood pretty much perfectly.

 

7. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

An American Werewolf in London is both horrifying and often tongue in cheek and the music selections on the soundtrack really compliment that. Mostly a collection of songs that reference the full moon, horrifying scenes of killing and transformation are undercut by  kitschy oldies that manage to make take those moments and make them even more disturbing. Luckily, despite David Naughton starring, we never have to hear the Dr Pepper song.

 

6. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Made up of songs from director Rob Zombie, Slim Whitman, the Ramones, Lionel Richie and Helen Kane, this is another soundtrack with out of place oldies and rock with a southern tip come together to make for an unsettling and often disturbing twist into 70’s exploitation horror. The title track by Rob Zombie really creeps me out every time I hear it.

5. From Dusk Til Dawn (1996)

More Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez here only this time it is kind of a blend of their two sensibilities that makes this work. The first half of the movie is more of a crime drama than horror but once the movie shifts, the music more or less stays where it is. Unlike Planet Terror, this is not a soundtrack composed and performed by Rodriguez but is made up of the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, ZZ Top, Tito & Tarantula and the Blasters. These songs match up perfectly with the material and is very listenable as a soundtrack regardless of the film to which it is attached.

 

4.Fright Night (1985)

Fright Night is my favorite movie ever (along with Better Off Dead) and so I am partial to it in pretty much every possible way but the soundtrack is glorious without any favoritism on my part and is honestly one of the reasons it is so great. From the main theme Come to Me by Brad Fiedel to Good Man in a Bad Time by Ian Hunter, the movie is grounded in the 80’s musically and that is just fine. The J Geils Band’s title track Fright Night is silly and fun which is a great compliment to the comedy laced tone of the movie while other selections are at times seductive and creepy. Fright Night has a terrific score by Brad Fiedel as well and I can listen to both the score and the soundtrack front to back without any skipping.

3. Scream (1996)

Complimenting the score by Marco Beltrami, the Scream soundtrack mines some classic rock staples like the Alice Cooper version of  School’s Out Forever and the Gus cover of Don’t Fear the Reaper as well as finding a lot of traction with Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds which has become more or less the theme to the series. The selections here are very listenable and compliment the film very nicely with a good mix of classic and throwback tracks and then current pop.

 

2.Dawn of the Dead (2004)

If there is one thing that director Zack Snyder is good at it is soundtrack selection and usage. Right out of the gates he put together a pretty fantastic soundtrack that is full of really good material while at the same time perfectly punctuating what is going on in the film. Some of it is tongue in cheek like the Richard Cheese cover of Distrubed’s Down With the Sickness and some of it is more poignant like The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash. The cues here are impeccable and help to highlight not only the tone but also the commentary the movie offers, which some people argue is largely absent when compared to the George Romero original. The use of All the People Who Died by the Jim Carroll Band over post credits footage is pretty amazing.

 

1. Lost Boys (1987)

Probably best known for Cry Little Sister (Theme From the Lost Boys)  by Gerard McMahon, the Lost Boys soundtrack is firmly rooted in the 80’s and is absolutely glorious. I think I wore this CD out when I was younger and it is brimming full of great material, most of which is kind of cheesy but is also pretty damn good. Lost in the Shadows by Lou Gramm gave us an awesomely 80’s rock video as well as serving as a secondary theme while the  People Are Strange cover by Echo and the Bunnymen provides a perfect introduction to the new world the characters are moving into. Tim Capello’s shirtless sax power ballad I Still Believe is so iconic and silly that it spawned an awesome John Hamm Starring digital short on SNL. Also, Beauty Has Her Way by Mummy Calls is one of my favorites based off its earnestness alone. There is so much great material here an entire article could be written about it. It is amazing.