It’s something we intuitively feel anyway, but it’s very much worth pointing out that horror and rock music both have a lot in common. They seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly—at least over the course of the past 50 or so years that the music genre has been with us. They are both rebellious, potentially shocking, challenge the status quo, and are always testing the envelope. Perhaps this is partly why they are so linked, and seem to attract similar fan bases. Anyway, we thought it might be a good idea to rank the most effective/memorable of these “rock ‘n roll horror movies”. We hope you enjoy. Keep the music blasting, and the blood pouring!
Not the best movie by any stretch of the imagination, but since this is a movie based completely upon the conceit of a vampire who starts his own successful rock band, it warranted inclusion here. Stuart “Original choice for Aragorn until he walked off the LOTR set like a baby” Townsend makes a convincing rock star, and is not bad as Lestat—but then again, anything beats Tom Cruise.
9. Hard Rock Zombies
This film is in no way a great film, but for anyone who enjoys absolutely horrible "so bad its good" B-Movies, Hard Rock Zombies is a must see. Who knew that undead rockers look more like KISS than they do corpses? An awesome rock show, a cameo by Hitler, and the song “Cassie”, which will be stuck in your head for days, are just three of the billion reasons why Hard Rock Zombies rocks.
8. Earth vs. The Spider
A very early entry in the subgenre of “rock n’ roll horror”, back when the new music craze was first sweeping the nation, and kids were sock-hoppin’ the night away. What’s so cool about this movie is that its somewhat similar to the rock n’ roll-themed teeny-bopper flicks that were common in the late 1950s—only with a giant tarantula added into the mix.
7. Dance of the Dead
George A. Romero may have informed us that head-shots would rid us of zombies... but he totally forgot to tell us that high school garage bands covering Pat Benetar could slow the zombie rage! Dance of the Dead has hilarious one-liners, awesome music, buckets of blood, pretty dresses, a smart ass kid with long hair, a redneck high school gym teacher, revenge of the science dissection frogs, undead make-out scenes, and of course ZOMBIES!
6. Class of Nuke ‘Em High
Biohazard and The Smithereens are among the bands to grace the soundtrack of this Troma favorite about a bunch of high school students who become all messed up thanks to some irradiated drugs copped from a nuclear plant worker. Drugs, rock ‘n roll, and even some sex—how could you go wrong?
5. Repo! The Genetic Opera
Not since Richard O'Brien have we been given a horror rock musical as cool and creative as Repo! The Genetic Opera. It's really hard not to be awesome when you combine rock and roll with horror. Guitar solos from Joan Jett, the siren songs of Sarah Brightman, a nifty little ditty from Paris Hilton, and the borderline orgasmic sound from the Graverobber make this film a must see for every horror fan.
4. The Lost Boys
A great horror flick for the brat pack generation, with Keifer and the Coreys running around to some addictive synth-pop and ‘80s-style rock tunes. The memorable “Lost in the Shadows”, the mesmerizing “Cry Little Sister”, and of course, Echo & The Bunnymen’s cover of The Doors’ “People Are Strange”. One of the first horror movies made with a music video sensibility.
3. The Devil's Rejects
Rob Zombie's throwback to exploitation films showcases the coolest horror family since the Addams or the Munsters. The Firefly family kill off people looking grungy, swearing like sailors, and with more creativity than the love child of MacGyver and Martha Stewart. I think it's close to impossible to hear Lynrd Skynrd's Freebird without having a flashback to the ending sequence.
…and this time, folks, we’ve got ourselves a TIE for the number-one spot…
1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The film that started a thousand trannies screaming “slut” and “asshole”. Richard O'Brien's brilliant masterpiece combines horror, science-fiction, romance, sex, and Pennywise the Clown in drag, giving us one of the most impactful films of all time. RHPS is like the Beatles of rock n’ roll horror, it doesn't matter what generation you're born into... you just gotta love it.
And…
1. The Return of the Living Dead
Yes, we’re copping out. This one has to be considered number one as well. Without doubt, the greatest rock soundtrack of any horror movie, ever. The Cramps, The Damned, 45 Grave and so many others joined together to create the epitome of a bad-ass punk horror soundtrack. It’s such an integral part of the movie itself (which makes it a shame that later DVD versions have tampered with it), and easily one of the most enjoyable soundtracks to listen to on its own merits.
For more news and opinions on the world of horror, including an attack on the After Dark HorrorFest, an interesting tidbit on Patrick Swayze and Zombieland, and review of the arthouse horror flick I Sell the Dead, check out Brian’s daily blog, The Vault of Horror, at thevaultofhorror.net
And for a unique look at the feminine side of fear, including a bold take on Jennifer’s Body and a look at great horror parodies, check Brittney-Jade’s blog, Day of the Woman, at dayofwoman.com
To not have Trick or Treat here is blasphemy... but ROTLD is #1 by far Also #1 Punk movie next to Sid and Nancy.... Do You Want to Party???? Its Party time.... also original Night of the Demons is glaring absentee
I could be wrong but that pic you've got there for ROTLD is not from ROTLD. I assume you thought this was the original 'Tar Man' from the basement, which he does indeed resemble. But there was no shot of him like this in the film and there was no computer screen anywhere near the barrel he comes out of.
So, I don't know which movie it's from, but I'm 99% sure it's not from ROTLD...
... and leaving Trick or Treat, Black Roses or Rock n'Roll Nightmare out of this is pretty negligent, especially since you saw fit to include such pics as The Devil's Rejects and Earth vs. The Spider, who may have a sensibility toward rock culture, but you're really reaching to call them 'Rock n' Roll Horror' alongside these other pics.
Ugh.
I would definitely not have "Queen of the Damned" on any list unless it was the "Top Ten WORST..." of some type. Ugh, was that film horrible, not to mention dull as dishwater. How about the 1974 DePalma flick "Phantom of the Paradise"? Or The Who's 1975 rock opera "Tommy"? While not exactly horror, the story itself had some pretty horrific elements with the "deaf, dumb and blind" Tommy getting a lot of abuse throughout the movie. Also, how about Stephen King's "Maximum Overdrive"? Sure, it's campy as hell, but it integrated the rock soundtrack into the movie pretty well, especially AC/DC's "Who made Who".
I'm going to have to argue that A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3 belongs on this list. No, no one in it was in a band. Yes, it only really has two rock songs, and they're both by the same band. But when I think of the rock/horror connection of the 1980s, DREAM WARRIORS is the first and last song that comes to mind. Having just watched the film again today, I feel like no movie/song combo captures the comic book teen angst of the 80s better. Kudos for the inclusion of EARTH VS. THE SPIDER, but NOES 3 should be here, too.
Why does Queef of the Spammed and Devils Rejects appear on this list and Sammi Curr is completely overlooked? Trick or Treat is easily the number one R&R horror flick ever. Even the true blood of the genre is relaying it here, this list is whack. But cheers for Lost Boys and ROTLD.
I have to agree with frightfan, the picture for ROTLD is not from ROTLD, its from Rave to the Grave, that is kind of sad. I'm glad Repo made the list, I enjoy that movie and the soundtrack.
What about Slumber party massacre 2. That movie was fucking hilarious. Jullett Cummins character dies, and then can be seen walking around in a later part of the movie. It's either the best or the worst Rock n' Roll horror movie ever.
Uh...Black Roses anyone? Rock N' Roll Nightmare anyone?
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