10 Bad Films With Great Tie-in Songs

Almost every bad film has its merits, be they unique special effects, the odd standout performance, or in worse case scenario they're so bad it's funny. In other cases however, it's the films soundtrack that can act as a final leg for it to stand on. While it is very rare that a good soundtrack can actually salvage a bad film, they can at least make for an enjoyable companion piece to an otherwise terrible film.

Which brings me to the film tie-in song. While nowadays these are usually limited to animated movies or, ahem, the 50 Shades films, movie tie-in songs were all the rage in the 80's, 90's, and early 2000's. From Ghostbusters, to Men in Black, these catchy numbers act as nice little add on's to their respective films and are still fairly iconic today. While it's true that not all movie tie-in songs are good, it can also be said that there are some truly bad films out there that have brilliant tie-in numbers. So without further ado, here are 10 bad films with great tie-in songs.

10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- 'New Divide' by Linkin Park

While none of Michael Bay's Transformers films are good, there is a special place in hell for the second installment, Revenge of the Fallen ("I am directly below the enemies scrotum"). Messy, noisy, and just generally trashy, Revenge of the Fallen was a failure with critics and is generally regarded as one of the worst in the franchise. However, its tie-in single 'New Divide' by Linkin Park is actually a bit of a tune. From its epic sci-fi sound to the unbeatable vocals of the late Chester Bennington, 'New Divide' certainly feels tonally consistent with the films genre, but Revenge of the Fallen is in no way deservant of it. Still, despite the film being a critical failure, 'New Divide' actually did fairly well with music critics and still remains one of Linkin Parks most successful songs today. 

9. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare- 'Why Was I Born' by Iggy Pop

The first of two hard-rock horror tie-ins on our list, 'Why Was I Born' acts as a theme song of sorts for the sixth Nightmare on Elm Street film. The somewhat underwhelming 'final' entry to the Elm Street franchise finishes off with an end credits sequence consisting of a montage of Freddy's greatest moments, set to the sound of Iggy Pop's gravely vocals. The fast-paced hard-rock number works really well when set to this montage of Elm Street clips and in some ways feels like a better tribute to the franchises big bad than anything else in the actual film. Who better to sing Freddy Krueger out than Iggy Pop himself?

8. Tron Legacy- 'Derezzed' by Daft Punk

Tron Legacy isn't inherently bad, it simply lacked the substance to match its grand spectacle and immense sense of hype. One of the reasons behind this hype was the films soundtrack which was completely composed by French electronic duo Daft Punk. Its signature track 'Derezzed' is a pounding electronic bop that, despite being less than 2 minutes long, manages to embed itself in your brain for long after the film ends. The song itself features in the films club scene where Daft Punk themselves make a cameo appearance as the resident DJ's, it's one of the only scenes in Tron Legacy I can actually remember, all thanks to 'Derezzed'.

7. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth- 'Hellraiser' by Motorhead

I mean objectively Hellraiser III is a bad film, especially in comparison to both its predecessors, but I have a bit of a soft spot for it regardless. One of the reasons for this is its wonderful tie in song, Motorheads cover of Ozzy Osbournes 'Hellraiser'. The song itself plays just as the credits begin to roll at the end of the film, so if you're thinking of turning it off then I'd suggest sticking around for a little while. It's also accompanied by a music video that intercuts between clips from the film and shots of frontman Lemmy playing cards with Pinhead himself (with Doug Bradley reprising his role). The heavy sound and on-the-nose title make it an appropriate companion piece for Hellraiser III and the video is just a little bonus for all you Pinhead fans out there.

6. Godzilla- 'Deeper Underground' by Jamiroquai

The less said about the 1998 incarnation of Godzilla, the better, however it's soundtrack is surprisingly decent in comparison to the film itself. One of the signature tracks is 'Deeper Underground' by jazz-funk band Jamiroquai, that has an entertaining music video to match. The video sees a group of cinemagoers watching Godzilla in 3D only for the films titular monster to break out of the screen, flooding the theater and causing all sorts of chaos. Band member Jay Kay then proceeds to dance around the ruined picture house, because why not. It looks like a really expensive video that feels reminiscent of Dario Argento's Demons, and acts as a worthy companion to Jamiroquai's acid-funk sound. In my eyes it even done Godzilla more justice than the '98 film ever could.

5. Armageddon- 'I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith

Back to Michael Bay now but remaining in 1998, Armageddon was Bay's schlocky disaster flick about a group of drillers sent by NASA to stop an asteroid from colliding with Earth. Yep, I know, and that's not even the half of it. If one good thing did come from Armageddon however, it's Aerosmiths iconic power ballad 'I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' that was recorder specifically for the film itself. The hefty number remains one of Aerosmith's most recogniseable songs and continues to be played during wedding dances and somewhere in the gift shop after Disney's Rock 'n Roller Coaster ride. Armageddon may be a forgettable film, but this is certainly not a forgettable tune.

4. Wild Wild West- 'Wild Wild West' by Will Smith

Remember this 1999 steampunk Western adventure? Well neither do I, but I do remember the catchy hip hop tune that Will Smith recorded for it. With its perfect balance between funky sound and cheesy lyrics, 'Wild Wild West' may be something of a novelty tune, but its a damn catchy one at that. Sure it's no 'Men in Black' but if you're a fan of Big Willy Smith then you'll be sure to love this. The video is intercut with clips from the film and sees Will Smith and Salma Hayek reprising their roles, as well as cameos from Stevie Wonder and a Kenneth Branagh lookalike. If you're in the mood for some cheesy 90's hip hop then look no further than 'Wild Wild West'.

3. Twilight- 'Decode' by Paramore

Much like the way that vampires are blessed with immortality, but cursed to feed on the blood of the living, the Twilight franchise was cursed with bad films but blessed with great soundtracks. The first film featured the likes of Muse and Radiohead on its soundtrack, as well as Paramore's 'Decode' which acted as a tie-in number due to its music video. With its ambient sound and heavy chorus, the song has since become one of the most beloved Paramore songs and is often considered to have been wasted on a film like Twilight. The music video features Hayley Williams and co. performing in a gloomy woods while intercutting with clips from the film, arguably better than the actual film itself. Trust Paramore to save the day.

2. The Beach- 'Pure Shores' by All Saints

It's hard to imagine Danny Boyle adapting an Alex Garland novel to turn out bad, but low and behold The Beach is fairly awful. While the film itself never seems to actually go anywhere, at least we get some good music to enjoy for along the way, the most iconic being 'Pure Shores' by All Saints. This ethereal little electronic number was written for the film itself and the scene that it plays in is arguably one of its only enjoyable moments. Like most of the videos on this list, the one for 'Pure Shores' consists of clips of the film intercut with footage of the band, and honestly it makes the film look a lot better than it actually is. Don't be deceived by the hypnotic video however, it really isn't a good film.

1. Batman Forever- 'Kiss From A Rose' by Seal

Ah 'Kiss From A Rose', even after all these years you still never fail to pull on the heart strings. Batman Forever was a big departure from Tim Burton's films that preceded it, being much more campy in tone, with performances that range from forgettable to just bizarre (looking at you Tommy Lee Jones). This time however Batman didn't save the day, but Seal did, swooping into the films soundtrack with 'Kiss From A Rose' and salvaging whatever he could. The beautiful number had already been released a year prior, but Seal re-released it for the film along with a new video where he serenades the Bat-signal atop GCPD. Batman Forever may have been the beginning of the end for 90's Batsy, but at least it will always have 'Kiss From A Rose'. 

10 Rising Horror Filmmakers to Look Out For

As horror is a genre that is constantly changing and evolving, it's only natural that every now and then a new generation of horror filmmakers emerge to put their own spin on the genre. Within the last couple of years, it's clear that there are a wide number of new talents taking on horror cinema and making it into something new and unique, leaving us with refreshing horror films that help to revitalise the genre itself. The following ten filmmakers have proven that they have the ability to breathe new life into the horror genre and inject it with their own unique senses of style and storytelling. Most of them only have one or two titles to their name so far, but even with those they have already left a lasting impact, proving that they are forces to be reckoned with. One thing is certain however, I can't wait to see what they all do next.

10. Mike Flanagan 

Known For: Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Hush, Gerald's Game.

I'll begin with Mike Flanagan as he already has six feature-length horror films under his belt, beginning with 2011's Absentia. Flanagan has shown that he has a unique imagination as seen with films such as Oculus and more recently, Hush. He is able to take familiar tropes such as a haunted mirror or a home invasion, only to turn them on their heads to offer us something truly unique. Hush was a particularly effective horror-thriller, following a deaf protagonist who fights for survival against a homicidal home invader. Last year Flanagan gained a much wider acclaim for his Netflix adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game, which was rightfully lauded by critics for Flanagan's ability to translate the source material to the screen while creating an unnerving sense of tension himself.

Flanagan's next project will be another King adaptation, Doctor Sleep, which most of you will probably recognise as King's sequel to his earlier novel The Shining. If anyone has the ability to tackle a follow-up to such a well-known piece of work, it's Flanagan. 

9. S. Craig Zahler

Known For: Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99.

If you're looking for a rising filmmaker with a penchant for gore, then S. Craig Zahler is your man. The filmmaker first gained notice with his slow-burning horror western Bone Tomahawk back in 2015. If you've seen the film then you'll understand the way in which Zahler utilises gore, and if you haven't then go watch it now. After the great torture porn phase of the 2000's with the likes of Saw and Hostel, it seemed like people were quickly becoming more and more de-sensitised to gore, but Zahler uses it in such a raw and realistic manner, that you can't help but just sit there and cringe in terror.

While his last film Brawl in Cell Block 99 and his next project Dragged Across Concrete both depart from the horror genre, Zahler has in fact penned the script for the upcoming Puppet Master reboot subtitled "The Littlest Reich. We can expect plenty of grizzly gore from that, and hopefully from future Zahler projects as well.

8. Patrick Brice

Known For: Creep, Creep 2.

If you've seen either of the Creep films then you'll know why Brice had to be on this list. The American actor and filmmaker gave a breath of fresh air to the found footage genre back in 2014 with the first Creep film, taking a very simple concept and developing it into one of the most unsettling and darkly-comical horror films of the decade. He returned yet again last year, with leading man Mark Duplass, for a follow up to Creep that took an almost meta-approach to tits predecessor á la Evil Dead 2. Brice's low-budget style and simple setup gave a unique edge to both Creep films and a made for a highly unique entry into the overstuffed found-footage subgenre. It's the closest thing we have to a modern Blair Witch Project.

While Brice has promised that a third installment will eventually round off the Creep trilogy, his next project is a comedy-horror film entitled Corporate Animals, written by Peep Show's Sam Bain. Now that's a collaboration I cannot wait to see.

7. David Robert Mitchell

Known For: It Follows.

David Robert Mitchell is the man behind one of 2014's most beloved horror films It Follows. Praised for its original concept and 80's aesthetic that even pre-dated Stranger Things, It Follows became an instant classic and has left us hungry for more from Mitchell. Taking inspiration from horror giants such as John Carpenter, Mitchell has proven his ability to create nailbiting suspense with It Follows as well as displaying a unique imagination and knowledge of the mechanics of horror cinema. In a world full of jump-scare-heavy horrors, Mitchell took an alternate route and went heavy on the suspense instead, a bold move for an indie horror at the time, but a risk that was definitely worth taking.

David Robert Mitchell's next film will not be a horror film, but instead a neo-noir black-comedy entitled Under the Silver Lake. The trailer shows echoes of the likes of David Lynch while assuring us that it will retain Mitchell's unique style evident in It Follows. Rest assured, he's bound to gift us with another horror film eventually.

6. Ari Aster

Known For: Hereditary.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past half year, you may have heard of a little horror film entitled Hereditary. This nerve-racking suspense horror is the debut feature from Ari Aster, and a promising one at that. Aster began his career with several short films (which I still have yet to watch I'm ashamed to say) and managed to gain significant attention at Sundance after the first screening of Hereditary, due to claims that it was the scariest film of the year. Well, the year isn't quite over yet but it's safe to say that Aster's feature debut is the most frightening film of the year so far. Beginning with a slow build up and culminating in a highly disturbing catharsis of terror, Ari Aster deserves all the acclaim he's gotten for Hereditary and is sure to go on to a successful career in the horror genre.

Looks like Aster and A24 will be joining forces once again with a new horror film entitled Midsommer. No, it's not a feature-length Midsommer Murders film (unfortunately), but instead it will follow a grieving young woman who joins her friends and boyfriend on a trip to Sweden where things take a dark turn. Not much else is known about the project yet, but Aster expects to start shooting soon so keep your eyes peeled!

5. Corin Hardy

Known For: The Hallow.

English filmmaker and hat aficionado Corin Hardy gained something of a cult following after his feature-length debut The Hallow back in 2015. The Hallow was a sort of hybrid between folk horror and creature features, and made wonderful use of practical effects and suspense. Hardy proved himself to be a filmmaker with a unique passion for the genre and an imagination not unlike that of a young Guillermo Del Toro, particularly in terms of creature design. For years Hardy had been committed to remaking The Crow as well, and for a while it looked like it was going forward with Jason Momoa in the titular role. However, the project has unfortunately since fell through, although Hardy remains optimistic that it could eventually happen some day.

While The Crow might be staying buried for the foreseeable future, Hardy will return to our screens this September with Conjuring spin-off The Nun. The film will of course be about the demonic nun Valak (Bonnie Aarons), and will be set in a secluded monastery in Romania, already sounds spooky enough as it is. Expect memorable visuals and plenty of homages to classic horror from Hardy, who has claimed that it is inspired by both Hammer horror films, and the films of Mario Bava. Just keeps sounding better and better.

4. Julia Ducournau

Known For: Raw.

Last year, Raw was the horror film that all the critics were raving about, in the same manner they did this year with Hereditary. Much like Hereditary, the hype for Raw was all too deserved. Ducournau managed to craft a horror film that was both stylish and compelling, as well as having the ability to make your stomach well and truly turn. Her sporadic, but graphic use of gore proved extremely effective, and even supposedly caused people to vomit, pass out, and all the other usual hype-stuff. However with Raw, you come for the gore but stay for the well-crafted story and engaging characters. Using cannibalism as a metaphor, Ducournau put her own macabre spin on the female-driven coming of age story, and the payoff is nothing less than spectacular.

At the moment there is no word of a new film from Julia Ducournau, but that doesn't mean we can't wait in anticipation for her next project regardless. When the time does eventually come, it will no doubt be worth the wait.

3. Robert Eggers

Known For: The Witch.

Not a day goes by where I don't anticipate news of a new Robert Eggers project. His feature-length debut The Witch blew myself and many others away and has cemented itself as one of the scariest films of the decade. Like many of the filmmakers on this list, Eggers favours tension over explicit scares, and uses a combination of sound and visuals to create this extremely unnerving sense of dread. The Witch was a fine example of how Eggers could accomplish a lot without trying too hard, and gained him immense acclaim worldwide from both critics and horror fans. 

So what's next for Mr. Eggers then? His upcoming project entitled The Lighthouse is set to be a black and white horror film with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in the lead roles. There's not much details about it, but we can expect another moody and unsettling outing from Eggers this time around. On top of that, Eggers supposedly plans to follow that up with a remake of Nosferatu as well, now that sounds like it could be something really special.

2. Jennifer Kent

Known For: The Babadook.

The woman behind one of the greatest horror films (and gay icons) of the decade, Jennifer Kent is the Australian filmmaker who gave us The Babadook. Not only was Kent able to craft a well-paced and truly spine-chilling exercise in suspense, but she also gave us a horror film that was both clever and mature as well. This was before the likes of It Follows came out, so Kent took a massive risk with something like The Babadook, but thankfully it all paid off. In a world that is in dire need of more female filmmakers, Kent stands strong following her feature debut and has proven herself to be highly talented in her craft.

Kent's name has been attached to several projects in the pipeline since The Babadook, but it appears that her next film will be a gothic revenge thriller entitled The Nightingale. While it may not be in the same vein as her feature debut, Kent has shown us her talent for mood and suspense so here's hoping that will translate yet again in The Nightingale.

1. Jordan Peele

Known For: Get Out.

If anyone has conquered the horror landscape in recent years however, it's Jordan Peele. Ever since his directorial debut Get Out was released last year, the comedian turned filmmaker has gained universal acclaim and even received an Academy Award for best original screenplay, which is uncommon for a horror film. Sharp, suspenseful, and politically relevant, Get Out was a well-needed social commentary on America's post-racial myth and has since become a cult phenomenon all of its own. Peele has proven that not only does he know how to craft an effective horror film, but that he is also able to get a powerful message across simultaneously. Horror has always been a subversive genre, and Peele uses that completely to his advantage. 

Since the success of Get Out, Peele has been a very busy man. Not only will he produce a horror series entitled Lovecraft Country for HBO, but he will also write and direct a new film entitled Us set to be released next year. Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke are already confirmed to star, while Elizabeth Moss is being eyed for another lead role. This is just the beginning of what looks like a long and successful career for Peele in the horror genre. 

20 Music Videos That Would Make Great Horror Films

From the strange, to the spooky, to the downright bizarre, music videos have been borrowing elements from the horror genre now for almost half a century. As they are usually short and condensed, in-line with their respective song, some videos often leave us wanting to know more. I know I'm not the only one who's uttered a "what just happened there?" or "shit, that's how it ends?" after spending several minutes invested in a music video. Some of these videos show the potential for feature-length films, so just for fun, here are 20 music videos that could definitely work as feature-length horror films. Enjoy.

20. Bedshaped- Keane

Directed by none other than Corin Hardy (The Hallow, and this years The Nun), this stop-motion video depicts a sad and lonely man who searches a desolate city for some sort of solace. In one instant, he hallucinates a number of restaurant-goers as demonic beings, forcing him to take refuge in a grimy bathroom. With its unsettling stop-motion visuals and director Corin Hardy at its helm, the video could easily work as a feature-length animation á la Coraline, about a homeless man who searches for solitude in a city full of people who reject him. Oh, and some of those freaky demon faces too.

19. Please Don't Leave Me- Pink

In this video depicting the most extreme domestic abuse, Pink begins by begging her boyfriend not to leave, before he slips on a couple of marbles and sparks a highly disturbing Misery-type situation. Pink spends the majority of the video going to extreme lengths to ensure her boyfriend doesn't leave, and even paints his face in some bizarre makeup that makes him look like a living doll. It's actually really dark for a Pink video, but it could definitely make for an interesting sort of horror film akin to that of Misery. 

18. Bad Romance- Lady Gaga

Gaga is known for her theatrics, and the video for "Bad Romance" pretty much sums them up perfectly. Full of stylish and surreal imagery, the video essentially follows Gaga being kidnapped and sold to mobsters who keep her held in a Nicolas Winding Refn's bathhouse. The end of the video implies that she gets her sweet revenge on the mobsters and escapes, which means that "Bad Romance" could work wonderfully as a violent revenge horror. Think I Spit on Your Grave but with the production design of a Dario Argento film, with Gaga retaining her position in the lead role. Now wouldn't that be something?

17. The Beautiful People- Marilyn Manson

This list wouldn't be complete without a Marilyn Manson video, and how much more Marilyn Manson could you get than "The Beautiful People"? The infamous video depicts Manson in a bizarre outfit consisting of stilts and prosthetics, giving him a grotesque appearance overall. It also has some seriously dystopian vibes about it, meaning that the feature-length version could be some sort of Mad Max-esque body horror. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the film would follow Manson as the leader of a cult who use technology to modify their bodies, turning them into grotesque mutants of sorts. Just imagine Manson hunting down his victims in that costume, nightmare fuel if you ask me.

16. The Perfect Drug- Nine Inch Nails

The video for this song is inspired by the art of Edward Gorey and takes place in an Edwardian-style mansion where Trent Reznor seemingly drinks himself into insanity following the death of a child. Loss is a frequent theme in horror films as seen in the likes of Don't Look Now and more recently Hereditary, so take that type of atmosphere and put it in a gothic Hammer horror-type situation, and you've got yourself an instant classic.

15. Total Eclipse of the Heart- Bonnie Tyler

A gothic mansion, creepy hallways, and choir boys with glowing eyes, the video for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is way more disturbing than it has the right to be. In a feature length version, Tyler's character would be a timid boarding school teacher whose students have become demonically possessed, forcing her to run for her life through this labyrinthine gothic manor. Maybe the tagline could be something like "DON'T turn around.."

14. Tribute- Tenacious D

I mean technically this was sort of adapted to feature length with The Pick of Destiny, but I think Jack Black and Kyle Gasses song about the devil could easily work as a horror film as well. Tribute would be a southern-gothic horror film about two musicians on the run from the devil, culminating in an epic showdown in which they must play the best song in the world. Think The Hitcher meets Army of Darkness, or something like that.

13. Blue Orchid- The White Stripes

This video looks like if Tim Burton directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, set in a grimy house where a gothic looking Jack and Meg White perform to themselves while model Karen Elson has a run in with a white horse. In Blue Orchid: The Movie the Jack and Meg characters would be similar to the Sawyer family, making furniture from bones and that, while Elson's character would be the final girl who manages to escape their grasp due to Jack's affections for her. The Black Keys could also feature as White's first victims, I'm sure he would just love that.

12. Kids- MGMT

This somewhat controversial video from MGMT depicts a young toddler who is terrorised by grotesque monsters that his mother appears oblivious to. The child cries in terror throughout at the grizzly looking creatures around him, however, his mother could not seem to give a bollocks. The film based on this video could follow a group of young children who face off against monsters that adults cannot see, and if you think that sounds a lot like IT then you're dead right.

11. Lullaby- The Cure

You can always count on Robert Smith for a freaky video, and the one for "Lullaby" may just be his freakiest. This video features Smith in bed, having disturbing nightmares about his cobwebbed bandmates and the sinister 'Spiderman' who intends to eat him. It actually reminds me a lot of Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves, so in that respect the feature length version could follow a similar structure, only with the sequences based on Angela Carter's writings being replaced by segments based on Robert Smith's nightmares. Maybe Tom Holland could even play the Spiderman, simply because I couldn't resist making that on-the-nose joke.

10. Freak Like Me- The Sugababes

"The Sugababes? Surely not?" I hear you heckle. Well clearly you have not seen their video for "Freak Like Me". Covering the original song by Adina Howard and sampling Gary Numan's "Are Friends Electric?", the song is a bit of a banger by itself, but the video could definitely act as the foundations for a feature length horror film. Set in a darkened London nightclub, the video depicts the three bandmembers as vampires, who seduce and subsequently murder men around the club. Horror has always been a platform for strong female characters, and with the vampire subgenre in need of a bit of a re-vamp (sorry), then how could this possibly fail?

9. Hard Rock Hallelujah- Lordi

Finland's demonic Eurovision champions have actually released their own horror film entitled Dark Floors before, but the song that won them the Eurovison, "Hard Rock Hallelujah", has an accompanying video that could definitely improve upon it. Set in a high school, the video follows a shy young metalhead girl who is bullied and harassed, only for the demonic members of Lordi to invade her school and empower her to get revenge. A feature length film would play out like a hybrid of Carrie and Deathgasm, with Lordi themselves in the roles of the demons as in the video. Now that would be metal.

8. Scream- The Misfits

Directed by the late great George Romero, the video for this horror punk anthem depicts the members of the Misfits terrorising a hospital after being turned into bloodthirsty zombies. If Romero were still alive then he easily could have adapted this video into a feature length film, depicting a number of survivors held up in a hospital as they defended themselves from devil-locked zombie punks. A post-credits scene would then set up a sequel with Glenn Danzig as the venegful zombie king.

7. What's a Girl to do?- Bat For Lashes

This eerie video from Bat For Lashes depicts the singer cycling along a dark road, accompanied by a number of other cyclists in animal masks. This could work great as a modern day folk horror in the vein of The Wicker Man and The Blood on Satan's Claw, and would follow a teenage pagan cult who carry out their dark practices on their unsuspecting neighbours. The song in question would also make for a perfect opening theme as well.

6. Black Hole Sun- Soundgarden

While this years Truth or Dare seemed to take a bit of inspiration from this video, it's definitely not what you'd want from a "Black Hole Sun" movie. The video famously features a number of characters with bizarre grins who go about their seemingly perfect lives before their town is swallowed up by a black hole. A film version could play out like an Ira Levin novel, with this seemingly idyllic community hiding a dark secret beneath it all, ultimately culminating in an apocalyptic climax as penance for their sins. 

5. Stan- Eminem

The song that spawned the most overused slang term on twitter has become infamous for its highly disturbing music video. The video depicts an obsessive Eminem fan named Stan (played by Devon Sawa) who writes letters to his idol and becomes frustrated when he receives no reply. His dark obsessions ultimately lead him to drive off a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend in the trunk of the car, only for Eminem to finally write back after it is too late. It's a disturbing story to say the least, and it could easily work as a feature-length horror film.

4. American Wicth- Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie has the privilege of being both a musician and a filmmaker, and his videos often take various elements form the horror genre that he mashes together in his own unique style. This animated video for his song "American Witch" features the eponymous sorceress as she travels by motorcycle across a hellish landscape, encountering a variety of grotesque monsters along the way. Zombie could easily adapt this to the bigscreen, using his distinct grindhouse style and penchant for gore to create a truly thrilling action-horror film.

3. Vlad the Impaler- Kasabian

Noel Fielding stalking the countryside while carrying oversized wooden pikes? Yes please. This video directed by Richard Ayoade pays homage to classic Italian horror films by the likes of Dario Argento and Mario Bava, while also heavily referencing the historical figure from which the song gets its namesake. A feature-length version could easily work, with Fielding's character revealed to be a man obsessed with the original impaler who is looking to carry on his work. Any chance you could get Goblin to do the soundtrack?

2. Thriller- Michael Jackson

The longest video on our list, but not exactly feature-length, "Thriller" needs no introduction. Zombies, werewolves, and Vincent Price's iconic voiceover, this John Landis-directed video has become iconic in the years since its release, and a feature-length version could easily work. Think Return of the Living Dead, but set to the music of Jackson's Thriller album and culminating in a showdown between the dancing zombies and the varsity-jacket-wearing werewolf. I'm sure Landis would be 100% on board anyway.

1. Come to Daddy- Aphex Twin

Predictable, I know, but it's certainly deservant of the top spot. Directed by Chris Cunningham and shot in the same block of flats from A Clockwork Orange, the video depicts a demon who is released from a television set and is accompanied by a group of kids who all look like Aphex Twin himself. The kids proceed to cause havoc throughout the council estate before the demon himself confronts a terrified old woman. The concept is enough to set up its own horror film, and Chris Cunningham definitely could direct it himself, it would be criminal to let anybody else do so. Well, except maybe David Lynch. 

"Penny Dreadful"- The Dark Universe Done Right

It's been a while since I've posted on here, mainly because I've been busy (not really though), but something has been bothering me recently that I can't help but rant about it. That is, of course, the Dark Universe. As most of you may know, the 'Dark Universe' is Universals attempt to reboot all of their classic monster movies in one shared cinematic universe a la Marvel. On paper it could work, it should work, but after the abomination that was last years The Mummy, it's clear that the powers that be are a little clueless when it comes to the Golden Age of horror. It's because of this that the dark universe is now up in the air, which is a shame for those of us looking forward to seeing Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula square off against each other on the big screen. While we wait for the seemingly doomed franchise to come out of hiatus however, I would like to draw your attention to a little TV show called Penny Dreadful.

Airing from May 2014 to June 2016, Penny Dreadful followed a group of individuals combating dark forces such as witches, vampires, and demons on the streets of Victorian London. It was created by American screenwriter John Logan and starred big name actors such as Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, and Josh Hartnett. Most notably however, the series featured a number of characters borrowed from classical Gothic fiction, including Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Grey, and even Count Dracula himself. The series took some of these famous characters and subverted our expectations of them, making for an entirely unique, yet simultaneously familiar experience. The series featured many characters that were made famous in Universals classic monster movies, some of which did not feature in classical literature themselves. Here are where Penny Dreadful and the Dark Universe overlap:

Dracula

Perhaps the most heavily-borrowed-from source in Penny Dreadful was Bram Stoker's seminal vampire novel Dracula, particularly in seasons 1 and 3. First of all, Mina Harker (Olivia Llewellyn) features as something of a supporting character in season 1, after being abducted by a pack of sinister vampires. It is this that prompts her father Malcom (Dalton) and friend Vanessa (Green) to begin their supernatural investigations, thus setting the series in motion. Mina may not be as big a player as she normally would be in the Dracula mythos, but her role is significant nonetheless. 

Another Dracula character present in the first season is Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (David Warner), a haematologist who, like Mina, plays a much smaller role here than in the novel. While it was a shame to see so little of both characters, it allowed our expectations to be somewhat subverted, and took a drastic turn from the familiar formula that we're used to in Dracula adaptations. 

While the first season features a number of bloodthirsty vampires, The Count himself does not appear until the third and final season. Here, he is played by Christian Camargo, and takes on the guise of a zoologist named Alexander Sweet in order to seduce Vanessa. His origins are altered in this incarnation, making him the brother of Lucifer who fell to Earth and was forced to feed on the blood of the living. Camargo's Dracula is as charming and sinister as ever, yet he retains that sense of loneliness and isolation that is often associated with the character. Dracula's appearance in the final season had been teased for quite sometime, and he made for the perfect final protagonist before the series finally came to an end.

Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) is a major character in the series, who remains reasonably close to his novel counterpart, albeit much more arrogant. He is coaxed into helping our protagonists, despite wrestling with some personal demons of their own. These manifest themselves in the form of The Creature (Rory Kinnear) who is much more in line with Mary Shelly's depiction of him. While he is still somewhat sympathetic, much like Boris Karloff's portrayal, he retains that vengeful streak against Victor and often intimidates his creator into doing as he says. 

Kinnear was a particular standout of the series for me, managing to capture that sympathetic essence of the creature while putting his own spin on the character as well. It soon became clear, however, that the show owed an equal amount of its influence to Universals original monster movies as well, taking elements from The Bride of Frankenstein in the second season. Billie Piper's character, Bronagh Croft, eventually becomes the bride at the beginning of the second season when her corpse is used by Frankenstein for his monster mate. While the original bride had little screentime, Piper's iteration became much more well-rounded and developed as the series progressed. She proved herself to be a devious, and often deadly foe, while simultaneously becoming the series' badass feminist icon. If the Dark Universe ever does go ahead, then it can definitely take a few pages out of Penny Dreadful's book when dealing with the bride.

The Wolfman

Unlike a lot of the classic Universal monster movies, The Wolfman was not based on any particular work of fiction, but that didn't stop the aul hairy lad from making an appearance in Penny Dreadful. In the season two finale, it was revealed that regular character and American gunslinger Ethan Chandler (Hartnett) was in fact a werewolf the whole time. On top of that however, it was later revealed that Ethan's real name was in fact Ethan Lawrence Talbot, and as most horror fans know, Lawrence 'Larry' Talbot was the name of the Wolfman in the original Universal film. This further tied the world of Penny Dreadful in with the world of Universal's monster movies, and made the series feel much more like what the Dark Universe should be in theory.

The third season brings Ethan back home, much like in The Wolfman (although here he is American instead of Welsh), and focuses on the conflict between him and his father Jared (Brian Cox). It was an interesting move for John Logan to borrow elements from The Wolfman, considering that it wasn't based on a piece of literature itself. However, it was a welcome development that managed to expand this small-screen monster universe.

Dr. Jekyll

Dr. Henry Jekyll and his evil alter ego Mr. Hyde never actually got their own solo film in the original run of Universal monster movies. Regardless however, Jekyll has become associated with the pantheon of movie monsters nonetheless, and Russell Crowe even took on the role in last years The Mummy (while he pulled out his best Danny Dyer impression for Hyde).

In the third season of Penny Dreadful, Jekyll is an Anglo-Indian doctor working at bedlam hospital, who went to University with Victor Frankenstein. Unfortunately we never caught a glimpse of the villainous Mr. Hyde, although Jekyll's fierce temper was alluded to on several occasions and in the final episode, he inherits the title of 'Lord Hyde' from his father. It was something at least, and it allowed an opportunity for another classic monster from literature to join the universe of Penny Dreadful, even if it was a minor role.

The Mummy

Speaking of minor roles, this role was so minor that it was merely reduced to a throwaway line at the end of season three. There were countless references to Ancient Egyptian mythology throughout the series, generally coming from the shows eccentric Egyptologist Ferdinand Lyle (Simon Russell Beale). While we unfortunately don't get any sort of mummy action throughout the course of the show, there is an extremely important throwaway line in the final episode that hints at the existence of yet another classic movie monster within the Penny Dreadful universe. We last see Lyle preparing to leave London for his trip to Egypt, where he is set to attend the opening of the tomb of Imhotep. Imhotep was of course the antagonist of Universal's original mummy movie, played by Boris Karloff, and gained later fame in the 90's remakes played by Arnold Vosloo. It was a nice little Easter Egg for fans of classic monster movies, and in a way it further expanded the Penny Dreadful monster universe.

Penny Dreadful borrowed elements from Gothic literature and classic monster movies to create a shared 'dark universe' all of its own. With clever world building and detailed writing, the show gradually expanded its universe and incorporated more familiar faces as the series progressed, resulting in what the 'Dark Universe' should more or less look like. It payed just as much attention to its monsters as it did its human characters, and gave them just enough depth and development to grab out interest and invest us in these characters. Along with that, the show managed to balance well-choreographed action sequences with a brooding atmosphere of terror, making for a series that was just as fun as it was scary.

If those behind Universals 'Dark Universe' want their franchise to succeed, then they need look no further than Penny Dreadful, and if you haven't watched the show I would highly reccommend it.