Six Off-The-Wall Horror Musicals That Would Make the Phantom of the Opera Proud
Broadway is no stranger to Horror Musicals: over the years NYC has hosted its fair share of surprisingly spooky content!
We’re all familiar with Horror Musical classics like “The Little Shop of Horrors,” “Sweeney Todd,” “CATS,” or “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Perhaps you like to live a little more on the edge with less-mainstream entries like “Jekyll and Hyde” or “Dracula.” Fans of Goth-Horror will enjoy “Beetlejuice” or “The Addams Family.” The big film nerds will love “Heathers” and “Evil Dead” and “Carrie.” There’s no shortage of scary spectacles on 42nd street, that’s for sure!
The brilliant fusion of classic Broadway scores mashed with off-kilter Dark Sci-Fi and Horror themes make them accessible to a wide variety of audiences. It’s a joy to be able to have a night out on the town and experience a fun-filled evening of creepy gore with the whole family.
And if you’ve seen all of those, but still hunger for more? Fear not, for we’ve got a list of new material to put a song in your hearts! Who knows! Maybe some of you rising stars will learn a new tune for your next open audition. You know, one that really sets you apart from the crowd and makes you memorable.
Check out our picks for memorable movie-musicals that will make your Horror Obsessed Heart really sing! We hope that our list will make the Phantom of the Opera overjoyed.
Looking to spice up your movie musical repertoire? Look no further than this madcap, bonkers, black comedy from acclaimed Japanese auteur, Takashi Miike.
The Katakuri family run a charming little hotel in the countryside of Japan. When a few of their guests befall an unfortunate end, the Katakuri’s must come up with a plan to save their business’s reputation. They decide to bury this dark truth in order to avoid negative reviews.
It’s a delightfully strange fusion of animation, claymation, and live-action filmmaking. While it might not be “kid friendly” it’s certainly an interesting way to scoop hesitant family members into the Horror genre. A little bit of “The Sound of Music” and a touch of “Night of the Living Dead” and a few shakes of “Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Corpse Bride” and a dash of “Sweeney Todd".” If that description doesn’t woo you, we’re not sure what will!?
Available for streaming on Amazon Prime or free with ads on Tubi!
We have a feeling the Phantom may be a bit more partial to this entry on our list with opera superstar Sarah Brightman starring as Blind Mag!
Set in the “not so distant” post-apocalypse world in which humanity experiences an epidemic of organic failure, “Repo!” follows the rise of GeneCo, a company manufacturing genetically altered organs for transplant. Anyone can replace their failing organs, but beware falling behind on payment installments; those that do fall prey to the Gene Co Repo Men who will come to reclaim the biotech. It’s dark, terrifying, and grisly as far as musicals go, but what else would you expect in a timeline where murder is legal, genetic modification is a status symbol, and designer drugs have run rampant in all levels of society. When the beautiful-but-deathly-ill street urchin named Shilo sets off to find a cure for her rare disorder, she uncovers the truth of her mysterious family history.
This niche cult-classic is available to stream on Tubi for free with limited ads or via Amazon Prime and iTunes.
If you enjoyed “Repo! The Genetic Opera”, then “Alleluia! The Devil’s Carnival” will be right up your alley.
Lucifer and his carnies have had quite enough of living on the fringe and life on the edge. So they come up with a plan to raise a little hell in Heaven, and shake things up a bit. We promise the movie is a metal-punk-theatre fusion unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.
This fantasy tinged horror musical features an incredible ensemble cast of musical talent including: Broadway’s Adam Pascal and Ted Neely, rapper Tech N9ne, MSI’s Jimmy Urine, Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan, Skinny Puppy’s Kevin Ogilvie, and goth songstress Emilie Autumn. It’s got music by metal group Butcher Babies as well as Danny Worship of the band Asking Alexandria.
It’s imbued with the same chaotic gothcore energy as “Repo!” which works in its favor. It’s also got plenty of camp, including appearances by David Hasselhoff and Rocky Horror’s own Barry Bostwick.
Honestly, this might not be for everyone but it’s certainly a wildly unique viewing experience.
Available to stream for free now with limited ads on Tubi or on Youtube or to rent via GooglePlay.
This coming-of-age horror musical comedy is our closest homage to Phantom of the Opera.
Teenager Camilla has always loved the theatre, even after the death of her mother, lead soprano diva and star of “The Haunting of the Opera.” Thanks to a lucky break, Camilla lands the lead role in a small-scale production of the same musical at a summer camp for theatre kids. Things almost seem too good to be true, and unfortunately for Camilla, they are! As the preparation and excitement for the show ramps up, so does the carnage. Still, the show must go on!
Will Camilla and her friends make it to opening night so they can land their big break on Broadway?
Find out by streaming for free with limited ads on Tubi or rent on YouTube, iTunes or GooglePlay.
There’s no denying the the 1980s are a nostalgic background for Horror movies. The acid-washed, neon-soaked, punk rock and dance club backdrop is a perfect recipe for sexy, gory, glitzy terror!
Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s movie about a pair of siren sisters is a dazzling entry into the Musical Horror genre. Washed ashore in Warsaw, these darkly sinister sisters are welcomed into a nightclub cabaret and quickly become stars of the show. Exploring the relationship dynamics between close siblings and outside romantic relationships, this film is dark and deeply engrossing. Each of the sisters has fallen head-over-heels for humanity, but in very, very different ways…. one hungers for love and the other hungers for BLOOD!
You’ll likely need subtitles to watch this one (unless you’re fluent in Polish) but don’t let that deter you. This is one you won’t want to miss. There’s a lot of music, murder, mayhem, and even a mermaid anatomy lesson! Who doesn’t love a little cryptozoology and pseudo-science with their fantasy-horror? That’s what we thought.
Available to Rent or Own via Amazon Prime.
Don’t Go In the Woods (2010)
Vincent D’Onofrio directs this murderous movie musical with sincerity. It’s perfect for the musical averse, too, with just enough music in all the right places and plenty of “normal” dialogue and slasher action in between. There is some serious musical talent in this one, and the smooth vocal stylings make an interesting contrast against all of the intense violence and gore.
A bunch of bandmates get together for a weekend in the woods, hoping it will be the kick in the pants they need to inspire their songwriting. Maybe this secluded camping trip will be just what they need to clear their minds to finish the album and get their big break. Well, while their magical muse might not be ready to hit them over the head, but something else out there might just do it!
Paying homage to summer camp coming-of-age lost in the woods fodder of 1980s excess aesthetics, this one’s got blood, guts, gore, singing, and more! Although their fate is not much of a shock (really, we wouldn’t recommend ignoring big red signs that say “DO NOT GO IN THE WOODS”, but hey, you do you, emopunk-bros!) it’s still a super fun entry to our list.
Available to stream with minimal ads on Tubi and on Vudu or rent on Amazon Prime
