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80s Horror: A Soundtrack

Playlist for Radical Zombies

By Micah DelhauerPublished 2 years ago 10 min read
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After taking a back seat in the 1950s and 60s, the horror genre began to build momentum again in the 70s and outright exploded in the 1980s. This new generation of splatterpunks eschewed the trappings of yesterdecade’s gothic fantasies in favor of more visceral, modern terrors. The filmmakers were young and reckless, the actors were young and desperate, and the audiences were young and bloodthirsty. As such, it was inevitable that the music would take on a hipper, fresher sound.

This was also the heyday of MTV, when films began promoting themselves with their pop-laden soundtracks. Films like Back to the Future, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Weird Science boasted hugely successful albums, and the trend continues to this very day. Even derided films still claim popular soundtracks as their one saving grace (Batman & Robin comes to mind).

So for the 80s horror fanatics out there, there is a plethora of music to keep your Halloween parties alive with memories of hockey masks and proton packs. There are also a slew of music videos accompanying these tunes, perfect for looping on your overqualified 4K TV.

Without further ado, here is a rocking soundtrack album for an entire decade of deadites, cenobites, slashers, and undead party-crashers.

“Lost in the Shadows” by Lou Gramm – The Lost Boys

If you don’t own this soundtrack, slap yourself. Joel Schumacher’s cult vampire classic is akin to a feature length music video. “Lost in the Shadows” song is quintessential 80s rock, and the accompanying promo video is pure MTV gold, jammed with movie clips, unmotivated spouts of flame, and wind machines blasting Lou Gramm’s epic curls.

“Pet Sematary” by The Ramones – Pet Sematary

Author Stephen King is a huge fan of pioneering punk rock band The Ramones, and personally requested they write the title song for the adaptation of his novel Pet Sematary. The song would go on to be the band’s highest-charting number (while also being nominated for a Razzie Award, so go figure). The odd music video sees The Ramones performing at their own funeral while fellow rockers pay their respects.

“Fright Night” by The J. Geils Band – Fright Night

The literal swan song for J. Geils Band, “Fright Night” is total cheese, even a bit juvenile, while still being enough fun to warrant inclusion on your playlist. The music video is equally silly, with the band members hiding under the sheets in a giant bed and checking each other’s necks for bite marks.

“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr. – Ghostbusters

Few songs are so interwoven into the fabric of a franchise as “Ghostbusters,” to the point that no sequel, reboot, or animated series would dare not to include it. From the iconic hook to the hummable bridge to the easy call-and-response, it’s kind of the perfect pop number. The music video, laden with celebrity cameos, is also iconic, enough so that the final shot of the dancing Ghostbusters was recreated for the end credits of the popular 80s cartoon.

“He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” by Alice Cooper – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Who else but Alice Cooper could have heralded the inevitable resurrection of Jason Voorhees? The legendary shock rocker opens the song by whispering, “chee-chee-chee, ha-ha-ha,” much to the dismay of Friday purists everywhere (it’s “ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma,” dammit!). What follows is a tongue-in-cheek anthem for the unstoppable hockey masked killer, a perfect cherry on the top for the best film of the franchise (fight me). And of course there was a music video!

“Killer Klowns” by The Dickies – Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is the definition of camp, and the theme song by The Dickies outdoes itself capturing the zaniness of the film. Like the burning fuse of a rocket, the ominous opening chords and devilish chortles explode into an electrified rendition of the popular circus anthem “Entrance of the Gladiators” and a shamelessly over-the-top performance by lead singer Leonard Phillips. Equally entertaining is the music video, where the band looks like they’re having an absolute blast.

“Trick or Treat” by Fastway – Trick or Treat

If a movie about a murderous heavy metal star from beyond the grave can’t deliver a killer title song, then the world just doesn’t make sense anymore. Fortunately, Fastway delivers the goods for the lesser-known cult classic Trick or Treat, having written all the songs for the fictional rocker Sammi Curr. Strangely, the song did NOT manifest an official music video, so the world still doesn’t make sense.

“Tonight (We’ll Make Love Until We Die)” by SSQ – The Return of the Living Dead

Here’s another movie with a solid soundtrack album. This darkly seductive synth-pop number plays, appropriately enough, as the punk-rocker played by badass scream queen Linnea Quigley strips naked and dances on top of a graveyard vault (this movie has something for everyone). Presumably no music video followed because, really, how can you beat the scene from the film?

“Dream Warriors” by Dokken – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

Comedian Patton Oswalt once lamented the loss of the music video trend where the artists rocked so hard “they could change the physical properties of things.” Well, with “Dream Warriors,” Dokken rocks so hard they’re able to defeat Freddy Frickin’ Krueger, Don Dokken’s high notes jarring the dream demon awake from his own nightmare! The glam metal number might be the coolest of all the horror movie theme songs, and stands out amidst a franchise with a lot of great songs to its name.

“Cry, Little Sister (Theme from The Lost Boys)” by Gerard McMann – The Lost Boys

The seductive beat draws us across dark water glistening with moonlight. A children’s choir signals the film’s title, and we are swept onto the glistening boardwalk of the vampire-infested Santa Carla. Where “Lost in the Shadows” captures the film’s propulsive energy, this goth rock classic embodies its sense of lost identity and mournful romance.

“No One Lives Forever” by Oingo Boingo – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2

“Dead Man’s Party,” “No Spill Blood,” “Clowns of Death”... an entire Halloween album could easily be composed of Oingo Boingo songs (there’s a reason they held a Halloween concert every year). But “No One Lives Forever” has the distinction of underscoring the first kill in Tobe Hooper’s bonkers sequel to his own grindhouse classic. The delightfully dark, fast-tempo rock number flips a middle finger to the grim reaper, encouraging the listener to enjoy life while they can, because... well, you know.

“Partytime (Zombie Version)” by 45 Grave – The Return of the Living Dead

Another selection from Dan O’Bannon’s zombie classic, this deathrock number acts as a theme for both the punks hanging out in the graveyard and the living corpses clawing out of the earth around them. The song is a reworking of an earlier 45 Grave release, the third version in fact. The original lyrics were more unsettling, describing the (very) grim fate of a five-year-old girl. This revised version offers a lighter set of lyrics to suit the action of the film, because teenagers being eaten alive is much more acceptable.

“Teenage Frankenstein” by Alice Cooper – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Cooper provided three numbers for the sixth Friday the 13th, two of which make this list. While not as iconic as “He’s Back,” “Teenage Frankenstein” is arguably a better song. It’s an anthem for all the high school outcasts whom everyone thinks might be a psycho. The song appears in the film blasting over the radio as Jason dispatches two victims in a speeding RV, culminating in an epic crash.

“Scream Until You Like It” by W.A.S.P. – Ghoulies II

This could be the theme for the entire 80s horror catalogue; loud, flashy and wild, with the promise of plenty of scares ahead: Come on in, no this ain’t no dream / Better hold on tight, things ain’t what they seem / Don’t be afraid if your heart’s burning ready to go / Well I love it when I scare you so. While the tie-in video is fun, one can’t help thinking it would be even better if it were the Gremlins tearing out of the band’s equipment instead.

“His Eyes” by Pseudo Echo – Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning

Would it be sad or awesome to have “Died While Doing the Robot” inscribed on your tombstone? Such was the fate of poor Violet Moraine, who was too focused on practicing her locks to hear the approach of certain doom. It’s hard to blame her, as the thumping beat and blasts of synth from this new wave tune would compel anyone to start dancing.

“You Can’t Hide From the Beast Inside” by Autograph – Fright Night

Another entry from the Fright Night album, this one is actually superior to the title track. It speaks of the evil inherent in all of us, vampires and non-vampires alike. While never a chart buster, it’s classic 80s glam metal, a comfort song that will easily get your feet moving.

“Spirit” by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew – Ghostbusters II

While it’s the general consensus that this sequel didn’t quite live up to the original, the soundtrack to Ghostbusters II is a worthy successor to the first album, this time with a heavier hip hop emphasis. “Spirit” stands out amidst a very strong selection. An eerie choir of synthesized voices “aahs” in the background as Fresh lays down a funky synopsis of the film’s events and pleas for people not to become victims of their own psychomagnotheric slime.

“Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” by Levi Stubbs – Little Shop of Horrors

Did you know that this song was nominated for an Oscar?! The big eleven o’clock number sung by the man-eating plant Audrey II is pure toe-tapping Rock & Roll, and while it isn’t exactly 80s in its sound (the film is set in the 1960s), it would be a crime to leave it off this list. R&B singer Levi Stubbs nails the gleeful menace of the alien vegetable as it celebrates ultimate triumph.

“Are You Ready For Freddy” by Fat Boys – A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

Dream Master features an amazing selection of songs, only half of which made it onto the official album. This tongue-in-cheek hip hop number was left off the soundtrack, despite having the big tie-in video (music licensing is the true nightmare). Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund himself does a short rap at the song’s end, so really, what more do you want?

“Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter” by Bruce Dickinson – A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

Another Razzie Award winner here. Some people just have no culture. Though initially performed by Bruce Dickinson for a solo release, this thrashing metal number is more strongly associated with Iron Maiden, who re-recorded the song a year later. But you can’t beat the original with its a wilder, rawer sound.

“Flash of the Blade” by Iron Maiden – Phenomena

Dario Argento’s movies always feature standout music, though not usually in the form of popular songs. Phenomena broke tradition in this respect, and among the soundtrack selections is this fiery Iron Maiden number. Whether deliberate or not, its whirling guitar rhythm recalls the hypnotic melodies of Goblin’s classic themes for Argento’s films.

“The Ballad of Harry Warden” by Paul Zaza and John McDermott – My Bloody Valentine

We end not with a synthy pop number or raucous heavy metal tune, but with a haunting folk ballad. It may seem at first like the odd song out, yet so many 80s villains exist as folk legends within their respective films that it’s a small wonder more of these songs don’t exist. One could imagine such mournful ballads being sung at Camp Crystal Lake or on a cold Halloween night in Haddonfield (at least Freddy has his jump-rope nursery rhyme). The film version of the song has never been commercially released, though copies ripped from the DVD are readily available. A punk rock version was released by the band Diechotomy, if you want to keep the heads banging. And yet, there’s something special about the film’s quiet, creepy rendition.

Full Playlist*: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzwE4RzGkFDuVeWSvGCvAsUfXJ7oOUFNO

*Music videos included at the end.

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About the Creator

Micah Delhauer

Writer. Filmmaker. Alectryomancer.

I specialize in stories of the macabre and the amazing, the weird and the wonderful.

Please, read one of my stories. Or find me at micahdelhauer.com, FB or IG. Or just wait around. I'll show up eventually...

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