Sure, it’s easy to develop a plot and generate fear when you have an hour or two to work with, but what about when you’re limited to just a few minutes? These five artists manage to take simple music videos and weave them into mini horror flicks and psychological thrillers that are just as scream-worthy as half of the scary movies on TV every Halloween.
Most spooky music lists will throw Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ at the top, followed closely by a few Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie entries and maybe the ‘Monster Mash’ — but we wanted to do something different. Below are five artists who aren’t conventionally spooky, but who broke the mold of their pop, punk or hip-hop genres to bring you five minutes of zombies, ghosts and vampires.
5. Fall Out Boy
‘A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me’
While it wasn’t the most bizarre music video in Fall Out Boy’s catalog (remember the part-man, part-deer, anyone?), ‘A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me’ was definitely the most monstrous, featuring a vamped-out band and more than a few terrified victims. Watching Pete Wentz chug blood tomato juice from a blender is about as cheesy as it gets, but chances are that Fall Out Boy was actually going for the lame ’80s horror movie vibe—and it definitely succeeded. Watch closely and you may just spot a few other Fueled By Ramen artists among the vampire crowd!
4. Kid Cudi
‘No One Believes Me’
In this video, made to go with the remake of Fright Night, Kid Cudi gives both Edward Cullen and Bill Compton a run for their money in the “most emo vampire” category. He’s a vampire, the people around him are vampires, and he’s miserable about it. The whole video takes place in a small suburban neighborhood and it ends with him walking out into the sun and turning to dust in a pretty cool split-second use of special effects.
3. Matt and Kim
‘I’m A Goner’
Matt, Kim, Andrew WK and Soulja Boy all rise from the grave in this undead video to throw a wild party in the morgue. It’s spooky but it’s also hilarious, taking cues (and laughs) from the horror movie stylings of Shaun of the Dead. Matt ends up at the morgue strangled with his own microphone and Kim has a pair of drumsticks through her head. No better end for a pair of musical zombies!
2. Rihanna
‘Disturbia’
Rihanna’s ‘Distrubia’ is just what the title implies: disturbing. You’re transported to a psych ward-meets-Frankenstein’s basement world where Rihanna is master, monster and everything in between. A blonde, white-eyed Rihanna is trapped in a cage at one point, and at another she’s bound to the floor by her wrists. She also rocks a fierce black dress and intense eye makeup—fitting perfectly into the scene of disturbia.
1. 30 Seconds to Mars
‘The Kill (Bury Me)’
30 Seconds to Mars channel The Shining in this bizarre music video. More psychological thriller than horror and gore, the clip begins as the band arrives at an abandoned hotel, where frontman Jared Leto points out that they won’t see “a single living soul” all week. Turns out the hotel has creepy surprises around every corner: a girl who seems normal but is actually dead and covered in blood, an ominous old man, and an identical twin for each of the band members and each person who sets foot in the hotel.
Honorable Mention: Michael Jackson
‘Thriller’
Cliché or not, we couldn’t very well have a Halloween music video list without ‘Thriller,’ now could we? Not only is this one of Michael Jackson’s most famous videos, but it’s also the quintessential Halloween-themed clip. Everyone knows it and everyone wishes they could do the ‘Thriller’ dance!
What spooky music video are YOU watching on repeat this Halloween?