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7 Songs Changed Forever by Their Use in a Horror Film

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John Carpenter once said that the music he composed for Halloween (1978) was one of the most, if not the most important ingredients to the success of a film. While a hand-tailored score can be a powerful tool for a film, sometimes a song that comes from a different source can be just as effective. The songs on this list are songs that aren’t necessarily horror-related, but due to their inclusion in a specific film, have become forever associated with the strange and the macabre. They’d make great additions to any Halloween playlist, despite no mention of ghouls or goblins. Listen up!

Pseudo Echo – His Eyes (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning)

Probably the only reason anyone still remembers this song is due its inclusion in A New Beginning, during a hilarious dance scene. The entire affair is so corny and overwhelming reminiscent of the decade in which it was made that one can’t help but love it. Though it did absolutely nothing to make the movie any scarier, it did succeed in getting stuck in your head. Or, at least making you go, “What the Hell is this ridiculous song?”

Rocky Mountain High – John Denver (Final Destination)

This one is unsettling for more than one reason. The first one is obviously the fact that the reverb-laden song was intended to be a joyous exclamation for the beauty of the mountains. Here, it is used as a song of death – whenever someone hears it, you know they are going to die. The second reason this song’s use is so unsettling is because of the way that the composer himself died. Jon Denver lost his life to a plane crash, and in a scene in the film, one of the characters hears this before boarding a plane. Art imitates life, I suppose. Or, in this case, death.

Ethel Waters – Jeepers Creepers (Jeepers Creepers)

There’s a creepy quality to many older songs. I’m not saying that all of them are creepy, but I’m saying that there’s a good amount that have a certain creep-factor. This was one of them long before its inclusion in the 2001 monster flick. There’s the old trope of the happy song played against a gory backdrop, sure, but the real scariness comes from the lyrics. “Jeepers creepers, where’d you get them peepers? Jeepers creepers, where’d you get those eyes?”

The Chordettes – Mr Sandman (Halloween II)

Halloween II is significantly more violent than the film that came before it, allowing the violence to continually escalate until the conclusion of the film. Then, when all is said and done, this cheery little number plays over the credits. The contrast is startling, and though it’s been done numerous times before and after, this is one of the most effective uses of an innocent song in a horrifying movie. There’s nothing creepy about The Chordette’s song, but ever since Halloween II, the song is associated with death and a white Kirk mask.

Bad Moon Rising – CCR (An American Werewolf in London)

This is one badass song. John Landis’ film does not change that. The film is a horror-comedy, and manages to maintain a joking vibe throughout. So, while the song is now almost synonymous with the movie, it holds more of a mystical quality as opposed to a terrifying one. There’s a whole slew of songs related to the moon included in the film, but this is the one that stands out the most. Plus, it’s one of the greatest songs of all time. That’s not up for debate. Howl, baby. Howl.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird (The Devil’s Rejects)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np0solnL1XY

Tears. Straight tears. That is what comes to mind now whenever I heat this song. Conflicting tears, too; the entire situation is highly unsettling. As the Firefly family faces their death, this hit by Lynyrd Skynyrd accompanies the bullets as they end our hero’s lives – and that’s the unsettling part. The Firefly family are in no way, shape, or form heroes. They are evil, sadistic, sons (and daughters) of bitches. They are murderers and necrophiles, among other things; so they why do we feel so sad when we see them die? Damn you, Rob Zombie. Does this mean I’m evil, too?

Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells – (The Exorcist)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQ-hK766tY

Is this the theme song to WIlliam Friedkin’s The Exorcist? I’d say so. However, it was not exclusively made for the film. In fact, the song is much bigger than the little piano sequence used in the film. Tubular Bells is a progressive rock album, the first record released by Virgin Records, that contains two parts to one song; Tubular Bells, obviously. But with the passage of time, Mike Oldfield’s association with the song has waned, and images of demonic possession and split pea soup have taken over. I will never, ever be able to hear that piano line and not be chilled to the core. I don’t care what the backstory is, who wrote it, or where it really came from. The damn thing is creepy, man.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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