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TEN-IN-ONE: HORROR MOVIE MUSICALS

Enjoyed THE LURE? Hungry for more? Here’s a RADIANT CIRCUS guide to our top ten horror movie musicals that are worthy of a sing-a-long.

FEATURED: THE LURE (aka Córki Dancingu)

RADIANT CIRCUS Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: THE LURE (2015).

Poland, 2015, 1hr 32min, d. Agnieszka Smoczynska
Released in the UK by the Criterion Collection.
Screened at the Prince Charles (26 NOV 2017).


Our top ten horror movie musicals [A-Z]

Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR T (1953).

THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T (1953): A film of pure childhood nightmare for anyone who hated their piano lessons. Long before Freddy grabbed you in your sleep, there was Dr Terwilliker… Don’t forget to wear your Official Terwilliker Beanie as you flex those #HappyFingers.


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: THE APPLE (1980).

THE APPLE aka Star Rock (1980): A rock-tastic 1980s musical from director/producer Menahem Golan, co-founder of renowned Cannon Group (home of RADIANT CIRCUS guilty pleasures OVER THE TOP and LIFEFORCE). Hard to see on legitimate home cinema in the UK, but YouTube has clips.


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES (1978).

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES! (1978): Here for one fact only, the awe-inspiring opening lyric: “I know I’m going to miss her / A tomato ate my sister.” The rest of the salad is harder to digest…


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: BILLY THE KID AND THE GREEN BAIZE VAMPIRE (1987).

BILLY THE KID AND THE GREEN BAIZE VAMPIRE (1987): A (proper) British musical with songs and production numbers from the era that gave us ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS. This one emerges from the coffin without the budget (or the Bowie) and is more of a Faustian nightmare than a vampire flick.


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL (1993).

CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL (1993): For lovers of SOUTH PARK and THE BOOK OF MORMON, here’s where Trey Parker cut his teeth writing songs to freak us out.


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS (2001).

THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS (2001): From enfant terrible Takashi Miike – director of the much-heralded BLADE OF THE IMMORTALS – comes this potpourri of live action, animation, zombies and songs.


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: DIRECTOR'S CUT (1986).

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: DIRECTOR’S CUT (1986): Banish anxieties about vanity edits, the changes here are all for the better. The original (downbeat) ending returns along with a plant-powered apocalypse featuring absolutely stunning practical FX. Just remember: Don’t feed the plants!


Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974).

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974): Ignore Joel Schumacher’s PHANTOM (we have…), and embrace Brian De Palma’s glam-glorious rock opera. Best played loud.


RADIANT CIRCUS Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: SHOCK TREATMENT (1981).

SHOCK TREATMENT (1981): The so-called (not-so-horrific) sequel, enjoys a return to thematic relevance with its behind the scenes expose of creepy television stars and studio execs. It’s no ROCKY HORROR – despite several returning cast members – but it is always worth a watch.


RADIANT CIRCUS Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: ZERO PATIENCE (1993):

ZERO PATIENCE (1993): Not often filed as such, we love John Greyson’s movie as pure HIV body horror (the adopted love child of Derek Jarman & David Cronenberg?). Make it your go-to film for singing buttholes and viruses doing Esther Williams waterborne dance routines.


And that’s the meat of it…

What would be in your alternative list? Tell us in the comments below.


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Featured imageS: THE LURE (2015).

Top Ten Horror Movie Musicals: THE LURE (2015).