Party On, Paranormals: The Best Spooky-Scary Music Videos

Sound is one of the most important tools of horror. When there’s a frantic uptick in the score, you know something lingers just around the corner. Likewise, the absence of any sound at all is our cue to listen closely. Things are about to get grisly.

That’s why it makes so much sense that elements of horror have infiltrated popular music. Of course, you’ve got your classic spoopy anthems like “Monster Mash” and the Ghostbusters theme song. But it doesn’t stop there — music videos also get in on the frightening fun.

From ’80s goth to today’s Top 40, there is no shortage of music to give a visual soundtrack for your haunted holiday. Turn your eyeballs this way, ghouls and goblins, for the best spooky-scary music videos around.

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“Taste” – Sabrina Carpenter

Horror is all about pacing — which is why we’re starting off light, cute, and killer. Die-hard fans will know that camp has a special place in horror aesthetic, and Sabrina Carpenter’s third single off Short n’ Sweet pays homage to one of the campiest Halloween movies of all time, Death Becomes Her. Alongside modern scream queen Jenna Ortega, Sabrina deals with a pesky ex. Love hurts but weapons really do help numb the pain.

P.S. You can now double the fun with the Rocky Horror-inspired music video for “Tears!”

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“Bones” – The Killers

This music video is the cooler cousin of “Spooky Scary Skeletons.” Skin, bones, or something in between, it doesn’t really matter when you’ve got a date for the drive-in movie. Throw in a drive to the beach and you’ve got a bone afide good time. With visuals inspired by Ray Harryhausen, it’s only natural to dive right in to The Killers’ dreamy sound.

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“Emperor’s New Clothes” – Panic! At The Disco

Speaking of skeletons, drop in with Brendon Urie as he undergoes a diabolical transformation. Does anyone else feel like he’s giving Nightcrawler? Flashing lights and a ground littered with singing skulls set the scene for this high-energy anthem. Who knew a demon could look so good?

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“Witchy” – Kaytranada ft. Childish Gambino

Fill your witching hour with the rhythm of this magical melody from Kaytranada and Childish Gambino. In a mirrored room that slowly expands into a long hallway, the singers are joined by dancers, mysterious witchy women, and even a feline familiar. It’s all very Suspiria but with a moodier, sensual atmosphere.

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“Breathe” – The Prodigy

As long as we’re sticking to the just one room motif, let’s move over to this late ’90s jam. “Breathe” uses strobe lighting and sped-up movements, along with a series of odd characters and phobias, to create a frenzy of mind games. The song definitely gets your blood pumping as the tempo is turned up from the start. In the sonic background, the guitar commands you to be ready to start a fight — or at the very least, give someone a good fright.

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“Disturbia” – Rihanna

After some discordant notes on a piano, Rihanna’s spookiest single, “Disturbia,” launches into that unforgettable choral refrain. Her song speaks to the tricks our mind will play on us and the lengths we’ll go to escape our own prisons. Erratic zombie movements and a host of special effects make this a haunting staple. Unhook those chains and get to dancing!

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“Heads Will Roll” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Recently, “Heads Will Roll” was featured during a pivotal moment in Marvel’s Agatha All Along, but if you’re looking for even more Yeah Yeah Yeahs action, try the A-Trak remix (bonus spooky points if you go for slowed + reverb). Plus, the music video itself evokes Perfect Blue, in which a menacing figure brings chaos to a pop star just trying to sing. Watch out — those stage lights look an awful lot like a full moon.

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“Frankenstein” – Rina Sawayama

You’re invited to a classic Halloween house party — but Rina Sawayama’s ghastly get-together is anything but ordinary. Her lyrics allude to one of the scariest things anyone can do, and that’s changing themselves to fit someone else’s expectation. Frankenstein’s creation learned this the hard way and so does Rina as she uncovers the real meaning of being a monster.

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“Graveyard Girl” – M83

“Graveyard Girl” is for the romantics out there, the ones who stare at the rain through foggy windows and hang out in cemeteries. Hey, look, they’re very peaceful places. Throughout the music video, we get a glimpse into the events leading up to a high school Halloween party. It’s nostalgic, hopeful, and a touch melancholic — all the ingredients for a memorable night.

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“Lullaby” – The Cure

While there’s still some romanticism floating in the air, next up is The Cure’s “Lullaby.” That initial guitar riff is iconic and immediately sets the tone for a song that describes the all-consuming power of love. On the other hand, “Lullaby” is a languid ode to the creepy-crawly phantoms that wait in the corners of bedrooms. Or it’s about both. Take it up with the spiderman.

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“Thriller” – Michael Jackson

The full version of “Thriller” boasts an introduction from the King of Horror himself, Vincent Price. And if that distant werewolf howl doesn’t send shivers up your spine, Michael Jackson’s transformation into the leader of a dancing zombie horde is sure to get the job done. What are you waiting for? Swing those arms and shimmy those undead shoulders!

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“Somebody’s Watching Me” – Rockwell

Michael Jackson also provides choral vocals for Rockwell’s timeless “Somebody’s Watching Me.” We’ve all been there — taking a shower all by ourselves at home and you can’t shake that feeling, someone else is in here. Or maybe you’ve looked out the window at night and could swear you saw a face staring back at you. It would be careless to not have this on the Halloween watchlist.

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“Anything Can Happen on Halloween” – Tim Curry

It started off campy and that’s where we’re gonna end up. We love a full circle moment, especially when Tim Curry is involved. His silky smooth voice transcends your speakers as he sashays in front of a luminescent moon, crooning about the infinite possibilities of the best night of the year. Are the special effects cringe by today’s standards? Absolutely. But that’s all part of the enchantment.

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Never fear, macabre music fans! The past few decades have given us so much more paranormal party music. Who could forget the animated skeletons in Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party” or Ghost’s “Mary on a Cross?” Or even the black and white creepfest of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Red Right Hand?”

Fire up that old dusty organ and put a scratch on your possessed record player. Then let us know what’s on your spooky playlist over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup.

Stir up the spirits and face the monsters within … Spooktacular has been unleashed once again!

Put the EEK! in geek during Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2025, a celebration with ghastly giveaways, deathly deals, eerie exclusive perks, and more. Join us from October 23 – October 31 by visiting side.show/spooktacular and don’t forget — sleep is for the weak!