“I Got 5 On It”: Horror’s 10 Most Memorable Needle Drops [Watch]
Music is often an important part of horror, whether it be to establish an atmosphere or stir up emotions within us. Therefore when horror films in particular have shitty needle drops or corny scores (that don’t fit the film) it can ruin the experience. And let’s be honest, horror fans can be ruthless about what we remember about a horror film.
Thankfully I’m not here to talk about the worst needle drops in horror films. No, today my fingers are helping bring some memorable needle drops in horror films. Don’t worry I’m not listing everything. We’d be here until we were just skeletons if I did that.
Halloween II: “Mr. Sandman” by the Chordettes
Sorry not sorry, but “Mr. Sandman” by the Chordettes is an absolutely iconic needle drop. Almost no fan of the Halloween franchise could ever forget it either. Bring it up to any fan and you’re guaranteed to get some reaction. There’s something incredibly delightful about hearing a dreamy song after a night of chaos. And if Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) had heard the song out loud that would’ve sent her over the edge indefinitely.
The Lost Boys: “People are Strange” by Echo & The Bunnymen
Did you think I was going to mention a different song from The Lost Boys? It wouldn’t be wrong to assume I’d talk about the song that gets stuck in all our heads. However, the cover of “People are Strange” by Echo & The Bunnymen, recorded for The Lost Boys, slaps. The song plays over a montage of strangeness going on in Santa Carla, which includes a woman inexplicably licking a rat. If that’s not strange, I don’t know what is.
Night of the Demons: “Stigmata Martyr” by Bauhaus
Night of the Demons (1988) is one of those cult classics that most horror nerds know about at this point. There are quite a few scenes that come to mind when the film is brought up. But Angela’s (Amelia Kincade) dance while she’s possessed is iconic. Bauhaus’ track adds such a creepy flavor to what’s already a creepy scene. The goth of it all is almost unmatched as far as I’m concerned.
The Scream Franchise: “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
How could anyone forget about “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and how much it’s associated with the Scream franchise? The song plays in every film (minus Scream 4) in various scenes, some more meta than others. But it’s certainly a song that people actively think about being attached to Scream as a franchise.
Bride of Chucky: “Call Me” By Blondie
It may not get much in the way of appreciation in the Child’s Play franchise, but Bride of Chucky (1998) is a lot of fun. Tiffany Valentine (Jennifer Tilly) in doll form getting ready to slay is also very memorable. Let’s be real, whenever you think of “Call Me” by Blondie you likely think about Tiffany the doll. There’s no shame in associating that hit with a possessed doll that puts Barbies to shame. Blondie, eat your heart out.
You’re Next: “Looking for the Magic” by Dwight Tilley
Weaving lesser-known songs into modern horror is genius to me. “Looking for the Magic” by Dwight Tilley is a good example of that as it plays in You’re Next (2013) at various points in the film. What’s unsettling is that plays on an unsettling loop after the couple in the cold open is murdered. Knowing that dead bodies were chilling in that man’s home while the song played on repeat is a lot.
The Strangers: Prey at Night: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
The very ‘80s inspired The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) gets trashed quite a bit as a sequel. But what people can’t say is that it has horrible needle drops. You would be lying if you were to tell me that “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler playing during the pool scene is shit. It’s one of the highlights of the whole film. The visuals obviously play into why it’s so beloved among horror fans. But the song really completes the feeling of the scene.
Fear Street Part 2: 1978: “The Man Who Sold the World” by David Bowie
The Fear Street trilogy was quite a horror event for us back in 2021. There was so much anticipation as the films rolled out over the course of three weeks. Each film featured an abundance of music (sometimes too much) and Fear Street Part 2: 1978 is a fan favorite from the trilogy. Most of the needle drops are great, but the usage of “The Man Who Sold the World” by David Bowie (the Nirvana cover is also used in the film) plays over a tragic scene after Ziggy (Sadie Sink) is murdered and comes back to life (with help of course). It’s definitely hard for me to forget.
Us: I Got 5 On It (Tethered Mix) by Michael Abels, Luniz, & Michael Marshall
Say what you want, but Jordan Peele is one of the best modern horror creatives. Black directors and screenwriters don’t always get praise. So for him to reach this level of success in the horror world is a huge win. Us (2019) has some incredible needle drops, but the one that’s a blend of gorgeous and terrifying is the Tethered Mix of “I Got 5 On It” by Michael Abels, Luniz, & Michael Marshall. It’s fucking fantastic when it plays over the scene of Red and Adelaide battling it out for the last time with the cuts to ballet. Incredible.
X: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac (covered by Brittany Snow)
Slashers don’t always get moments of reprieve, but X (2022) gave us one that’s all the more heartbreaking. Rather than insert “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, we got a cover sung by Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow) and Jackson (Scott Mescudi aka Kid Cudi) playing the guitar. The split-screen moments shared with Pearl (Mia Goth) make the scene all the more effective. It’s a scene that most fans of X will think about when the movie is brought up. The themes surrounding youth, desire, and growing old are hammered home with the cover and the somber energy it brings.
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