Musicals have been an often referenced and lampooned subject in horror movies, but it's actually quite surprising how much horror has lent itself to musical theatre adaptations. From monsters to mass murderers, the number of times musicals have gone incredibly dark is quite astounding.
Even horror comedies like Little Shop of Horrors and The Addams Family musical have their gruesome and grim moments, but there are those out on stage that truly do send chills down the collected spines of their viewers. As strange as it might sound, true horror can be accomplished with a little extra musical accompaniment.
Carrie
After it first premiered, Carrie was considered the epitome of the Broadway bomb for decades. Even with that in mind, the musical did offer a different approach and treatment of the source material not seen in the film and TV versions.
It provided a different view of the characters, a new interpretation of Carrie White, and was clearly more inspired by the book than the Brian de Palma adaptation. Perhaps with better staging and technique, this flop can be given new life for a modern audience.
Lestat
Anne Rice and Elton John are definitely not two people one would put together, but their collaboration resulted in this musical adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. Based on the novel by Rice, Lestat acts as a prequel to the famous Interview With the Vampire, told and sung from the titular vamp's perspective.
Covering various events from The Vampire Chronicles, the show covers various forms of vampirism, occult themes, and lots and lots of blood. What more could one possibly ask for in a vampire stage show?
Young Frankenstein
Based on the Mel Brooks film of the same name, this take on the Frankenstein mythos offers a lot of slapstick and bawdy humor without skipping on the macabre whatsoever. Following the events of the movie, the musical sees Fredrick Frankenstein repeat his grandfather's experiment to horrific and hilarious results.
Definitely one of the director's best adaptations since The Producers, the show is a love letter to classic horror with all the zaniness Brooks can muster.
American Psycho: The Musical
This one definitely flew in under most radars, but there is something strangely unique about this murderous musical. Based on the novel and movie of the same name, a musical adaptation of Patrick Bateman's 1980's bloodbath should not have worked. The idea alone is positively ludicrous.
However, with Matt Smith in the leading role and a very impressive (if somewhat indulgent) soundtrack accompanied by some seriously high-tech visuals, it works. An American production was staged in 2016 and even nominated for a Tony Award. Quite hard not to call that applause-worthy.
Beetlejuice: The Musical
If American Psycho was a bit too gruesome, this production is something just a little more light-hearted, but still a bit on the grim side. Beetlejuice: The Musical is a Burton-esque masterpiece that will help any audience member get used to "the whole being dead thing."
There have been a few tweaks to Burton's Ghost with the Most, but Beetlejuice's raunchy humor and sinister stripey style lend a more colorful and creepy variation to the character. Just keep in mind, it doesn't skip on the scares either.
The Rocky Horror Show
This sounds like a science-fiction double feature right in the name. If there's one musical that's synonymous with horror, it's The Rocky Horror Show. Whether one is familiar with the movie or the original stage production, one can't deny the cult status of both versions.
It's lewd, it's cheesy, and it's downright obscene, but it has a killer soundtrack and a sense of humor that's both dark and delirious.
Nevermore
Honestly, the only thing more tragic than the suffering of Edgar Allan Poe is the fact so many people let this musical slip by. Nevermore is a gothic masterpiece if there ever was one. A musical interpretation of the life, literary works, and last days of Edgar Allan Poe, complete with a script written in Poe's verse and an aesthetic Beetlejuice would kill for.
Insane, heartbreaking, and terrifying are just a few words that could summarize this show. Although the production has unfortunately retired, its entirety can be listened to for free on Spotify.
Jekyll and Hyde
Yet another entry that doesn't get enough respect, Jekyll and Hyde is an underrated horror musical that's absolutely saturated with murder, mystery, and mayhem. This production is perfect for anyone who loves villains, and Mr. Hyde is certainly one of Broadway's best.
Part detective story and part body horror, Jekyll and Hyde is a stylistic and scary adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic that should have more than cult status.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd! Before Johnny Depp picked up the razor, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was Stephen Sondheim's goriest production on stage.
The tale of the vengeful barber and his sinister shop above Miss Lovett's bakery has been a fearsome favorite for years, and is there any question why? It's no easy job casting a literal serial killer in the heroic role, but this show makes Todd into one of the stage's most formidable antiheroes.
The Phantom of the Opera
With its pageantry and over-the-top nature, The Phantom of the Opera might not be the most terrifying tale on the list, but it's one of the longest-running shows in history.
Viewers have been giving themselves to the music of the night since the '80s, and the Phantom has only continued to seduce audiences around the world. The show left a permanent masked mark on the stage, going on to be a permanent fixture even today.