{"id":13858,"date":"2014-08-03T18:36:06","date_gmt":"2014-08-03T07:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/?p=13858"},"modified":"2014-09-21T12:31:01","modified_gmt":"2014-09-21T01:31:01","slug":"favourite-horror-film-theme-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/2014\/08\/03\/favourite-horror-film-theme-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"Favourite Horror Film Theme Songs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Films in the horror genre — particularly films that can be described as exploitation horror comedies, even if they’re only incidentally funny — seem to inspire excellent theme songs. For the purposes of this list — let’s call it My Top 10 Favourite Horror Film Theme Songs — I define “theme song” as a song written specifically for a particular movie and containing in its lyrics a high level of relevance to the actual plot.<\/p>\n

The type of theme song I’m referring to isn’t the kind of award-winning cinematic music epitomised by the famous orchestral theme to Star Wars<\/em> (by John Williams), or the theme to Lawrence of Arabia<\/em> (by Maurice Jarre), or “Lara’s Theme” from Doctor Zhivago<\/em>. Nor am I including famous non-lyric-based (“instrumental”, if not “orchestral”) horror themes such as those for Jaws<\/em>, The Exorcist<\/em>, Psycho<\/em>, Dario Argento’s Suspiria<\/em> (in fact, any cinematic score by Goblin), Carpenter’s The Thing<\/em> or the same director’s Halloween<\/em>. I’m referencing a different beast altogether. This “subgenre” has lyrics, and the lyrics make direct, often (but not always) humorous reference to the film itself. A high level of irony generally comes into play. There’s a profundity to these often tritely cheeky songs that’s rather hard to rationalise… so I won’t bother.<\/p>\n

This might be a genre of movie music unique to horror and horror comedy. Or maybe it isn’t. After all, some of the Bond franchise theme songs more-or-less fit this definition (such as “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey<\/span>). But never mind the definitional problems. Let’s just go with it!<\/p>\n

Here is a list of my Favourite Horror Film Theme Songs (not in order of preference).<\/p>\n

1<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This one holds an almost iconic place in the genre. The wonderful tongue-in-cheek pop sensibility displayed in the music and the lyrics would seem at odds with the pseudo-serious tone of the film. Yet somehow, it turns out to be just right.<\/p>\n

\"blob-original-poster\"<\/a>“Beware of the Blob” — from The Blob<\/em> (US-1958; dir. Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr.), performed by The Five Blobs [Burt Bacharach and\u00a0Bernie Nee]<\/p>\n

[youtube XzHDvzGmmw0]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Burt Bacharach, Mack David)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beware of the Blob,
\nIt creeps and leaps
\nAnd glides and slides
\nAcross the floor
\nRight through the door
\nAnd all around the wall
\nA splotch, a blotch
\nBe careful of the Blob…
\n[repeats]<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

2<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Ghostbusters theme is nearly as iconic as “Beware of the Blob”, though for different reasons. It captures both the late-night commercial marketing hype that inspired it in the first place, but it also embraces the sort of communal celebratory attitude towards New York that engulfs the entire cast at the end of the film — though, of course, it also transcends the Big Apple and celebrates the communal nature of humanity as a whole. Profound, right? On its first release in 1984, I saw the film at a cinema in Parramatta (Parramatta is a non-capital Australian city, just west of Sydney, in case you were wondering). It was a packed house and by the end communal oneness (now manifesting in these wild-and-woolly western suburbs) was being expressed via a spontaneous, almost ritualistic, mass shout-out to the question “Who ya gonna call?”<\/p>\n

\"ghostbusters_ver4\"<\/a>“Ghostbusters” — from Ghostbusters<\/em> (US-1984; dir. Ivan Reitman), performed by Ray Parker, Jr.<\/p>\n

[youtube r1-NvLJFDsw]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Ray Parker, Jr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ghostbusters…
\nIf there’s somethin’ strange in your neighborhood
\nWho ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters)
\nIf it’s somethin’ weird, and it don’t look good
\nWho ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters)<\/p>\n

I ain’t afraid of no ghost.
\nI ain’t afraid of no ghost.<\/p>\n

If you’re seein’ things, runnin’ thru your head
\nWho can you call? (Ghostbusters)
\nAn invisible man sleepin’ in your bed
\nOh, who ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters)<\/p>\n

I ain’t afraid of no ghost.
\nI ain’t afraid of no ghost.
\nWho ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters)<\/p>\n

If you’re all alone, pick up the phone
\nAnd call (Ghostbusters)!<\/p>\n

I ain’t afraid of no ghost.
\nI hear it likes the girls.
\nI ain’t afraid of no ghost.
\nWho you gonna call? (Ghostbusters)<\/p>\n

Mm… if you’ve had a dose
\nOf a freaky ghost baby
\nYou better call Ghostbusters<\/p>\n

Let me tell ya somethin’
\nBustin’ makes me feel good
\nI ain’t afraid of no ghosts.
\nI ain’t afraid of no ghosts.<\/p>\n

Don’t get caught alone, oh no…
\nGhostbusters!
\nWhen he comes through your door
\nUnless you’ve just got some more
\nI think you better call Ghostbusters!
\nOoh… who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters)
\nWho you gonna call (Ghostbusters)
\nAh, I think you better call (Ghostbusters)
\nWho ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters)
\nI can’t hear you… (Ghostbusters)
\nWho you gonna call? (Ghostbusters)
\nLouder! (Ghostbusters)
\nWho you gonna call? (Ghostbusters)
\nWho you can call? Ghostbusters… (till fade)<\/p>\n

___________________________________________________<\/p>\n

3<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Killer Klowns<\/em> theme song is perhaps my favourite — not because it’s more profound than “The Ghostbusters” or more lyrical than the others mentioned here, but just because both it and the film it tags are so goddam soul-expandingly absurd. As always, Coulrophobes beware!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"killer-klowns-from-outer-space-movie-poster-1988-1020469216\"<\/a>“Killer Klowns”\u00a0 — from Killer Klowns From Outer Space<\/em> (US-1988; dir. Stephen Chiodo), performed by The Dickies. Music video directed by Chuck Cirino.<\/p>\n

[youtube tGVX033PiDA]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (The Dickies)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

PT Barnum said it so long ago,
\nThere’s one born every minute, that you know
\nSome make us laugh, some make us cry
\nThese clowns only gonna make you die.
\nEverybody’s running when the circus comes into their towns.
\nEveryone is running from the likes of the killer klowns…
\nFrom outer space.
\nKiller klowns from outer space.
\nJocko!<\/p>\n

Ringmaster shouts let the show begin,
\nSend in the klowns, then let them do you in.
\nSee a rubber nose on a painted face
\nBringing genocide to the human race.
\nIt’s time to take a ride on the nightmare merry-go-round,
\nYou’ll be dead on arrival from the likes of the killer klowns…
\nFrom outer space.
\nKiller klowns from outer space.<\/p>\n

There’s cotton candy in their hands
\nSays a polka-dotted man with a stalk of jacaranda
\nThey’re all diabolical bozos…<\/p>\n

Oh, look around! What do you see?
\nTell me what’s become of humanity.
\nFrom California shores to New York Times Square,
\nBarnum and Bailey everywhere.
\nIf you’ve ever wondered why the population’s going down,
\nBlame it on the plunder from the likes of the killer klowns…
\nFrom outer space.
\nKiller klowns from outer space.
\nKiller klowns [repeat]<\/p>\n

_______________________________________________________<\/p>\n

4<\/strong><\/h1>\n

If that’s not weird enough for you, how about a rhapsodic love-song to a rat? Okay, it’s not meant to be funny, but the fact that someone thought it was a good idea to create such a seriously sappy melody to capture the essence of a revenge horror film about a boy and his pet rat (an intelligent rat that happens to be the leader of a pack of killer rats) — and then to get the young Michael Jackson to sing it — is just too good not to mention. Okay, “Ben” is not actually a favourite song of mine, but I love the fact that, bizarrely, it exists.<\/p>\n

\"Ben\"<\/a>“Ben” — from Ben<\/em> (US-1972; dir. Phil Karlson<\/span>), performed by Michael Jackson<\/p>\n

[youtube T5PJVNYlnkE]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Don Black and Walter Scharf)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben, the two of us need look no more
\nWe both found what we were looking for
\nWith a friend to call my own
\nI’ll never be alone
\nAnd you my friend will see
\nYou’ve got a friend in me
\n(You’ve got a friend in me)<\/p>\n

Ben, you’re always running here and there
\n(Here and there)
\nYou feel you’re not wanted anywhere
\n(Anywhere)
\nIf you ever look behind
\nAnd don’t like what you find
\nThere’s something you should know
\nYou’ve got a place to go
\n(You’ve got a place to go)<\/p>\n

I used to say “I” and “me”
\nNow it’s “us”, now it’s “we”
\nI used to say “I” and “me”
\nNow it’s “us”, now it’s “we”<\/p>\n

Ben, most people would turn you away
\nI don’t listen to a word they say
\nThey don’t see you as I do
\nI wish they would try to
\nI’m sure they’d think again
\nIf they had a friend like Ben
\n(A friend)
\nLike Ben
\n(Like Ben)
\nLike Ben<\/p>\n

____________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

5<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This Friday the 13th<\/em> flick isn’t a comedy. It’s exploitative and schlocky though, and is the first of the franchise in which Jason is unequivocally a zombie — not just back in another film, but back from the dead. Being rhapsodised by none other than Alice Cooper seems entirely appropriate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"friday-the-13th-6\"<\/a><\/div>\n

“He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” — from Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI<\/em> (US-1986; dir.\u00a0Tom McLoughlin), performed by Alice Cooper<\/p>\n

[youtube qglpDlSlPzE]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Alice Cooper, Tom Kelly and Kane Roberts)<\/strong><\/p>\n

You’re with your baby
\nAnd you’re parked alone
\nOn a summer night
\nYou’re deep in love
\nBut you’re deeper in the woods
\nYou think you’re doin’ alright.
\nDid you hear that voice?
\nDid you see that face?
\nOr was it just a dream?
\nThis can’t be real
\nThat only happens, babe
\nOn the movie screen.<\/p>\n

Oh, but he’s back!
\nHe’s the man behind the mask,
\nAnd he’s out of control.
\nHe’s back!
\nThe man behind the mask,
\nAnd he crawled out of his hole.<\/p>\n

You’re swimmin’ with your girl
\nOut on lovers’ lake
\nAnd the wind blows cold
\nIt chills your bones
\nBut you’re still on the lake,
\nThat’s a bad mistake.
\nBut the moon was full
\nAnd you had a chance
\nTo be all alone —
\nBut you’re not alone!
\nThis is your last dance
\nAnd your last romance.<\/p>\n

Oh, if you see him comin’
\nGet away if you can.
\nJust keep on runnin’
\nRun as fast as you can.
\nHe’s a dangerous, dangerous man.
\nAnd he’s out tonight,
\nAnd he’s watchin’ you
\nAnd he knows your house.
\nNo, don’t turn out the lights!<\/p>\n

Oh, but he’s back!
\nHe’s the man behind the mask,
\nAnd he’s out of control.
\nHe’s back!
\nThe man behind the mask,
\nAnd he crawled out of his hole.<\/p>\n

\u00a0____________________________________________________<\/p>\n

6<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> (1986) is one of my favourite cultural artifacts ever. Whatever the virtues of the original Corman Z-grade movie and the subsequent Broadway production, all the musical performances in Frank Oz’s film are top-notch, the choreography is breathtaking and the casting so perfect and endearing it made the original They-All-Get-Eaten ending a no-go. (Mind you, the originally filmed ending, featuring a superb kaiju-rampage FX sequence, is so awesome it needs to be preserved — as it now has been, as an alternative “version” on the newly released Blu-ray.) Meanwhile, the opening title sequence with the titular song finds a well-deserved place on this list.<\/p>\n

\"little_shop_of_horrors_ver2_xlg\"<\/a>“Prologue: Little Shop of Horrors” — from Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> (US-1986; dir. Frank Oz), performed by Chiffon (Tisha Campbell-Martin), Ronette (Michelle Weeks<\/span>) and Crystal (Tichina Arnold<\/span>)<\/p>\n

[youtube y4AoRc0Qfys]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Howard Ashman)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Little shop,
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nLittle shop,
\nLittle shoppa terror.
\nCall a cop.
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nNo, oh, oh, no-oh!<\/p>\n

Little shop,
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nBop-sh’bop,
\nLittle shoppa terror.
\nWatch ’em drop
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nNo, oh, oh, no-oh!<\/p>\n

Shing-a-ling,
\nWhat a creepy thing to be happening!
\n(Look out, look out, look out, look out!)
\nShang-a-lang,
\nFeel the sturm and drang in the air.
\n(Yeah, yeah, yeah.)
\nSha-la-la,
\nStop right where you are, don’t you move a thing.<\/p>\n

You better,
\nYou better,
\nTellin’ you you better
\nTell your mama
\nSomethin’s gonna get her.
\nShe better,
\nEverybody better beware.<\/p>\n

Oo, here it comes, baby.
\nTell the bums, baby.
\nOh, oh, no!
\nOo, hit the dirt, baby.
\nHit the dirt, baby.
\nRed alert, baby.
\nOh, oh, no!
\nOh, oh, no!<\/p>\n

Alley-oop,
\nHurry off to school child, I’m warnin’ you.
\n(Look out, look out, look out, look out!)
\nRun away!
\nChild you gonna pay if you stay, yeah!
\n(Yeah, yeah, yeah.)
\nLook around,
\nSomethin’s comin’ down, down the street for you!<\/p>\n

You betcha,
\nYou betcha,
\nYou bet your butt, you betcha.
\nBest believe it,
\nSomethin’s come to get ya.
\nYou betcha,
\nYou better watch your back and your tail…<\/p>\n

Woo!
\n(Come-a come-a come-a.)
\nLittle shop,
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nBop-sh’bop,
\nYou’ll never stop the terror.
\nLittle shop,
\nLittle shoppa horrors.
\nNo, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

__________________________________________________<\/p>\n

7<\/strong><\/h1>\n

M.I.B. the song isn’t really as much of a favourite as the rest of the theme songs mentioned here, but the movie itself is, and the theme song sits well with the general tone (not to mention the fact that it’s performed by star Will Smith himself). It’s got rather a lot of lyrics, too. Just stare into the light!<\/p>\n

\"men_in_black\"<\/a>“Men In Black” — From Men in Black<\/em> (US-1997; dir. Barry Sonnenfeld), performed by Will Smith<\/p>\n

[youtube ghoedCxz8IA]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (Will Smith)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here come the Men in Black
\n(Uh it’s the M.I.B.s)
\n(Uh here come the M.I.B.s)
\nHere come the Men in Black (Men in Black)
\nThey won’t let you remember<\/p>\n

Nah, nah, nah,
\nThe good guys dress in black, remember that,
\nJust in case we ever face to face and make contact.
\nThe title held by me… M.I.B.
\nMeans what you think you saw, you did not see.
\nSo don’t blink,
\nThink what was there but now’s gone.
\nBlack suit with the black Ray Ban’s on.
\nWalk in shadow, move in silence,
\nGuard against extra-terrestrial violence.
\nBut yo we ain’t on no government list.
\nWe straight don’t exist,
\nNo names and no fingerprints.
\nSaw something strange,
\nWatch your back.
\n‘Cause you never quite know where the M.I.B.s is at,
\nUh and…<\/p>\n

Here come the Men in Black. (Men in Black)
\nThe galaxy defenders. (uh oh, uh oh)
\nHere come the Men in Black. (Men in Black)
\nThey won’t let you remember. (won’t remember)
\n(uh uh, uh uh)<\/p>\n

Now from the deepest of the darkest of night,
\nOn the horizon, bright light in the site tight,
\nCameras zoom, only impending doom.
\nBut then like BOOM black suits fill the room up.
\nWith the quickness talk with the witnesses,
\nHypnotizer, neuralizer.
\nVivid memories turn to fantasies.
\nAin’t no M.I.B.s.
\nCan I please,
\nDo what we say? That’s the way we kick it.
\nYa know what I mean,
\nI say my noisy cricket get wicked on ya.
\nWe’re your first, last and only line of defense,
\nAgainst the worst scum of the universe.
\nSo don’t fear us, cheer us.
\nIf you ever get near us, don’t jeer us.
\nWe’re the fearless.
\nM.I.B.s freezin’ up all the flack.
\nWhat’s that stand for?
\nMen In Black.
\nUh, M-m-m-…<\/p>\n

The Men in Black.
\n(Uh uh uh)
\nThe Men in Black.
\n(Uh uh uh, ah ah ah)<\/p>\n

Let me see ya just bounce it with me.
\nJust bounce with me.
\nJust bounce it with me. C’mon,
\nLet me see ya just slide with me.
\nJust slide with me.
\nJust slide with me. C’mon.
\nLet me see ya take a walk with me.
\nJust walk with me.
\nTake a walk with me. C’mon,
\nAnd make your neck work.
\nNow freeze.<\/p>\n

Here come the Men in Black. (Men in Black)
\nThe galaxy defenders. (ooh ooh)
\nHere come the Men in Black. (Men in Black)
\nThey won’t let you remember. (uh no, no)<\/p>\n

A-right check it.
\nLet me tell you this in closin’.
\nI know we might seem imposin’,
\nBut trust me if we ever show in your section.
\nBelieve me it’s for your own protection.
\nCuz we see things that you need not see,
\nAnd we be places that you need not be.
\nSo go with your life,
\nForget that Roswell crap.
\nShow love to the black suit.
\nCuz that’s the Men in,
\nThat’s the Men in…<\/p>\n

Here come the Men in Black. (Here they come)
\nThe galaxy defenders. (Galaxy defenders)
\nHere come the Men in Black. (Oh, here they come)
\nThey won’t let you remember. (Won’t let you remember)<\/p>\n

Here come the Men in Black. (Oh, here they come)
\nThe galaxy defenders. (Uh oh, uh oh)
\nHere come the Men in Black.
\nThey won’t let you remember.<\/p>\n

________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

8<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Okay, there’s got to be one that’s completely tasteless, right? Well, this is it. It’s the theme song of a schlocky, sexploitation vampire flick from the 1970s (where all the best films of that sort came from).\u00a0Vampire Hookers<\/em> was made in the Philippines and starred an aging John Carradine at his gaunt, melodramatic best. The two things we learn from the film are that Shakespeare was a vampire… and that tasteless puns “sell” movies.<\/p>\n

\"vampire-hookers\"<\/a>“Vampire Hookers” — from Vampire Hookers<\/em> (Philippines\/US-1978; dir. Cirio H. Santiago<\/span>) — performed by someone whose identity is a well-kept internet secret. Unfortunately the YouTube version below cuts off before the end. Very sad.<\/p>\n

[youtube O0mcAL8oBk8]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (unknown)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t get hooked by a hooker
\nWhen you sail in seven seas
\nEven though she’s a looker
\nshe can bring you to your knees.
\nShe’ll take you to the graveyard
\nAnd try to ease your fears,
\nBut her friends out in the graveyard
\nhave been dead for a hundred years.<\/p>\n

They’re the Vampire Hookers
\nYeah, they’re Vampire Hookers
\nWell, they’re Vampire Hookers
\nand blood is not all they suck!<\/p>\n

These girls are illusions,
\nThey slit throats from ear to ear.
\nThey want you for transfusions,
\nThey’ll never shed a tear.
\nThey make real bloody Marys
\nAnd have a grand old time,
\nBut you’ll find out if you visit
\nThat your life’s not worth a dime….<\/p>\n

… To those Vampire Hookers
\nYeah, they’re Vampire Hookers
\nWell, they’re Vampire Hookers
\nand blood is not all they suck!<\/p>\n

So if you meet a hooker
\nAnd she seems so sweet and kind,
\nBe careful if you date her,
\nYour life may be on the line.
\nThey’re beautiful and sultry
\nBut they’re not what you expect.
\nYou’ll be begging them for mercy
\n[As they bite you in the neck<\/p>\n

They’re the Vampire Hookers
\nYeah, they’re Vampire Hookers,
\nWell, they’re Vampire Hookers
\nand blood is not all they suck!]*<\/p>\n

* a guess on my part<\/h5>\n

______________________________________________________<\/p>\n

9<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Over the years, Undead Backbrain has been introduced to many independent films — films made with love and passion, even if at times they’re rather rough around the edges. This next song comes from one such film — a Z-budget, tongue-in-cheek, sexy, irreverant and gore-splattered horror comedy about sideshow freaks, salacious women and inbred backwoods trailer trash. An interesting thing about Crustacean<\/em> (US-2009; dir. L.J. Dopp) is that it is accompanied by a superb CD of original music written by the director and performed specially for the film by Dopp and members of the cast. I love this album and heartily recommend it. The theme song is one of the more sedate tracks. Others, such as the hilarious hillbilly ode to “Lemur’s Holler” or the trailer trash love-song “Trailer Park Queen”, up the ante on satirical humour and outlandish imagery. But “Crustacean” is a good theme song — so here it is.<\/p>\n

\"crustacean-poster\"<\/a>“Crustacean” – from Crustacean<\/em> (US-2009; dir. L.J. Dopp), performed by L.J. Dopp, Peter Atkins, Brian Sheridan, and Maxine Gillespie.<\/p>\n

[youtube fnBpFkkRsyc]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (L.J. Dopp)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean, you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have claws
\nInstead of normal hands.<\/p>\n

Day after day,
\nYou’re put on display
\nThe king of the freaks
\nOn the midway…<\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean,\u00a0you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have the claws
\nInstead of normal hands.<\/p>\n

You’re living a lie,
\nYou ask yourself why
\nYou’re so full of rage
\nMaybe it’s because you live in a cage.<\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean,\u00a0you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have claws
\nInstead of human hands.<\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean,\u00a0you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have claws
\nInstead of normal hands.<\/p>\n

Day after day,
\nYou’re put on display
\nThe king of the freaks
\nOn the midway…<\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean,\u00a0you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have the claws
\nInstead of normal hands.<\/p>\n

You’re living a lie,
\nYou ask yourself why
\nYou’re so full of rage
\nMaybe it’s because you live in a cage.<\/p>\n

Crustacean, come out of your shell.
\nCrustacean,\u00a0you’re harder than hell.
\nFrustration, they just don’t understand
\nWhat it’s like to have the claws
\nInstead of normal hands.<\/p>\n

____________________________________________________<\/p>\n

10<\/strong><\/h1>\n

One last favourite. This theme song isn’t funny or ironic. But I want to put it in anyway. In my opinion, Paul Schrader’s Cat People<\/em> is severely under-rated. Yes, it makes unsubtle the subtly suggestive 1942 original by Jacques Tourneur (via Val Lewton), but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad film. By drawing out the original’s fairly quiescent sexual elements, it creates a much more explicit and complex mythology, all of which is very 1980s. It also stars Malcolm McDowell and <\/span>Nastassja Kinski as were-panthers… which they’re both very good at. And it has an excellent and evocative theme song by David Bowie.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>“Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” — from Cat People<\/em> (US-1982; dir. Paul Schrader<\/span>), performed by David Bowie.<\/p>\n

[youtube VpdHMaccjw4]<\/p>\n

Lyrics (David Bowie)<\/strong><\/p>\n

See these eyes so green
\nI can stare for a thousand years
\nColder than the moon
\nIt’s been so long<\/p>\n

Feel my blood enraged
\nIt’s just the fear of losing you
\nDon’t you know my name
\nOhh, you’ve been so long
\nAnd I’ve been putting out fire
\nWith gasoline.<\/p>\n

See these eyes so red
\nRed like jungle burning bright
\nThose who feel me near
\nPull the blinds and change their minds
\nIt’s been so long<\/p>\n

Still this pulsing night
\nA plague I call a heartbeat
\nJust be still with me
\nYa wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through
\nYou’ve been so long
\nWell, it’s been so long
\nAnd I’ve been putting out the fire
\nwith gasoline
\nputting out the fire
\nwith gasoline.<\/p>\n

See these tears so blue
\nAn ageless heart
\nthat can never mend.
\nThese tears can never dry
\nA judgement made
\ncan never bend.
\nSee these eyes so green
\nI can stare for a thousand years
\nJust be still with me
\nYou wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through.<\/p>\n

You’ve been so long
\nWell, it’s been so long
\nAnd I’ve been putting out the fire
\nwith gasoline
\nputting out fire
\nwith gasoline.<\/p>\n

\u00a0__________________________________________________<\/p>\n

That’s it, folks! Anyone else got any favourites that aren’t here?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Films in the horror genre — particularly films that can be described as exploitation horror comedies, even if they’re only incidentally funny — seem to inspire excellent theme songs. For the purposes of this list — let’s call it My … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[26,103,10],"tags":[1364,1360,914,1362,1361,954,1363,1359,1365],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13858"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13858"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13954,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13858\/revisions\/13954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roberthood.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}