The 14 Weirdest Horror Icon Appearances: Music Videos, 'SNL,' And Some Insane Commercials

In the necessary world of cinematic promotion, studios will do anything for publicity. Nowadays, it's all viral internet campaigns and pop-up shops, but times weren't always so simple. Without the internet, without VR experiences – without today's "developed" advantages – marketing pros relied on much simpler means to drive their product. Maybe a music video featuring a movie character jamming with rockstars of the era? Maybe some dial-a-character telephone gimmick? An awards show skit? In any case, old-school marketing departments were forced to create imaginative Hollywood tie-ins with only half our society's current means. That's obvious to us old folks, but younger generations may forget!

I give you that background to introduce you to my latest quest – to hunt down the horror genre's most wild, irreplicable videos featuring genre icons forced into promotional crossover buffoonery. But why stop there? As I dragged the internet's depths, even better content presented itself. Horror's biggest names shoehorned into commercials and singing on Saturday Night Live. I can't not share that, right?

So I dug into the "lost but not forgotten" pile of extracurricular B-roll featuring some conceptually insane horror icon appearances. These are the best of the best. You may have found some already yourself – or experienced them live – while others will hopefully raise an eyebrow. In any case, enjoy this obscure collection of horror icons doing the darndest things that don't involve killing.

Just wait until you hit "Freddy in Japan." You guys. GUYS.

Another Bride Of Chucky tie-in, but this one's a bit off-brand.

During one of SNL's wackiest Weekend Update segments, Chucky – fully suited – joins Colin Quinn to discuss...the Clinton fellatio scandal? You can immediately hear it's not Brad Dourif, and even though the bit appears live, it's even more awkwardly paced than the WCW stunt. Cue Chucky launching into a speech about how Clinton has more-or-less been scrutinized enough, followed by a pro-oral-sex joke from a schmoozing Chucky whose delivery is flatter than a stashed liter of Crystal Pepsi.

Then Chucky whips out a knife and attempts to "kill" Quinn (asking his co-host to "get a beer" beforehand), only to be carried away by Horatio Sanz. Not exactly the motivated Chucky we're used to.

Ugh, I seriously miss when horror movies often signed big-name talent to write theme songs. We'll get to Freddy and The Fat Boys, but first let's start with Pinhead and the God of rock-n-roll incarnate, Lemmy Kilmister. Cenobites squaring off against a man who's now probably drinking the Devil under a table just for fun, whiskey in one hand, and middle finger clenched in the other – just like he gives to Pinhead in this video (off camera).

Motörhead are playing what looks like a private show for Pinhead and his cronies when a scraggly, stereotyped metal fan sits in front of them. Pinhead grabs the kid and probably gives him a stern chat (jk he tortures his soul into oblivion), Lemmy gets pissed, he beats Pinhead in a hand of cards (4 Aces, and don't forget the Joker!), boom goes the middle finger, motorcycles rev, and a horror legend is left cursing Motörhead's name.

Lemmy, the only man should could make Pinhead look like some posh Bret Michaels lame-o. RIP.

First up is Freddy Krueger's run-in with The Fat Boys. Their song, "Are You Ready For Freddy," was used as the theme for A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and features a rapping Robert Englund in fully Krueger makeup. The "Boys" encounter Freddy after entering a pretty-obviously-haunted Elm Street house and he walk-chases Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock-Ski and Buff Love while spittin' dope rhymes. For real – Freddy raps. Thank you, the '80s.

This isn't as weird since Child's Play turned Chucky into an immediate horror icon. What better way to celebrate the release of Child's Play 2 than sticking Chucky in a white suit and plopping him on-stage at the 1990 Horror Hall of Fame ceremony? With Robert Englund flanking him, Chucky introduced the year's best-and-brightest in International Horror, from a Bollywood vampire musical to Amsterdamned. It's all about Brad Dourif doing his best "Jack Nicholson At An Awards Ceremony" schtick, complete with a nice little marketing ploy near the end. It's nice to see a dapper side of Chucky (although maybe he should see a better tailor next time).

If you think I have any idea what in the name of satanic panic is going on in that video...good luck. All I know is that Robert Englund appeared on a Japanese variety show called "Kato-Chan Ken-Chan Gokigen" in full Freddy Krueger makeup. At first it's just weird, then the fake mustaches come out. And everyone starts playing a toss-the-ball game where Krueger's "victims" must stab said ball with a replica blade glove. And Freddy starts dancing. Then there's a bit where Freddy appears pantsless, standing over a woman in bed in the creepiest, most suggestively WTF way.

To promote Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Voorhees appeared on Arsenio Hall's late-night talk show. Out he walks, holding his axe, lumbering over to the guest's couch. "How are you?" Arsenio starts. Jason, unflinching, glares without answer. Arsenio starts giggling, and there you have the entire gimmick. Jason – who does not speak – being asked questions by Arsenio Hall.

That said, Hall's energy plucks a few juicy berries of situational comedy. "You're angry," he says with a smile, placing his hand on Jason's arm only to immediately pull away in confused fear. Arsenio does ask Jason what happened to make him so angry, and, I mean, after seven Friday the 13th films, that question has a pretty definitive answer. And no, it's not because Jason was cut from a hockey team. But hey, it could have been lamer. Like the next entry...

Did you know that Jason Voorhees has been carving up press peeps who annoy Alice Cooper ever since Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives? Cooper's "He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)" serves as the film's theme song and apparently Jason liked it so much that he bailed on Crystal Lake to tour as Cooper's head of security. In the above concert video, you'll witness Jason appear from the shadows to drag away a rather intrusive photographer who's abusing his press badge, never to be heard from again...or at least until the next show when Cooper's team pulls the same stunt.

In 2007, DIRECTV released an advertisement in Argentina that dared to suggest our favorite horror icons share in our love of the Christmas spirit. Freddy Krueger drags cut-down trees with Jason Voorhees, Darth Vader blows dandelion fluff, Chucky seesaws with a young child – all while a wispy cover of "Silent Night" plays atop. Samara pops through a TV screen with gift in hand. Hannibal Lecter helps with dinner. It's like one big happy horror family!

"Some people are good only at Christmas time," the commercial goes on to say. "Others are good all year long. DIRECTV is better." Not sure I fully understand how a marketing department came together with the idea, but I'll take it. Anything that features a Dracula, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Darth Vader frolicking through a grassy field is worth a curious watch (although Voorhees has a chainsaw, assumedly because Leatherface wouldn't allow rights usage).

Honorable Mention: Jason Voorhees and Chucky also appear in Radio Shack's 2014 Super Bowl commercial about 80s pop-culture figures "taking back" their store. Horror icons becoming glorified movers. Sounds about right.