Movies - TV
12 Horror Movies That Would Make Great Musicals
By BEE SCOTT
Frankenhooker
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” gets an outrageous take in “Frankenhooker,” a movie that follows sex worker Elizabeth after her reconstruction into a reanimated being composed of different body parts. The film’s outrageous story could match the levels of absurdity and musical panache found in “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and be a Broadway goldmine.
Scream
The “Scream” slasher Ghostface has always presented a theatrical flair in his manners and elaborate killings, making this story perfect for a musical setting. Writer Kevin Williamson has said that “Scream” is “coded in gay survival,” making a musical the perfect medium to express this idea; all that would be needed is to embellish what is already in the script.
Werewolves Within
Based on a video game from Red Storm Entertainment, “Werewolves Within” boasts an eclectic band of characters in an “Into the Woods” sort of fashion, who are stalked by a werewolf in the surrounding forest. The story could be a treasure trove of potential in a two-act musical, bringing a perfect balance between emotional urgency and humor.
The Final Girls
Similar to the holiday-themed zombie musical “Anna and the Apocalypse,” Todd Strauss-Schulson’s “The Final Girls” features a heroine learning to deal with her grief while stuck in a horror film. For all its campiness, “The Final Girls” takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster that could easily tap into the story’s theme through song.
Elvira
Considering that actress Cassandra Peterson has a long history in music and stage entertainment, it’s a surprise “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark” isn’t already a musical. The film’s themes of overcoming a world that constantly judges appearances and of being a misunderstood outcast could easily transition into a musical.