Octoberfest Five: 5 Wonderfully Creepy Music Videos

~by Marie Robinson

Songs tell us a story, and a good song will inspire visuals in your mind’s eye. If you’re like me, once you see a music video you can’t detach the imagery from the song, and every time you’re listened to it you think of it. This has ruined a few songs for me, and made many more special.

While all of these songs don’t necessarily contain horror themes, their music videos have the haunting visuals, references, and tones that us horror fans have come to love. Sit back and enjoy a few wonderfully creepy music videos.


1. “The Perfect Drug” by Nine Inch Nails 


While this list is in no certain order, this is my favorite on the list. Nine Inch Nails is one of my favorite bands and this song is dear to me mainly because of this video.

Directed by Mark Romanek in 1997, it was inspired by the illustrations of Edward Gorey (if you aren’t familiar with him, get wise!). The whole video is a gothic eyegasm, with Edwardian costume, a dark, gloomy Victorian mansion, and gorgeous exterior shots of hedge mazes, gravestones, and ivy-covered wells. It’s truly a shame that each shot goes by so quickly, for this world is one I would love to linger in.

Honestly, my only complaint is Trent Reznor’s mustache. Seriously, not a good look for you, Trent.



Nine Inch Nails: The Perfect Drug (1997) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.


2. “Dr. Mabuse” by Propaganda


Directed by Anton Corgijn in 1984, this video plays out like a black and white Hammer film. It’s filled to the brim with Gothic imagery and themes of entrapment and Faustian vibes! All of this, of course, with a delightful 80’s touch.

“Dr. Mabuse” is a stunning example of chiaroscuro and is wonderfully creepy to boot.






3. “Only You” by Portishead 


Chris Cunningham is the king of creepy music videos; you can find a lot of nightmare fuel in his catalogue, particularly in his Aphex Twin videos. Picking one of those was too easy, though, so I decided on one a little more eerie.

Portishead are masters of creating haunting, atmospheric music and this video plays out like some kind of awful reoccurring nightmare, where you appear to live in some strange, underwater world and are constantly gazed down upon by unkind, distorted faces.





4. “Lullaby” by The Cure 


If you’re terrified of spiders like me, then this video is sure to give you the creeps. Robert Smith is not only the victim, but also his own tormentor, a “spiderman” who lingers in the high corner of his room. This video has the quality of childlike nightmares, from cobweb-covered tin soldiers, to the gnashing jaws of a giant spider.
 It was directed by Tim Pope in 1990.




5. “Wrong” by Depeche Mode 


You may not think “Wrong” fits this list, but it is a hard and fast ride, and so suspenseful you’ll find yourself forgetting there’s an (awesome) song playing in the background. This disturbing video finds a man trapped in a car careening backwards down a Los Angeles street. Bound and gagged, he is forced to endure the terror and unable to do anything to stop it.

Directed by Patrick Daughters in 2008.



Depeche Mode - Wrong from Depeche Mode on Vimeo.