Ten Spectacular Horror Movie Dance Sequences

“The horror genre is naught but blood and guts” is an axiom many a normie shall tell you throughout your life. NAY I SAY...NAY, for we horror aficionados know there are many eloquent forms of art hidden within the hallowed halls of the macabre. Here are ten movies that prove to us horror can bring us one of the greatest joys, the art of DANCE.

American Psycho

So you watched Suicide Squad and thought to yourself, “It's a shame Jared Leto's Joker will never get punched by Christian Bale's Batman”. Well our first entry may involve a bit more than a punch, but it will undoubtedly scratch that itch. The scene is an outstanding, seamless combination of horror and comedy. American Psycho is an interesting artifact from the early 2000's well worth looking up for modern horror fans.

The Silence Of The Lambs

"Goodbye Horses" by the band Q Lazzarus is now inseparable from this iconic The Silence Of The Lambs scene.  It is essentially the Say Anything boombox of the horror genre.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

is an exemplar of just how insane the 80s got for horror movies. This sequel to the horrifying 1974 original is a straight up horror comedy. For example the poster mocks the Breakfast Club, the cannibals win a chili cookoff, and the film ends with Dennis Hopper having a chainsaw duel with Leatherface. One of the wackiest and most disturbing elements of the film is the...uh..."love story" between Leatherface and heroine Stretch. This includes a scene in which a chainsaw becomes phallic and another in which Leatherface dances with the horrified Stretch after she puts on a dead persons face. A perfect film for date night.

Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me

David Lynch is clearly a fan of dance and everything it can convey. The little person dancing in the Red Lodge is not only one of the most iconic dances in television history, it is one of the most memorable scenes period. When Twin Peaks got its shot at the big screen, Lynch added yet another great dancing sequence to the pop culture lexicon. The scene breaks Lynchian tradition however when the characters actually discuss and dissect its meaning/purpose after they experience it. It's a wonderful, bizarre scene that manages to further the plot and creates a good conversation.

The House Of The Devil

Dance montages are a staple of the 1980s and quite a few horror movies feature dance breakdowns. So when Ti West decides to create a film in the style and time period it only seems natural to include a great dance number. The fact that the sound is all diegetic helps to emphasize just how big this creepy house is.

Gremlins

This entry goes to the entire franchise because, lets face it, Joe Dante knows how to create a dance sequence. Whether in Dorry's Tavern or the lobby of Clamp Tower these fearsome critters know a good time. Bonus points to the Gizmo dance sequence in the “Splice O' Life Lab” early in Gremlins 2.

Fright Night

One of the best visual representations of seduction put to screen. The music in the sequence is so delightfully on the nose that you can't help but fall for the 1980s ridiculousness that is Jerry Dandridge.

Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter

In the actual scene supposedly Glover was dancing to AC/DC's "Back In Black", however whatever way you slice it this scene is still the epitome of “white people dancing”.

Prom Night

The movie that proved Jamie Lee Curtis wasn't just a Scream Queen, she was also a dancing queen.

A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge

The red headed step child of the Nightmare franchise, this film has an interesting place in history as it is either criticized or praised for its homoerotic subtext. But there is no argument that this movie has one spectacular dance sequence.


If you want to have a horror dance party of your own, don't forget to subscribe to our "Secret Murder Jams" playlist on Spotify, which features a few of the joints featured in this list!

Andrew

Writer

Ever since seeing Halloween 3 and 4 at a sleepover Horror films have horrified, and fascinated Andrew. This has led to a life long obsession, and a desire to discover the inner workings of the genre. Canadian born and raised, this Canuck is on a mission to see it all.