Eye Candy: Halloween Music Videos

Melanie Asherman

Need something awesome to project on your walls during a Halloween party? Look no further than this list of the spookiest and coolest looking music videos. They‰’ll be sure to bring any party back from the dead.

 

The Pretty Reckless, “Going to Hell‰Û

In her new video, Gossip Girl-alum Taylor Momson does her best Marilyn Manson impression by wearing all black and trashing an abandoned crucifix warehouse. The jerkily cut video does its best to play up her all-leather attire as simultaneously attractive and terrifying bygiving her demon eyes. The video closes on an image of Momson in the midst of a drug-fueled orgy with snakes. It‰’s definitely something to play to get party guests into the spirit of Halloween, or at least in the mood to talk to that cute snake eyeing them from across the room.

 

HEALTH, “We are Water”


HEALTH‰’s noise rock jam might get your party moving, but the music video will make them freeze in terror. Gorgeously shot, the video takes a twist on the Little Red Riding Hood concept, having her be chased through the forest by a blood-covered woodsman. The video focuses in on her terror and creates a confiningly cozy storybook arena for the chase. The color pallet is dark, but makes great use of particle effects to bring light to the frame. Ending on a long shot of Red screaming over the desecrated body of her attacker, the video is sure to draw attention.

 

David Lynch, “Good Day Today‰”

Acclaimed director David Lynch‰’s music video takes a more psychological approach to horror. The slow moving, brightly graded film against the driving techno track seems commonplace, until a young boy sticks his arm into a bowl of soup and comes out in another dimension. The video uses Lynch‰’s trademark holding shots and slow revelation of horrific events to great effect. The end of the video comes as a complete surprise and is a deliciously justified image.

 

Aphex Twin, “Come to Daddy‰”

Aphex Twin‰’s music video plays on a juxtaposition of horrifying imagery with what should be cute to creepy. The blue color tones against the urban setting create a grim playground for the man-faced little girls. The video uses quick tracking shots and close ups to draw the viewer through a small space. The homage to Poltergiest is a nice touch, and adds bright, distinct visual elements against a dark background. The ending strobe lighting will provide a nice atmosphere and is good for those with a tight AV budget.

 

Boards of Canada, “Everything You Do is a Balloon‰Û

The perfect winding down song, Boards of Canada‰’s chill track makes great use of found footage. The 1960‰’s bike safety film has children riding in blank eyed chimp masks, terrorizing others in the neighborhood. Three possibly gruesome ends to the masked children close out the video and lend slight empathy to them. The aged, yellow graded film gives the footage the aura of some long-forgotten nightmare. To close out a perfect Halloween party, this video will leave the partygoers with a lingering memory of one fucked up night.