10 Underrated Needle Drops In Horror

If I’ve never made it clear before, I love horror movies. I also love pop music. When the two worlds collide, it makes for a joyful and frightening experience. It’s even better when a pop song is used perfectly as a needle drop—I’m talking The Chordettes coming in clutch with “Mister Sandman” at the end of HALLOWEEN II or Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” making me weep in THE FINAL GIRLS.

But what about those iconic needle drops that people rarely ever talk about? Well, I scoured my Letterboxd looking for those undeniable bops that soundtrack some disturbing scenes, or some otherwise surprisingly happy or badass moments.

Here’s a rundown of some of my favorite, criminally overlooked needle drops. Get those headphones on!

“Be Your Boss” – TRAGEDY GIRLS (2017)

“Be Your Boss,” as performed by B Kennedy, is the most legendary song on this list that doesn’t exist anywhere online. Believe me, I’ve tried finding it, but it looks like it was scrubbed from the internet after the film’s 2017 release. The song perfectly soundtracks the discovery of a young girl’s decapitated head spinning on shop equipment before the film transitions to McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) and Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand) strutting down the hallway of their high school. It’s the perfect murderer’s anthem.

“Hypnotized Narcissist” – HUNTER HUNTER (2020)

I won’t give any spoilers away if you haven’t seen HUNTER HUNTER. But the use of Tales of Murder and Dust’s “Hypnotized Narcissist” swoops in when a character takes bloody revenge in the best way possible. The tension of the song captures the tense derangement of the scene, underscoring the mental unraveling on gruesome display. It’s one of the single best endings to a horror movie you’ll ever witness.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” - 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (2016)

“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tommy James and the Shondells aptly sets the stage for 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. Considering the film is about an older man holding two younger people hostage underground, it makes logical sense to pick this one. The song’s deceptively chipper melody and hook make the story that much more unsettling.

“The Sign” – WEREWOLVES WITHIN (2021)

Ace of Base’s “The Sign” soundtracks one of the happier moments in horror on this list. When park ranger Finn Wheeler (Sam Richardson) befriends postal worker Cecily (Milana Vayntrub), there’s a moment when he pops in a quarter and starts playing the song, just as Cecily dances her way across the room. Cupid hits him with an arrow, making it for the film’s sweetest moment.

“Without You” – FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (2025)

After his father’s death, tattoo artist Erik (Richard Harmon) puts on his sad mix playlist as he gives himself a tattoo. Air Supply’s “Without You” first rings pretty sad, but the scene quickly turns into flames when death decides to come knocking on his door. The song disturbingly makes dying feel even more larger than life.

“Touch Me (All Night Long)” - A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE (1985)

There’s no way that director Jack Sholder looked at the scene of Jesse (Mark Patton) playing Wish & Fonda Rae’s “Touch Me (All Night Long)” on his boombox and thought, “Oh, that’s so straight.” When his father demands that he finally unpack his room, Jesse pops in a cassette tape and presses play to set the mood. He proceeds to dance in the gayest way possible. It’s a moment of queer joy in a truly horrifying story.

“Bad to the Bone” - CHRISTINE (1983)

John Carpenter could not have picked a better song for introducing the film’s titular car. “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood & The Destroyers not only pokes fun at the ridiculous evil car premise, but it also encapsulates the real terror the car is about to inflict on the characters. Honestly? I never listened to this song the same way again.

“Anything, Anything” - A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER (1988)
THE DREAM MASTER doesn’t give nearly enough credit for giving the A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise new life. One of the best scenes in the fourth film happens when Alice (Lisa Wilcox) prepares for her final battle with Freddy (Robert Englund). She’s absorbed all the powers and traits of her friends, and now, she’s finally ready to take down the sleep demon. Dramarama’s “Anything, Anything” fuels the moment with high-voltage musical goodness. No other song could possibly have worked.

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” – FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN (2025)

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN is good, actually. When Lori (India Fowler) musters up the courage to face her bully, Tiffany (Fina Strazza), she puts on some cat eye eyeliner and makes her way through the crowd at the prom. It’s clear by her facial expression that she’s had enough of the taunts and insults about her parents. And “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” punctures the air from the room (complimentary).

“Heartbreaker” – NIGHT OF THE REAPER (2025)

Who doesn’t love a little Pat Benatar in their horror? In an early montage, a young teen is seen settling in for the night of babysitting. She grabs a cola from the fridge and dances around the living room. It’s a giddy moment that primes the viewer for the tragedy to befall her a few minutes later. There’s nothing better than dancing while no one’s watching.