How Genres Work and Why The Horror Musical | Page 3

H

orror is the antithesis of the cheerful feeling musicals
usually inspire. Sometimes it is masked with comedy, other times the humour is minimal or dark. In Sweeney Todd, Jekyll and Hyde, and Phantom
of the Opera, the horror is raw and palpable, conveyed through the eerie
dramatic musical undertones. Musicals are typically driven by the extremes
of passion, making horror a perfect genre to mix with. Other films like Little
Shop of Horrors can be campy, often exploited to great effect.

In horror films, music is key for setting the tone. In musicals, plot
and characters and conveyed through music so the score has greater importance and effect. Songs work well to unveil the complex character motives
in horror films that would come off as overly expository in a non-musical
situation.