The Rockstars That Appeared In Horror Films

Rock and metal have always had a thing for the spooky side of life, so it’s no surprise the genres go hand-in-hand with horror. Halloween is usually the perfect time to spotlight how deep that connection runs—especially when some of our favorite musicians leave the stage and step into creepy movie roles. Rock musicians have embraced horror in front of and behind the camera, from Rob Zombie’s spine-tingling films to Slash’s haunting Nothing Left to Fear. Some even adopt ominous personas or experience gory outcomes. These are 15 musicians who appeared in horror movies and left a chilling impression.

Ozzy Osbourne – Trick or Treat (1986)
In Trick or Treat, a cult horror film from 1986, Ozzy Osbourne exchanges his Prince of Darkness identity for a Bible and a collar. He portrays the pious TV evangelist Reverend Aaron Gilstrom, who mockingly criticizes heavy metal music. The film centers on a teenage fan of deceased rock artist Sammi Curr, whose ghost resurfaces as a possessed record to cause mayhem. The film’s rock-meets-horror mood is cleverly twisted by Ozzy’s brief but funny presence.

Dee Snider – Strangeland (1998)
Dee Snider, the leader of Twisted Sister, ventures into very dark territory in the 1998 horror movie Strangeland. In addition to writing the script, he plays Captain Howdy, a deranged villain who seduces and tortures his victims via online chat rooms. Snider’s eerie performance evokes early internet users’ anxieties about online predators, making his part both memorable and unnerving. It’s a daring, terrifying turn that demonstrates his versatility off-stage.

Cherie Currie – Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) had a remarkable on-screen performance by Cherie Currie, the former lead vocalist of The Runaways. She appears in the Joe Dante-directed piece, It’s a Good Life, in which a youngster with terrible godlike abilities manipulates reality to suit his desires. Currie, who portrays a teacher amidst the mayhem, lends a solid presence to this unsettling and surreal tale. It’s an interesting appearance in a really spooky story.

Chester Bennington – Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
Chester Bennington, the late frontman of Linkin Park, made a quick but unforgettable appearance in Saw: The Final Chapter (2010). Chester portrayed Evan, a white supremacist who gets caught up in one of Jigsaw’s brutal tests. Bennington made a lasting impression despite the brief role by perfectly capturing the fear and suffering of the situation. When a rock star entered the horror spotlight, it was an abrupt and dramatic change.

Henry Rollins – Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
In Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007), punk icon Henry Rollins played the rugged ex-Marine and reality show host Dale Murphy. Rollins brought grit, attitude, and considerable action skills to the screen when he was thrown into a dangerous game with backwoods cannibals. He stood out in the blood-soaked turmoil thanks to his no-nonsense attitude, demonstrating that he is just as aggressive on camera as he is on stage.

Marilyn Manson – Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016)
In Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016), Marilyn Manson steps into the creepy shoes of Pope, a cold-blooded hitman. Manson infuses the part with his trademark spooky aura, which blends in perfectly with the gritty, gloomy universe of the movie. Every scene he appears in feels a bit more twisted—and much more memorable—because of his subdued intensity and menacing presence.

Alice Cooper – Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
Shock-rock icon Alice Cooper appears in one of the most eerie dream scenes in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991). His portrayal of Freddy Krueger’s violent foster father is undoubtedly not a sentimental one. Even though Cooper’s presence is brief, horror fans won’t soon forget it because of its ominous aura, which perfectly complements the film’s twisted tone.

Corey Taylor – Fear Clinic (2014)
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor left the stage to play Bauer, a disturbed patient fighting intense anxieties at a spooky treatment facility, in the 2014 film Fear Clinic. Taylor, who is well-known for his intense musical energy, stunned audiences with an emotionally charged and unadulterated performance. He proved he had some significant acting skills outside of the mask and microphone by holding his own against horror pros.

Debbie Harry – Videodrome (1983)
Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie, played radio DJ Nicki Brand in David Cronenberg’s 1983 film Videodrome, which took a nasty turn. Her character becomes entangled in a complicated scenario that involves unsettling mind control and an odd TV signal. Harry’s edgy, cool demeanor gave the movie a spooky feel that complemented its unsettling exploration of media, obsession, and changed reality. It was a daring, memorable role that revealed a whole different side of the rock legend.

Sting – The Bride (1985)
Most famous for being the main vocalist of The Police, Sting portrayed Baron Charles Frankenstein in the 1985 gothic movie The Bride. In the latest adaptation of Mary Shelley’s tale, he portrayed a stylish but ethically questionable scientist who transforms the remains of the deceased into a woman. Sting combined charm and danger to give the role a clever and stylish take on the classic monster story.

Gene Simmons – Trick or Treat (1986)
The renowned KISS guitarist Gene Simmons played the part of rock radio DJ Nuke in the 1986 horror film Trick or Treat. Though not intentionally, his character aids in the resurrection of deceased rock star Sammi Curr. The creepy perspective on rock culture in the film feels even more authentic because Simmons plays the part with the perfect balance of charm and creepiness.

Flea – Psycho (1998)
In the 1998 version of Psycho, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ vivacious bassist Flea made an unexpected cameo. He portrayed Bob Summerfield, a car salesman who, yes, ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time in the shower scene. Even though his role was brief, it was undoubtedly memorable, and his entrance added a playful and surprising element to the contemporary rendition. It turns out that Flea is a fantastic performer on stage and cinema.

Jared Leto – American Psycho (2000)
The frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jared Leto, had a dark side when he played Paul Allen in the 2000 film American Psycho. Leto’s smooth and smug performance as an egotistical investment banker gave Christian Bale’s insane Patrick Bateman the ideal target for his character. The iconic scene with the axe? Absolutely fantastic. Despite being brief, Leto’s role was powerful and complemented the film’s twisted, satirical tone.

Jon Bon Jovi – Vampires: Los Muertos (2002)
In Vampires: Los Muertos (2002), Jon Bon Jovi played vampire hunter Derek Bliss, trading in his microphone for a stake. With rockstar swagger and icy confidence, he led a group of slayers through Mexico and faced bloodsuckers. The frontman of Bon Jovi had a different look, but he had enough charisma and grit to make his action-hero turn work. Not your usual role in a horror movie, but one that viewers will remember.

David Bowie – The Hunger (1983)
Playing the role of John Blaylock, a centuries-old vampire entangled in a sad love tale, David Bowie brought his trademark mystery and icy demeanor to The Hunger (1983). His character’s gradual decline into aging and loss, together with Catherine Deneuve’s, provided the film with a haunting, emotional core. Bowie enhanced the film’s gloomy, surreal atmosphere with his uncanny appeal and subdued passion, showing once more that he could steal the show whether he was on screen or behind a microphone.