Creeper like to dabble in the darkness. The British rock band have long thrived on the theatrical, weaving gothic romance and cinematic storytelling into their music and stage presence. Their aesthetic draws as much from Hammer horror and 1980s goth culture as it does from classic-rock grandeur, creating a sound and image that embodies the spirit of Halloween.
Their new album, Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death, out now via Spinefarm, isn’t a direct continuation of their 2023 album, Sanguivore, but serves as another descent into similar blood-soaked mythology. The band, who take inspiration from horror films and darker imagery, perform as their own set of characters on the album. Just like a film, the LP is set in the Satanic Panic era, a time when unsubstantiated cases of Satanic ritual abuse were occurring across the world in the 1980s. Creeper play as a fictional hedonistic vampire band that are being chased by the “Mistress of Death.”
Read more: Fan poll: 5 best Halloween songs of all time
“Beneath the flashing neon of a distant dream, a rock and roll nightmare is coming true,” frontman Will Gould explains. “A vampire band rampage across 1980s America, leaving only corpses behind. But on the horizon, a shadow stirs. Part slasher, part satanic panic nightmare, a new force rises through the mist, ready to hunt the hunter. The Mistress of Death is a vampire huntress on a path to end this vampire bloodline for good. But can she stake their hearts before the final curtain falls?”
With Halloween upon us, Ian Miles, the band’s resident horror film expert and guitarist, gives us his top 13 horror films that shaped him and Creeper.
Halloween (1978)
What can I say? Michael Myers is an unforgettable horror icon, and I chose the first movie not just because it’s the original but also because I find the senseless evil so much more terrifying. I love the entirety of the Halloween franchise, even Halloween 3, but the simplicity of the original is what gave Michael Myers his mystique, which, to me, is what made him so otherworldly and scary.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
This is my favorite vampire movie of all time. I know people have beef with Keanu [Reeves]’ acting/accent in this movie, but I feel like it absolutely adds to an unforgettably unique and all-encompassing atmosphere. I genuinely feel like this movie has hypnotized me and buried itself deep in my subconscious, like I’ve lived it in my dreams. I know this is going to make sense to some people out there.
The Shining (1980)
This is not only one of my favorite horror movies of all time, but also one of my favorite movies of all time. I feel like I don’t really need to say much about it. Kubrick was a genius, and this movie is a masterpiece.
Martyrs (2008)
When people talk about the scariest movies of all time, this is always left out of the list, and I will never understand. The monster that Lucie battles with is not only one of the scariest I’ve seen on screen, but also one of the most brutal and heartbreaking portrayals of mental illness I’ve ever seen.
The Exorcist (1973)
There was no possible way for this not to make my list. One of my all-time favorites, a masterclass in building atmosphere and tension. I feel like what this movie achieved has not been equaled. While you’re watching, it feels like the demon is watching you. Like Pazuzu is sitting in the seat behind you, breathing down your neck. I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it.
Psycho (1960)
Arguably one of the most Important horror movies of all time. More psychological thriller than horror, there is no denying its importance and influence on horror cinema. It brought fear to the forefront of cinema and let the world know that there’s a market for freaks like us.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
An absolutely stunning classic that informed a whole new style of horror cinema. A low-budget movie in this era of cinema led to many things, one of which was the lack of access to decent actors/actresses. Now, one would assume that this would bog a movie down and make it hard to enjoy, but The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did the opposite and more. At the time, it served as the antithesis to the Hollywood sheen, and the “bad” acting only aided that. These were elements that were not only enjoyed but grew to be replicated many times over as a stylistic choice, even by movies that had more than enough budget to avoid it.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This is a movie that not only gave me nightmares but also did a pretty good job of depicting my existing nightmares. That’s why I think this movie is one of the most terrifying of all time. Once you scratch past the campy humor, which I love also, and Robert Englund deserves that Hollywood star, you’re held face to face with the nightmares everyone had as a kid. Getting abducted and not being able to scream. Trying to run away but sinking into the floor. The dream sequences in this movie are so well observed that everyone can relate, and that’s why it’s so scary.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Evil Dead opened my eyes to campy horror at a young age, and I fell in love. I remember not being able to distinguish between whether it was a comedy poking fun at the genre or if it was trying to take itself seriously and fell short due to a low budget. All I knew was that it was refreshing, and the marrying of the horror and campy humor appealed to me massively.
Deep Red (1975)
A movie that’s often looked over when we talk about the beginnings of the slasher genre, but I feel it’s just as important and influential as Black Christmas and Halloween. Filled with luscious Argento set pieces and surrealism, this movie is like slasher caramel melting on the tongue.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
The Devil’s Rejects is something that, to me, is a perfect sequel but also a great standalone film. I watched it without seeing House of 1000 Corpses, and I remember just being entranced by the grit and chaos. It’s a movie that, despite the horrible things the family is doing to you, you kinda end up rooting for them.
Nosferatu (2024)
This was my favorite movie of 2024. An incredible retelling of the classic Dracula tale, visually stunning, executed and performed with total commitment.
IT (1990)
The first horror movie I bought on VHS. A little cheesy in places, but it has an undeniable ’80s/’90s charm to it, and Tim Curry is iconic as Pennywise.
