Best Horror Films with a Heavy Metal Connection
Horror and heavy metal have been blood brothers since Black Sabbath named themselves after a 1963 Mario Bava film. The overlap is cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual: both deal in darkness, transgression, and the sublime power of dread. This list includes films directly about metal (Deathgasm, Lords of Chaos), films that embody the metal aesthetic without a guitar in sight (Hellraiser, Tetsuo), and films so beloved by metalheads that they've become part of the culture — the ones on band shirts, in album art, and cited in liner notes. If you've ever worn a Cannibal Corpse shirt, you'll recognise most of these.
20 films· Updated 10 Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best heavy metal horror film?
Deathgasm (2015) is the most literally metal — a New Zealand splatter comedy about a band who summon demons with a riff. Lords of Chaos (2018) is the most serious — a true-crime drama about the Norwegian black metal scene. Green Room (2015) is the best film on this list regardless of the metal connection.
Why are films like The Thing and Evil Dead on a metal list?
Because they're part of metal culture. The Thing's practical effects have inspired countless album covers. Evil Dead's Ash is on more band shirts than most actual musicians. These films didn't just influence horror — they influenced metal's visual language.
Is Green Room a metal film?
The band in Green Room are punk, not metal. But the film takes place in the world of extreme music venues, the antagonists are skinheads from that scene, and the crossover between punk and metal audiences is real. If you go to shows, you'll recognise every detail.