What is it about humans that we just love being terrified? What's the appeal of a panic attack? On the surface, not much; hives, hysteria, and misery aren't sexy to most. But maybe the mystery and unease acts as a doorway to our inner psyche?
5. Salem - "Asia"
The VHS-style video for "Asia" still gives us an occasional night
terror. It starts with a young man holding a shotgun, aiming down the
road. He occasionally runs toward the camera full speed from a
distance. There's also a blurred female stumbling around in nothing
but for some very tall shoes. The song itself gets under your skin, so
the video just really pushes you off the ledge. Shout out to the creepy
crew Salem, desensitizing us forever.
4. Daft Punk - "Prime Time of Your Life"
While the message of the video may be thought provoking -- focusing on
the obsession with beautification, youth, and conformity -- the video's
skeleton cast and self-flaying is so intense that it is taken to a whole
other level. Can anyone say gggg-ross?
3. Marilyn Manson - "Beautiful People"
To say Manson is a shock-rocker wouldn't be fair. Well, maybe not totally fair. His anti-conformist ways have led
him to create some of the most shocking videos to date. The classic "Beautiful
People" represents Manson at his best, with Gothic circus theatrics, and some of the most disturbing shots we've ever seen without actually
showing any real gore or vulgarity.
2. Health - "We Are Water"
This Eric Wareheim-directed video opens on a young girl running through
the snowy woods, her clown-like makeup smeared, a painfully blonde wig
atop her head, and look of severe nervousness. At the 35 second mark,
you see what's closing in on her, and from that point forward, you're
pretty much screwed. The violent climax gives closure to the video, but
the uneasiness will definitely stay with you long after.
1. Aphex Twin - "Come to Daddy"
"I WANT YOUR SOUL, I WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!" Um. Can we pass on that?
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Bonus: Elvira - "Trick or Treat"
The Mistress of the Dark gives off an "almost-tranny" vibe, which has, in turn, spawned a whole slew of impersonators worldwide (like last Friday's performance at Green Room in Fort Lauderdale). While she has always been a little campy, the greased-up male backup singer coupled with the slow-mo trailing dances makes this bizarre video one of Elvira's best and one of the scariest... to those with an ounce of good taste.
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