By Jess Klausing

The air is colder now. Leaves whisper secrets as they fall, and somewhere in the distance, a wolf begins to howl. Halloween isn’t just a night — it’s a feeling, and these 13 songs capture it in every shiver and scream. From vintage monsters and midnight lovers to synth-drenched nightmares, this playlist oozes mystery, mischief, and moonlight.

1. “This Is Halloween” – Marilyn Manson

Manson’s cover of the Nightmare Before Christmas classic opens the set like a carnival curtain rising on the macabre. His industrial growl and gothic edge transform Danny Elfman’s mischievous original into something darker and more theatrical — a perfect overture to this haunted mixtape.

2. “Goo Goo Muck” – The Cramps

From the crypt to the garage, The Cramps swagger in with sleazy surf riffs and undead attitude. “Goo Goo Muck” is pure B-movie punk — a reminder that monsters can dance, too. Its inclusion nods to the rise of Wednesday Addams mania, but it stands timelessly weird on its own.

3. “It’s Terror Time Again” – Skycycle

A deep cut from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, this track is peak late-’90s rock energy wrapped in animated horror. The crunchy guitars and adrenaline-pumped vocals are delightfully over the top — a hidden gem that deserves more October airplay.

4. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson

No Halloween soundtrack is complete without “Thriller.” Quincy Jones’s lush production, Vincent Price’s iconic voice-over, and Jackson’s unmatched performance make this the ultimate pop horror masterpiece. It’s the heartbeat of Halloween playlists everywhere — and rightfully so.

5. “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.

A dose of upbeat fun follows the darkness. “Ghostbusters” is pop perfection — catchy, campy, and irresistibly nostalgic. It’s the sonic equivalent of glow-in-the-dark slime and VHS tapes, balancing the playlist’s spookier edges.

6. “Love Kills” – Vinnie Vincent Invasion

A glam-metal ghost of the ’80s, “Love Kills” (famously featured in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4) injects arena-ready power into the setlist. Screaming guitars meet heartbreak horror — the kind of melodrama that belongs on a foggy stage with a single red spotlight.

7. “The Witch Queen of New Orleans ” – Redbone

Redbone’s funky folklore classic adds a dose of mystic rhythm. The tale of Marie Laveau’s voodoo power feels right at home among monsters and ghosts, offering a sultry, swamp-rock break between the heavier tracks.

8. “Season of the Witch” – Donovan

Psychedelic folk takes the wheel here. Donovan’s smoky vocals and eerie groove capture the strange, drifting energy of autumn. It’s less about jump scares and more about mystique — the calm before the storm.

9. “Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon

With its iconic howl and piano-driven swagger, Zevon’s tongue-in-cheek ode to lycanthropy keeps things light and witty. It’s a rock classic that blurs the line between humor and horror — a monster jam in every sense.

10. “Time Warp” – The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast

No Halloween party would be complete without this cult classic dance anthem. “Time Warp” is gleefully unhinged, a joyful reminder that the spooky season is as much about liberation and laughter as it is about fear.

11. “The Walking Dead (Main Title Theme)” – Bear McCreary

Here the tone shifts — minimalistic, cinematic dread creeps in. McCreary’s theme is all tension and atmosphere, conjuring visions of abandoned streets and shuffling corpses AKA ‘Walkers.’

12. “Stranger Things (Main Title Theme)” – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein

Synth nostalgia takes center stage with this instantly recognizable theme. The pulsing electronics and retro tones bridge horror’s past and present, grounding the playlist in eerie 1980s cool.

13. “Halloween (Main Title Theme)” – John Carpenter

The closing note is pure horror legend. Carpenter’s minimalist piano motif remains one of cinema’s most haunting melodies — Cold, minimal, and chilling. It’s the sound of suspense itself, fading into the night as the playlist comes full circle.