Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated follow-up to their $1 billion-grossing Clown Prince of Crime origin film, has begun production. It is directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix. The sequel will reportedly be a musical that takes place in Arkham Asylum. It won’t be the first musical, though, to have a menacing vibe. There are a lot of dark musical movies out there, ranging from terrifying films like Sweeney Todd to gripping tragedies like Les Misérables. Look them up below.
1. West Side Story (1961)
Director(s)- Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
William Shakespeare’s classic tale of Romeo and Juliet (1968) is brought to life on a steamy summer day in New York City’s Upper West Side, as a bitter rivalry between two rival street gangs lays the path for disaster and heartbreak. The Montagues and the Capulets are at strife with one another once more. This time, the neighbourhood is in conflict between Bernardo’s brass gang of Puerto Rican immigrants, the Sharks, and Riff’s gang of disobedient second-generation New Yorkers, the Jets. A climactic rumble is inevitable given those explosive conditions, but not before Tony, a former Jet, and Maria, Bernardo’s younger sister, fall madly in love with one another. There can be no simple way out now because there is no turning back, in a typical Shakespearean fashion.
2. New York, New York (1977)
Director- Martin Scorsese
During the post-World War II V-J Day celebrations, promising saxophonist Jimmy Doyle meets veteran USO band singer Francine Evans. Besides forming a musical duo, the two also fall in love. They are married and have a family right away, but over time their tumultuous relationship breaks down. Once again, Jimmy and Francine meet paths after a while, when they have both achieved success in their occupations.
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Director- Jim Sharman
Brad Majors and his fiancée Janet Weiss become disoriented while travelling in a torrential storm following the wedding of their mutual friends. Riff Raff, a majordomo, and his sister, the housekeeper Magenta, live in the first home they come across. The Transylvanians are there for the benefit of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a charming transvestite, so Brad and Janet have chosen a lucky night to arrive. But as the criminologist/narrator explains in this musical parody, not everything is cheerful. inspired by the wildly popular British show The Rocky Horror Show.
4. Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Director- Brian De Palma
The devil bought the soul of the demonic record magnate Swan 20 years ago in exchange for success and perpetual youth. Swan’s latest plan is to rob composer Winslow Leach of his music to mark the launch of his rock castle, The Paradise. Leach, who attempted to stop Swan, was falsely accused of drug selling, found guilty, and has a strange accident that left him terribly disfigured. He seeks safety in the vast Paradise while planning horrible retribution against Swan and everyone else who has wronged him while concealing his disfigured face beneath a sinister mask. To finish his rock opera based on the Faust narrative for a promising singer named Phoenix, Leach nonetheless secures a contract with Swan.
5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Director- Frank Oz
An urban Skid Row flower store called Mushnik’s employs geeky orphan Seymour Krelborn. He is reprimanded by Mr. Mushnik every day and has a crush on Audrey Fulquard, a fellow employee. Seymour discovers a highly mysterious, unnamed plant that he names Audrey II one day while looking for a new enigmatic plant. The plant soon starts singing for his dinner as if it had a blood hankering. Soon after seeing Audrey’s ex-boyfriend die, Seymour feeds Mushnik and the plant Audrey’s nasty dentist boyfriend.
6. Cannibal: The Musical (1993)
Director- Trey Parker
Mountaineer Alferd Packer was the lone survivor of a group of pioneers who got stranded in the winter highlands. He was to be hanged after being charged with killing and eating his travelling companions. The film starts with him pleading his innocence before a cold-hearted jury at his trial. His account will only be heard by reporter Polly Pry, who will subsequently relay it to the audience through flashbacks. When encountering befuddled Japanese Indians, a bunch of dissatisfied mountain men, and the harsh Rocky Mountain winter while travelling through the forests and mountains, Packer and his gold-prospecting clientele are moved to spontaneous song and dance.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Director- Henry Selick
The escapades of Jack Skellington, the adored pumpkin king of Halloweentown, who has grown weary of scaring people in the “real world” every year in the same manner. Jack finds a new lease of life when he unintentionally stumbles onto Christmastown, which is full of vibrant colours and friendly people. Jack then hatches a plan to take control of Christmas by kidnapping Santa Claus and assuming the role. But Jack quickly learns that mice’s and skeleton men’s best-laid plans can sometimes go horribly wrong.
8. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
Director- Tim Burton
A barber by the name of Benjamin Barker was married to the lovely Lucy and had a young daughter named Johanna. Benjamin is falsely accused of a crime by Turpin, a dishonest judge. He travels to London after living in exile for years in order to exact revenge on Judge Turpin. The shop’s owner, Mrs. Lovett, informs him that Turpin had abducted his daughter and that his wife had committed suicide as a result of Turpin’s lust for her. He discovered his business on top of a meat-pie shop. Using a machine he created, Benjamin now cuts the throats of his clients and dumps their corpses in the basement. The dead are made into meat pies. To get revenge for what happened to his wife, all he has to do is persuade Turpin to shave and cut his throat.
9. Les Misérables (2012)
Director- Tom Hooper
The man in charge of the prison staff, Javert, releases Jean Valjean after 19 years in solitary confinement. Immediately after breaking his parole, Valjean becomes a factory owner and mayor with the proceeds of stolen silver. Javert promises to send Jean Valjean back to jail. After the death of Cosette’s mother eight years later, Valjean takes custody of the young girl, but it won’t be easy to find serenity due to Javert’s tenacious pursuit.
10. A Star Is Born (2018)
Director- Bradley Cooper
Jackson Maine, a seasoned musician, meets and falls in love with Ally, a struggling artist. Prior to Jackson’s prodding her into the spotlight, she has all but given up on her ambition to become a successful singer. However, as Jackson continues to struggle with his own inner issues, their relationship is falling apart even as Ally’s career soars.
The article discusses the darkest musical movies of all time. It includes movies such as The Phantom of the Paradise, Sweeney Todd, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Each movie is briefly discussed and includes information on the darkness of the movie.
