'Mother Mary' and 5 other films, TV series mixing music and horror
3 minute readPublished: Friday, April 17, 2026 at 9:30 am
Pop Music Meets Horror: A New Wave of Thrills
A new psychological thriller, "Mother Mary," starring Anne Hathaway, is set to hit theaters this Friday, adding to a growing trend of films and television series that blend the worlds of pop music and horror. The movie follows pop star Mary (Hathaway) and costume designer Sam (Michaela Coel) as they reunite on the eve of Mary's comeback performance. The film features music by prominent artists like Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA twigs, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack featuring seven songs performed by Hathaway.
"Mother Mary" joins a list of other productions that have successfully combined the two genres. "Smile 2," a 2024 supernatural horror film, sees Naomi Scott as a pop star whose comeback tour is disrupted by a terrifying entity. The film, written and directed by Parker Finn, also features a soundtrack with singles performed by Scott.
Another notable entry is M. Night Shyamalan's 2024 thriller, "Trap." The film, set against the backdrop of a concert by fictional pop star Lady Raven, played by Shyamalan's daughter Saleka Night Shyamalan, follows a father attending the show with his daughter, unaware that he is a serial killer. The film includes a soundtrack album by Saleka Night Shyamalan.
The trend extends to animated series as well. The 2023 dark mystery series "Oshi no Ko," based on a manga, tells the story of twins navigating the entertainment industry while investigating their mother's murder. The series features music composed by Takuro Iga and has released a soundtrack for each season.
The 2018 drama film "Vox Lux," starring Natalie Portman as a pop star, explores the dark side of fame. The film's soundtrack was written by Sia and Scott Walker. Finally, the 1997 psychological thriller anime "Perfect Blue" follows a pop idol who is stalked by an obsessive fan.
BNN's Perspective: The convergence of pop music and horror offers a fresh perspective on both genres. The use of music to heighten suspense and explore the darker aspects of fame and obsession provides a unique viewing experience. This trend suggests a growing audience interest in narratives that blend familiar elements in unexpected ways.
Keywords: Mother Mary, Anne Hathaway, pop music, horror, thriller, Smile 2, Naomi Scott, Trap, M. Night Shyamalan, Oshi no Ko, Vox Lux, Perfect Blue, soundtrack, music, film, television, streaming, comeback, pop star, psychological thriller.