Michael Jackson was a wonderful werewolf. He even made zombies dance instead of eat brains. It's hard to believe that the incredible entertainer is gone.
"Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult." And with that quote on the screen began Michael Jackson's "Thriller," a fourteen-minute music video released in December 1983 to support Michael Jackson's single "Thriller."
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5th SenseDirected by John Landis with make-up by Rick Baker, "Thriller" is often hailed as the best and most popular music video of all time. It could be considered a short musical film. To give credit where credit is due, "Thriller" redefined the concept of music videos. Aside from it's great plot, and the genius use of Vincent Price's sardonic laugh, it has great production values. After all, it was the most expensive video of its time at about $800,000 (the equivalent of approximately one and a half million dollars today). It also held the record for the world's longest music video for thirteen years (until Michael "beat it" again in '96).
There were other horror-themed music videos, or videos with monsters in them from mainstream artists. Meatloaf ("I'd Do Anything For Love") and Ringo Starr ("Wrack My Brain"), are just two of many that come to mind (can readers think of any others?). But nothing came close to "Thriller" thanks to Michael, director Landis, and make-up genius Baker, who knew their way around werewolves from "An American Werewolf in London."
Let's not also forget Michael's hit "Ben," the world's only love song to a killer rat (from the 1972 film "Ben," the sequel to "Willard"). He also had a track called "Ghosts" on his 1997 album "Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix."
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In January, there were reports of a very cool Horror Happening, as Michael Jackson ’s “Thriller” was set to make the jump to Broadway. Playbill reported that Broadway bigwigs (the Nederlander Organization) acquired the rights to make a new musical based on Jackson’s famous werewolves-and-zombies video. With Michael gone, will it ever make it to a stage? If it does, will it be an even bigger hit?
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Michael may have been strange, eccentric and (insert your own adjective here), but he was a brilliant entertainer and a pioneer in so many ways. Most Horror Happenings articles are happy columns. It's a sad day when we lose such a great talent. To all MJ fans: "Never Can Say Goodbye."
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Comments
Charles -- sorry to have to correct you, but Jackson didn't portray a werewolf in "Thriller." He portrayed a wereCAT of some type, possibly a werepanther. Although, no matter what type of werecreature he portrayed, it was a wonderful creature, and the video still remains the best video ever made. And, it was really considered by its makers a short film and was even given a limited theatrical release so it could qualify for Oscar consideration. Just trying to fill in the blanks, my friend. Your columns are great, as always, and I look forward to each entry you post.
You're so right - he was more of a wereCAT!
Thanks for reading the column - your comments are always welcome.
I saw Willard and Ben and loved them both and Thiller I remember waiting for MTV to show it. it was a really big thing I think over half the world was watching it I can even remember where I was. thanks for you great news letter I love it.
Great article. I really enjoyed it and saw MJ's thriller video on MTV this weekend and it is so good. I love Ben too. One of my favorite MJ songs!! Thanks. I love reading your article and the top 10 lists too!!
michael jackson i like your thriller
michael jackson i reall,y like al ove videos love neverland
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