Empires In Orbit Share Their Top 10 Horror Movies

Over their decade-plus history, Empires in Orbit has made a strong impression in the realm of dark electronic music. Founded in 2015 by multi-instrumentalist Gary Mann, the band has released six genre-defying albums and consistently shown an ability to expand and diversify its sound.  The group defies genres, blending a wide mix of styles and sounds into entirely original songs.

This year is something of a new era for Empires in Orbit. They will release their brand-new studio album, Audiodrome, on August 14th. It is also significant because they have added singer Fe Malefiz as a permanent member. Hailing from Germany, Malefiz has been making a name for herself in the industry for over 15 years. She has been featured in many collaborations and is also known for her voice-over work. Now she joins Empires in Orbit, adding a whole new dynamic to the band. She has helped diversify the band’s sound, which you will hear on Audiodrome. The songs bring together indie pop, black metal, hip-hop, and industrial influences. On paper, that doesn’t seem like it should work, but this band manages to bring it all together.

With their dark sound and vibe, it’s no surprise the band members are big fans of horror movies. Mann and Malefiz join us today to share their Top 10 favourite horror movies of all time.

Gary Mann:

1. The Exorcist

“Number one will always be The Exorcist. It’s the movie that still affects my dreams pretty often. I love that the victims are rich and famous people who go to every length to cure this poor girl, and it just doesn’t matter. I can’t believe it was allowed to be made in the 1970s. Despite a couple dated gags, it holds up so well. Legion forever!”

2. Dead Alive (Brain Dead)

“Never ever has a horror comedy been done better or even remotely close. The first half of the movie is a grotesque version of The 3 Stooges. The second half is literally just 40 minutes of the most creative onslaught of gore. It never skimps on the humour or the horror and never slows down for a second. ‘Creamy, just the way I like it!’ I love Lord of the Rings, but Peter Jackson peaked here.”

Candyman – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

3. Phantasm

“This franchise is probably closest to my heart. The Tall Man is the classiest villain, and I love the Mike and Reggie duo so much (even in part two, which everyone but me hates). One of the top moments in my life was visiting the filming locations in Oakland. Flying killer orbs, little minions made out of crushed corpses, interdimensional time bending, sick acoustic guitar jam sessions…it’s got it all.”

4. Hellraiser 2

“This pick was my biggest struggle…Hellraiser 1 or 2?! Cosmic sex demons making maniacs’ twisted fantasies come true at innocent people’s expense? Sign me up! The first one has endless iconic scenes and is so disgusting and at times hard to watch. The second one is way more science fiction but has my favourite lines and a fun, creepy universe. So I choose Hellraiser 1 and 2!”

The Tallman from Phantasm Funko – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

5. Hereditary

“I went into this movie ready to tear it apart because it was marketed as the scariest movie since The Exorcist (see above). Guess what, it’s the scariest movie since The Exorcist! The family dynamics hurt your heart as much as the violence hurts your eyes and ears. Toni Collette is unreal, the pace makes you sit in the tough parts and the anxiety of what you’re seeing and what’s yet to come. You’ll lose your head over this one.”

6. Evil Dead 2

“Speaking of 3 Stooges meets ultimate gore…I guess that’s my thing. Bruce Campbell is the king of camp and the only man for the job against the forces of evil. Essentially a remake of the original, which was amazing as hell for the budget; they used all of the budget on gags and gore. The demons look genuinely scary, Bruce gives the performance of a lifetime, and the special effects department spared no expense.”

Empires In Orbit ‘Audiodrome’ album artwork

7. In the Mouth of Madness

“The Thing is amazing, but my go-to John Carpenter movie is this. Sam Neill is a horror god in my eyes. This plot is one of my all-time favourites… a horror book becoming reality because it outsells the Bible is so cool! Lovecraft monsters in the midst of a detective story with the exact right amount of camp. ‘Reality is not what it used to be’ is an all-time line!”

8. Martyrs (2008)

“Ok, the fun stops here folks! Heralded as one of the most disturbing movies of all time, it’s way more than that. Showing the viewer what someone who cuts themselves actually sees and how it’s not a choice…it’s a monster, is genius and powerful. It is wildly gory and hard to watch at times, but not like other movies that do it for shock; there are real-life reasons to show these ideas play out this way. I can’t watch this all the time, but it’s undoubtedly one of the smartest and most thought-provoking movies.”

Killer Klowns floor mat in my studio – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

9. The Ring

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw this movie. Barely any on-screen violence, no gore, barely any swearing would usually mean this horror movie sucks and is not scary. It’s fucking scary. The score is perfect, the actors are legit and bring this one home for me. Several times you’re made to feel safe, and you’re never safe. The damn horse on the boat… Jesus. I have chills right now, and I’m going to watch it this week!”

10. It

“The newest It movies and the TV show were really good. I watch the new one annually, and it’s a modern classic. But I am a child of the ’90s, so Tim Curry is my Pennywise. I feel like a helpless kid all over again with every watch. I could likely quote most of the movie, but the fear never diminishes. And I will forever feel like I’m one of the Losers’ Club and I’m right there in the sewers with them. Really sucks that a band already took the name Deadlights. Lucky bastards.”

Fe Malefiz:

1. Conjuring/Annabelle/The Nun

“I love the thrill of ghost stories, hauntings, lost souls, and everything supernatural. What I especially love about this series is the balance between horror and suspense; the jump scares and the anticipation of the next frightening moment. For me personally, it’s one of the best horror film franchises ever made. Witches, ghosts, and restless spirits have always fascinated me. I enjoy horror movies that tell a compelling story rather than relying solely on violence or gore.”

2. It

“With the remake of It, I was genuinely amazed by how horror, murder, violence, grief, anger, and even a coming-of-age story could be woven together into such a remarkable piece of art. It wasn’t just the performances that impressed me—the entire production was incredibly creative, engaging throughout its long runtime, and never felt boring. By the end, the film had such an artistic and even emotional depth that I was completely absorbed by it from start to finish.”

Autographed Phantasm III poster by director Don Coscarelli – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

3. Get Out

“Get Out was the standout among modern horror films for me. I love plot twists, and this movie completely blew me away. At first, everything seems normal, and then you slowly begin to realize what’s actually happening. I loved the unsettling transformation from seemingly innocent to deeply disturbing and downright psychotic. It was such a refreshing experience to sit there in genuine disbelief, completely captivated by what was unfolding on screen.”

4. Insidious

“This one is similar to The Conjuring for me—it completely draws you in. The paranormal elements, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, and that feeling of sitting on the edge of your seat, totally captivated by what’s happening on screen. I didn’t love every installment, but I’m also a big fan of the cast. The best horror movies aren’t the ones that simply rely on blood and gore—they’re the ones that get under your skin and truly affect you emotionally.”

Urban legend collection with Mothman, The Jersey Devil and Bigfoot – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

5. Speak No Evil

“This is originally a Danish horror film, but there’s also an English-language remake starring James McAvoy. Once again, it delivers a major plot twist and an incredibly suspenseful story. It’s more of a psychological thriller than a traditional horror movie, and what makes it so gripping is how frustrated you become with the protagonists. You constantly find yourself wanting to yell at the screen, wondering why they’re making such terrible decisions and choosing to stay. It’s the kind of film that keeps your eyes glued to the screen because it feels like everything could unravel at any moment.”

6. Hereditary

“This was the last movie that genuinely left me thinking, ‘What the hell did I just watch?’ The beginning is so emotional and dramatic, and then suddenly all these unexpected things start happening. More and more secrets are revealed, and after almost every scene, you’re left thinking, ‘Wait… what?’

“I had such a great time watching it because it turned out to be completely different from what I expected. I also never would have imagined Toni Collette in a role like this, but I thought both her performance and the overall story were fantastic. It’s the definition of a true WTF movie—one that keeps surprising you right up until the end.”

7. House of 1000 Corpses

“I have mixed feelings about House of 1000 Corpses. I’ve deliberately avoided mentioning too many splatter films, even though I’ve seen most of them. There was a period in my life when I watched horror movies while I was in a very vulnerable state of mind, and some of them affected me quite negatively. Because I was already dealing with a lot of fear and paranoia, that kind of content wasn’t something I processed very well at the time.

“With House of 1000 Corpses, though, there’s still a certain sense of humour mixed into the madness, and it has undeniably earned its cult status. I’ve also seen films like Saw, Terrifier, Hostel, Wrong Turn, and many others, but because of that difficult period in my life, I can’t really watch them anymore or appreciate them as works of art. Endless slaughter, suffering, screaming, and pain without much creativity, imagination, or deeper storytelling just isn’t entertaining to me. I’m much more drawn to horror that creates atmosphere, tension, and emotion rather than simply trying to shock through brutality.”

8. Sinister

“Sinister is actually right on the edge for me, because some of what it shows is incredibly disturbing and brutal. However, what kept me hooked was the mystery at the heart of the story and the fascinating process of uncovering the truth. It pulls you in because you desperately want answers and need to know what’s really going on. The ending almost feels oddly touching in comparison, since so much of the story revolves around the children.

“Overall, though, it’s a film that feels far less predictable than many others in the genre. It manages to balance suspense, mystery, and shocking violence in a way that creates an incredibly compelling and intense experience from beginning to end.”

Ripley from Alien Funko – Empires in Orbit, photo courtesy of Hil Gary

9. Grave Encounters

“I love movies that really make you think, and Grave Encounters does exactly that. The whole film is shot in a raw, amateur-style way that makes everything feel surprisingly authentic. Paranormal Activity and similar films are great as well, but Grave Encounters had a bit more action and kept me completely engaged from start to finish. Part of its charm is how dated it feels.

“It almost comes across like a private videotape or a forgotten recording from the ’90s that somehow found its way to you. That style creates a sense of realism that pulls you in and makes the events feel less like a scripted performance and more like something that could have actually happened. That immersive quality is what made the film so effective for me.”

10. Final Destination

“Even though you know after every installment that the basic concept is never really going to change, the idea behind it is simply brilliant. You more or less know what’s going to happen, yet you still can’t help but keep watching. There’s something incredibly entertaining about seeing how everything unfolds. It’s easy to watch, consistently engaging, and sometimes you can’t help but laugh at the absurd chain of coincidences that sets everything in motion.

“That said, I’ll definitely be avoiding tanning beds for the foreseeable future—those scenes managed to give me a genuine fear of them!”