Public Domain Horror for Creators: Safe Clips You Can Use in Music Videos (Inspired by Mitski)

Use archive horror safely: how to reframe spooky public-domain clips for music videos (without legal headaches)

If you’re a musician, director, or indie-video creator feeling priced out by stock libraries and worried about copyright claims — you’re not alone. The good news: a surprising amount of classic horror footage is effectively public domain and usable for creative projects like music videos inspired by Mitski’s Hill House–tinged aesthetic. The catch: not every upload is truly free to reuse, and a few simple clearance checks will save you time, money, and platform takedowns.

Why this matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw two key trends that change the game for creators: an explosion of AI restorations applied to archival film and more aggressive automated copyright claims (Content ID-style) on platforms. As a result, relying on a random YouTube upload or an unverified torrent is riskier than ever — not because the original work isn’t public domain, but because someone may have added new protected elements (a new score, colorization, or stabilization) or a third party may try to monetize claims.

Rule of thumb: a title can be in the public domain while a specific uploaded copy (restoration, soundtrack, or transfer) can still be copyrighted. Treat both as separate rights.

Ready-to-use public domain horror footage: practical links and what to watch for

Below is a curated list of well-known horror and eerie silent-era films and archival sources that are widely available in the public domain in the United States. Each entry links to reputable repositories where you can stream and often download source files. Always run the quick clearance checklist (next section) before publishing.

Classic feature films (useful for mood cuts, silhouettes, and expressive frames)

• Nosferatu (F.W. Murnau, 1922) — A go-to for shadowy silhouettes, windows, and iconic vampire imagery. Search & stream: Internet Archive: Nosferatu (1922). Also check Wikimedia Commons for stills.
• The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920) — Expressionist frames, warped sets, great for surreal overlays. Stream: Internet Archive: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
• Häxan (Benjamin Christensen, 1922) — Occult tableaux, ritual imagery, and dramatic intertitles that can be repurposed as lyric cards. Stream: Internet Archive: Häxan (1922).
• The Golem: How He Came into the World (Paul Wegener, 1920) — Heavy, sculptural movement and ritualistic scenes good for beat-synced cuts. Stream: Internet Archive: The Golem (1920).
• The Phantom of the Opera (Rupert Julian, 1925) — Lon Chaney’s silhouette and horror close-ups; classic Victorian atmospherics. Stream: Internet Archive: Phantom of the Opera (1925).
• The Man Who Laughs (Paul Leni, 1928) — Harrowing close-ups and carnival imagery; 1928 titles are now public domain in the US. Stream: Internet Archive: The Man Who Laughs (1928).

Shorts, experimental films and stock clips (great for texture & overlays)

• A Trip to the Moon (Georges Méliès, 1902) — Not strictly “horror,” but its surreal, spiky frames are commonly used as unsettling motifs. Stream: Internet Archive: A Trip to the Moon.
• Prelinger Archives (stock, industrial & educational footage) — Tons of atmospheric b-roll (old hospital corridors, foggy streets, crowd shots) that can be repurposed for horror music videos. Browse: Prelinger Archives on Internet Archive.
• Vintage newsreels & home movies — Libraries often have eerie big-city night shots, fires, and crowd panics. Search the Library of Congress Moving Image Collections or Europeana.
• Wikimedia Commons: Silent horror films — Useful for freely licensed stills and clips. Browse: Wikimedia Commons.

Where to search when you need something specific

• Internet Archive — Huge catalog of public-domain films and multiple file formats. (https://archive.org)
• Library of Congress — High-quality transfers and authoritative metadata. (https://www.loc.gov/collections/film-and-videos/about/)
• Prelinger Archives — Best source for oddball stock and educational footage that reads as uncanny. (https://archive.org/details/prelinger)
• Wikimedia Commons — Good for stills, title cards, and some motion clips where PD is clearly marked. (https://commons.wikimedia.org)
• BFI & Europeana — Non-U.S. primary sources; useful if you need European intertitles or specific directors. (https://www.bfi.org.uk; https://www.europeana.eu)

Clearance & legal checks: a practical checklist before you cut, upload, or monetize

Before you publish a music video that contains archival horror clips, run this quick checklist. It’s written for creators who want fast, defensible answers without hiring a lawyer for every clip.

1. Confirm the original publication year and jurisdiction.

   If a film was published in 1928 or earlier, it is in the public domain in the U.S. as of 2026. For works published later or outside the U.S., check local rules. Use the film’s original release information from authoritative catalogs (LOC, FIAF, Archive metadata).

2. Verify the specific copy/transfer you plan to use.

   Many uploads are “restorations” with new copyrighted elements — new color grading, soundtrack, or watermarking. Prefer files explicitly marked “public domain,” “CC0,” or hosted directly by the Library of Congress or the Internet Archive with reliable provenance. If the upload lists an editor or new soundtrack, don’t assume it’s free to use.

3. Strip or replace added audio.

   Most silent-era horror footage is visually PD but uploaded with a later musical score. Either remove the audio before release or license it separately. If you keep somebody’s modern score, you likely need permission or a license.

4. Watch for new creative additions.

   Colorization, AI upscales, or added intertitles can create a new copyrighted derivative. When in doubt, use an original black-and-white scan or a file explicitly released as PD/CC0 by a trustworthy archive.

5. Check personality/publicity rights where applicable.

   Publicity rights (image rights) vary by U.S. state and by country. For most silent-era performers who died decades ago, publicity claims are unlikely — but not impossible in some U.S. states with long post-mortem terms. When using large close-ups of a named actor for commercial ads, consult a lawyer.

6. Document provenance and keep screenshots.

   Download the archive page, take a timestamped screenshot showing the public-domain notation, and save the original file metadata. If a platform later flags your upload, this documentation is your first-line defense when disputing claims.

7. Test for Content ID hits before full release.

   Upload a private or unlisted version and monitor whether automatic claims appear. If they do, prepare your evidence (archive link, screenshots) to file a dispute. Many claims are false positives and can be resolved with good documentation.

8. When in doubt, license or recreate.

   If uncertainty remains, either license a verified restoration from a rights holder (and keep the paperwork) or recreate the effect with CC0 stock or original shooting (grain overlays, practical sets, masks).

Technical workflow: safe, ad-free sourcing and editing

Follow this simple workflow to avoid malware, intrusive ads, and poor-quality transfers.

1. Source from reputable archives.

   Only download videos from Library of Congress, Internet Archive, BFI, Europeana, or Wikimedia Commons. Avoid sketchy “free” sites that bundle malware or require strange installers.

2. Scan downloads for malware.

   Run downloaded files through a reputable antivirus and check file hashes if available on the archive page.

3. Isolate original footage in your NLE.

   Bring the raw clip into DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, or your editor of choice. Lock in an offline copy that you won’t alter—keep the master file as evidence of provenance.

4. Remove or replace audio, then create an original score.

   If the archive copy has a modern soundtrack, delete it and add your own or a licensed royalty-free track (CC0, paid stock, or custom). This reduces claim risk and lets you sync moves to beats like Mitski’s dread-driven pacing.

5. Apply creative treatments non-destructively.

   Use overlays, grain maps, and color LUTs — but keep your edits reversible so you can show the original if questioned.

6. Export with metadata that cites sources.

   In the file’s description (and platform upload field), list the archive link, original release year, and note "public domain" or CC0 where applicable.

Creative ideas inspired by Mitski’s Hill House vibe

Mitski’s recent rollout leaned into Shirley Jackson–style psychological dread: small domestic details inverted into unease. Here are practical editing approaches to weave PD horror clips into a music video without it feeling like a straight lift.

• Intertitle lyrics: Use silent film intertitles—either original or custom-styled—to place lyrics between shots, echoing vintage pause-and-ponder pacing.
• Layered translucency: Overlay slow-moving stock of curtains, rain, or the moon at 30–40% opacity on modern footage to get an uncanny domestic void like Hill House.
• Beat-synced jump frames: Cut vintage close-ups to percussion hits; silent-era reaction shots punch when timed with drums or vocal stabs.
• Textural looping: Create a 2–4 second loop of a single expression (a face, a shadow passing a doorway) and treat it as a recurring motif.
• VHS + film-grain hybrid: Combine optical-film scratches from PD footage with digital VHS effects to avoid feeling like a direct sample of a particular film.

Royalty-free vs public domain: one-line distinction

Public domain means no copyrights restrict reuse (subject to caveats above). Royalty-free refers to a licensing model where you pay (or not) once and reuse under set terms. Both are useful — know which you’re actually using.

Quick checklist you can copy into your project notes

• Title: ___________________ | Release Year: ________
• Source URL: _______________________________ (save screenshot + page PDF)
• Is the specific file labeled PD/CC0? Yes / No
• Audio present? Yes / No — If yes, remove / replace
• Any restoration notes on page? (colorization, new score, AI upscaling): ________________
• Private Content-ID test upload done? Yes / No — results: ____________
• Final credit line to include in video description: _______________________________

Platform pitfalls & how to avoid takedowns

Even if your source is PD, automated systems or over-eager publishers can claim your video. Follow these steps to minimize friction:

• Upload evidence in the description: Include direct archive links and screenshots. Transparency often dissuades claimants.
• Private test before release: Run an unlisted upload to test for immediate automated claims.
• Be ready to dispute: Keep your documentation accessible. Most platforms accept archive links and will release a false claim when presented with proof.
• Consider platform-specific strategies: On YouTube, use the “Copyright Match Tool” proactively; on TikTok and Instagram, post a short clip first, then the full version with documentation.

Final takeaways — use this as your quick reference

• Start from reputable archives: Internet Archive, Library of Congress, BFI, Europeana, and Wikimedia Commons.
• Check the copy, not just the title: Restorations and new scores can create new copyrights.
• Remove added audio: Replace it with original or cleared music to avoid music-rights claims.
• Document everything: Screenshots, saved pages, file metadata = your defense if a claim appears.
• Test uploads: Unlisted/private test runs catch Content ID problems early.

Parting note — create boldly, but protect your release

Public domain horror footage is a rich, cost-free palette for music videos that want mood, texture, and uncanny imagery — think Mitski’s use of classic horror mood as emotional shorthand. In 2026, creators who pair creative vision with a short clearance routine will have the freedom to remix the past without the headaches of modern copyright enforcement.

If you want a printable version of the checklist above or example metadata text you can paste into your video descriptions, drop a comment or sign up for our newsletter — I’ll send a free one-page PDF with sample credit lines and dispute templates you can use if a platform flags your upload.

Resources & links cited:

• Internet Archive — https://archive.org
• Prelinger Archives — https://archive.org/details/prelinger
• Library of Congress Moving Image Collections — https://www.loc.gov/collections/film-and-videos/about/
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org
• Creative Commons public domain tools (CC0) — https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/
• U.S. Copyright Office — https://www.copyright.gov/

Call to action

Try this: pick one PD film from the list above, extract a 5–8 second loop, remove any audio, and build a 30–second micro-cut set to a single beat of your song. Post it as a private link and run a Content ID check. Report back — we’ll troubleshoot claims and help turn it into a shareable clip that keeps your creative vision intact.

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