Horror films soundtrack
- Thread starter cessy
- Start date
coraven
Banned
I'm not sure if a horror film should be known for its music. I know that music can have a very strong effect, but I think that I would appreciate a horror film if there wasn't a soundtrack to let the audience know what was happening. Sorry if that is a little off topic.
howlinwolfrecords
Banned
the music for 'silent hill' is very creepy...also fabio frizzi has done some wonderful horror scores...danny elfman's 'sleepy hollow' is another great one.
drummergirlamie
New member
Trick or Treat by Fastway was good stuff.
methodistgirl
New member
How many old horror films do you know that had toccata and fugue in
them? There are many times on Halloween that I hear the giant piece
on the pipe organ by Bach.
judy tooley
them? There are many times on Halloween that I hear the giant piece
on the pipe organ by Bach.
judy tooley
Alistair
New member
I think it was one of the Dracula movies which had this organ piece in it.
Alos charlie clouser is another good one for horror films as he has scored films such as the saw series and resident evil.
Vallaska Roue
New member
Having had an interest in horror film soundtracks very recently I've listened to several extracts and found that (at least when concerning the film's main theme) with a lot of the more notably scary horror films, either the music was a little too lush and beautiful-sounding at times (thus for me not appearing to convey the sense of horror and despair that the more 'hardcore' horror films are reputed for), or it did quite the opposite by making use of all sorts of gritty electroaccoustic effects and constant dissonances to the point that it didn't feel like tat good a soundtrack on its own (it was creepy, but alot of it wasn't neccessarily music). Of course there were a couple which just revolved around really really basic themes and remained in the same key, just orchestrating what was already very debatably an actual melody a little more each time it repeated in a vain attempt to heighten the drama. It seems a complecated conundrum the horror film soundtrack - either it's not horrible enough to bond with the film, not musical enough to work as a soundtrack on its own, or written for a film too bloody for any respectable composer to beable to endure (imagine having to watch horrific clips over and over again in order to develop and sync the music to them). Looking into some of the fims which, although equally scary, are more focused on heightening the terror and telling a good story as apposed to going for nothing but pure unadulterated shock value, I found that the soundtracks generally seemed better suited on the whole. An example being the theme to the initial three Final Destination films by the late Shirley Walker - I think the initial use of tritones and minor 6ths while never stopping on the tonic G for too long creates a really tense and disturbing feel, which for me kind of characterises the basic idea of the films themselves. It then becomes slightly more tonal by changing keys a few times and altering the intervals a little, which I personally think makes it good as an actual piece of music - it's actually telling you something.
Sorry for the loooong post and the fact that I've abruptly stormed the forum in order to thrust it upon everyone without so much as an introductory post. I'm just very intrigued as to what other people think about these views. I'm honestly very happy to be here and can't believe I've taken so long to join a forum with it's own section dedicated to music.
Sorry for the loooong post and the fact that I've abruptly stormed the forum in order to thrust it upon everyone without so much as an introductory post. I'm just very intrigued as to what other people think about these views. I'm honestly very happy to be here and can't believe I've taken so long to join a forum with it's own section dedicated to music.
Bondarus
New member
Two of my favourite musical scores for a horror film are both ironically featured in films by John Carpenter.
The most obvious being the original Halloween and the other (one of my favourite films) is his remake of The Thing.
Both are real mood setters.
Vallaska Roue
New member
The only music I've heard from the Saw movies is the theme tune which I personally (and this is just me of course) don't find very scary at all, despite the fact that alot of people sem to rave about this piece. What would you say the in-film music is like in comparison with this?
RoyM
New member
Hungarian composer, Bela Bartok's - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta is always guaranteed to raise my goose bumps. I keep noticing this timeless piece laced through scores of suspense movies beckoning something dark within. Someone correct me if I'm wrong - I understand that Bartok studied the music of Transylvania and wrote Romanian Folk dances.
MusicMan2010
New member
I don't particularly like horror movies, but one piece of music that always terrified me was Lalo Schifrin's soundtrack to Amityville 2.
Very scary stuff (especially the opening theme) :shake:
Very scary stuff (especially the opening theme) :shake:
Povster
New member
I am a huge fan of the old (1930's through 1940's) Universal Studios horror films. In their first one the only music, aside form an opera or concert in the background of a scene, was a bit oif SWAN LAKE in the opening credits of DRACULA (1931 - Bela Lugosi).
Hans Salter went on to write some very memorable scores for the later Universal Horror films such as THE WOLF MAN.
Below are from THE WOLF MAN (1941 - Lon Chaney Jr). Also one from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Salter did many other Universal Horror soundtracks. These may sound familiar even if you can't pin down the movie. Most visceral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RSyCZ32UhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFVDleb8sw
Hans Salter went on to write some very memorable scores for the later Universal Horror films such as THE WOLF MAN.
Below are from THE WOLF MAN (1941 - Lon Chaney Jr). Also one from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Salter did many other Universal Horror soundtracks. These may sound familiar even if you can't pin down the movie. Most visceral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RSyCZ32UhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFVDleb8sw
therealdjcamm
New member
whilst not the most typical horror, 28 days later is packed with some chilling pieces. 28 weeks later also has a very powerful piece but its themed more on the idea of 'rage' rather than fear, still pretty good though...
therealdjcamm
New member
also most of the music used in the 2007 game 'Bioshock' are quite creepy but you kind of have to be playing the game to get the full effect...
