Bump in the Night: The Sound of Classic Horror MONSTERFEST
Creeeaaak.
Errrrrrrr.
Clunk-clunk.
Bang!
These are the sounds that keep your eyes open as you lay in the dark; the sounds that send your heart racing and make you hesitate getting out of bed to investigate. While some horror films might spew buckets of blood and guts from the screen, it's a horror movie's soundtrack that quickens the pulse, heightens the tension and sends chills down your spine.
Aside from the bumps and cat-screeching scares, music often sets the thematic tone of a film. From Halloween's haunting piano to Psycho's shrieking strings, a powerful musical soundtrack becomes its own character within the film. Who among us hasn't psyched out a younger sibling with Jaws' "Da-Dum...Da-Dum"? Music can make an audience jump like a pack of Pavlov's dogs -- your muscles tighten and you know the bloodshed is around the corner, maybe on the other side of that door just up ahead.
What do you think is the scariest and most effective film score? Click on the choices below to hear YouTube samples of the themes. Then vote...if you dare.
Through minor scales and uncomfortable time signatures (like Halloween's 5/4 beat), not to mention Goblin's inhuman howls on the Suspiria soundtrack, the music can put us in a state of fear before anything appears on screen. Yet, the power of the musical soundtrack comes from when we relate those melodic themes to the horrifying images and scenes.
Though there's been no shortage of haunting songs from modern horror films, it seems that contemporary films have slipped in the score department. Many of the songs that terrify us come from the 1970s heyday of horror. The aforementioned Jaws, Halloween and Suspiria, not to mention the "Tubular Bells" theme from The Exorcist, all haunted theaters within that magically-horrifying 10 year time span. The other strong musical score that comes to mind slashed its way into audiences nightmares 10 years earlier; of course, that's Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
An indicator of an affective score is how it permeates pop culture years after the film is released -- from showing up in the latest Scary Movie to an episode of The Simpsons. But to determine the best horror soundtrack, we leave the decision up to you. Of course, we have our favorites, so cast your vote and settle some bets between the Monsterfest staff.
It depends what you mean by "best", I guess. If someone was to say "Who's the best composer of movie soundtracks ever?" I'm pretty much coming up with Bernard Hermann as my first choice, no hesitation, and so Psycho wins hands down. If by "best", you merely mean "most memorable theme", it's probably Jaws.
Hands down for me, Susperia. I loves me some Argento, but I loves me some Goblin even more! I was watching 28 Weeks Later last night and low and behold if I didn't think the composer had been listening to some Goblin before scoring the film I could have been smoking something! I wasn't so, I think he owes a huge debt to Goblin for a couple of those musical cues.
All the soundtracks listed here are fantastic! Goblin did a great job on Suspiria. Halloween's tune was very haunting. I still hear the Jaws music when I go to swimming at the beach. I voted for Psycho, but my actual favorite was not on the list. My fave is definitely the music from the original Friday the 13th. The scary bass & sharp piercing stabs from the strings section just sends shivers down my spine. And the ever present "CH-CH-CH HA-HA-HA" (or ki-ki-ki ma-ma-ma if you so like)really sets the tone for the movie.
You had us with "Creeeaaak!" at the get-go. JM this has thus far been probably my favorite post of yours. Your ear for writing about sound is most effective. ;)
From the verbage in line 2 to the pack of Pavlov's dogs you've got us panting for more! Well matched quality writing that resonates the theme. Keep it up!
Susperia, hands down. I can't listen to it in my car because I'm afraid the old dead witch is in my back seat.
Benard Herman's classic work on Psycho inspired most of today's spook soundtracks. Honorble mention should go to Humpfry Seale's soundtrack for the original(1963) The Haunting. Or something like honorable mention...
Suspiria. It still scares me every time I listen to it.
i had to choose psycho, ive hummed the music so many times its insane (pun intended). all great choices though.
Anybody who didn't vote for Goblin's score for Suspiria hasn't seen the movie. It is without a doubt the single most terrifying soundtrack ever made. Period.
It's sad to see that John Carpenter's simple and repetitive, and very overplayed Halloween score is ahead of Suspiria, and even Psycho.
If you haven't seen Suspiria, rent it, and be prepared to be frightened.
the omen is scarier than any of these
The exocist score....The theme music always created an extra atmosphere of horror and terror... it would haunt me at night