This list was in the making since last Halloween. So now is as good time as any to put it out there.
Music has the ability to add a whole new dimension to a film. All the greats know this. Kubrick in particular. I adore Wendy Carlos' synth take of Penderecki and Kubrick uses Bartok and Ligeti. Can you imagine anything else soundtracking that gliding camera over the water for the opening? Since this list is dealing with original scores, The Shining isn't included. Same goes for Mike Oldfied's Tubular Bells.
One of the lessons I have learned when delving into horror soundtracks is the Italians do it best. Sure, you have your Goldsmiths, Shores, and Hermanns. The Italians just have a cornucopia of giallo, westerns, poliziotteschi films out there for the picking. It's why I continue to come back to their specific brand of horror. It's not just the copious amounts of sex and blood. Well it is that. But there's the score to that scene of Ian McCulloch and company barricading themselves from a horde of zombies in the ominous fog outside. It's the opening to Suspiria with Goblin's score pounding.
It was too hard to restrict myself to just a top ten. So here's 30.
30. William Loose- Night of the Living Dead
The sound of social decay. One of the first movies I saw was Night of the Living Dead. That opening with the car coming up to the cemetery is imprinted in my mind. This is how you open horror movie.
There's a deceptive gentleness to this one that matches the hospitality on the island. Yet there are faint tremblings of something darker. It's like constantly putting on new coats of paint on a wall that continues to rot from within.
28. Jerry Goldsmith- Poltergeist
Goldsmith works his magic to suggest calm, serene suburbia on one track to supernatural spookiness on the next.
27. Wojciech Kilar- Bram Stoker's Dracula
It's what you want a score about the gothic, seductive side of Dracula to be.
26. Coil- unreleased Hellraiser themes/ Christopher Young's score (tie)
A tie because if you were to replace Young's score with what was originally planned you have a different movie. Christopher Young's score brings a gothic horror vibe to it. Coil's score on the other is dirty, grimy, industrial. Barker described the Coil score as 'bowel churning'.
25. Charles Bernstein- The Entity
There's a reason Quentin picked Bath Attack to score the scene in Inglourious Basterds where Shoshanna Dreyfuss comes face to face with Hans Landa, the man who ordered the massacre of her family. It's a savage industrial attack. And it fits the subject matter of the film.
24. Jay Chattaway- Maniac
The 80's saw the dominance of synth scores. Many of them owing a debt to Carpenter. Chattaway went minimal and decided to mix in the audio movie into the score. The result is a genuinely creepy listening experience as terrifying as the movie itself.
23. Jerry Goldsmith- Alien
A score whose cadence rises from its tranquil slumber to chest bursting intensity.
22. Claudio Simonetti, Fabio Pignatelli and Massimo Morante- Tenebrae
A soundtrack meant to be listened to while watching a fire kindling.
21. Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave- Phantasm
The score runs the gamut from moody rock, church organ, drone and noisy atmosphere.
20. John Harrison- Day of the Dead
Night, Dawn and Day all have great soundtracks. But if I had to pick one that had the biggest impact on me, it would be John Harrison's work on Day of the Dead. The film is the nastiest of the bunch and the soundtrack matches that darkness fittingly.
19. Fabio Frizzi- The Beyond
A toss up between this and Zombi 2. I went with this but it changes on a dime. It's the kind of prog orchestral ominousness you want to hear when seeing dogs rip throats out and acid melt faces away.
18. Andrzej Korzynsky- Possession
Everything about this movie is an experience. The score is no different.
17. Goblin- Profondo Rosso
The giallo is rife with hauntingly beautiful scores. This one has the ability to rock and send chills down the spine.
16. Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell's score lasts a mere 14 minutes on soundtrack. Yet it's some of the most disturbing 14 minutes of music for a film. This is why it's so effective. A perfect marriage of music, atmosphere and tone.
We're patiently waiting, Mondo and Waxwork.
Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell's score lasts a mere 14 minutes on soundtrack. Yet it's some of the most disturbing 14 minutes of music for a film. This is why it's so effective. A perfect marriage of music, atmosphere and tone.
We're patiently waiting, Mondo and Waxwork.
15. John Carpenter- Halloween
Carpenter came up with the main theme in an hour. Simplicity can work. Laurie's Theme is made for walking home alone as the leaves fall.
14. Pino Donaggio- Carrie
A movie that is as soaked in tragedy as Carrie White was soaked in pigs blood. Pino did the score for Don't Look Now three years earlier and DePalma couldn't have made a better choice tapping him for this movie.13. John Carpenter- The Fog
With the exception of his work with Alan Howarth on Halloween III, The Fog stands out as his best work as a composer.
With the exception of his work with Alan Howarth on Halloween III, The Fog stands out as his best work as a composer.
12. Howard Shore- The Silence of the Lambs
The emotional swells here are outstanding. Shore has yet to top himself here. Favorite track: Lecter Escapes
11. Krzysztof Komeda- Rosemary's Baby
There's a delicateness to the sinister sounds here. Like a mother coddling her baby after finding out it is the spawn of Satan.
10. Bernard Hermann- Psycho
The strings are a knife to the heart.
9. John Carpenter and Alan Howarth- Halloween: Season of the Witch
Not a Halloween season goes by where I'm not listening to a track from this.
8. Angelo Badalamenti- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
As close to a horror movie that David Lynch has gotten. Is it traditional horror? No. Is it scarier that most other traditional horror? Absolutely.
7. John Harrison- Creepshow
Essential Autumnal/Halloween listening. I would listen to this constantly on cassette tape as a kid.
6. Ennio Morricone- The Thing
My favorite film composer. 90% of his scores are for westerns. Many of which I have sought out for that fact alone. Morricone is the only composer I do that for. So when I find a score for a horror film he has done it makes me twice as happy.
5. Philip Glass- Candyman
As close to a horror movie that David Lynch has gotten. Is it traditional horror? No. Is it scarier that most other traditional horror? Absolutely.
7. John Harrison- Creepshow
Essential Autumnal/Halloween listening. I would listen to this constantly on cassette tape as a kid.
6. Ennio Morricone- The Thing
My favorite film composer. 90% of his scores are for westerns. Many of which I have sought out for that fact alone. Morricone is the only composer I do that for. So when I find a score for a horror film he has done it makes me twice as happy.
5. Philip Glass- Candyman
What does gothic horror sound like? Philip Glass gave the answer in his soundtrack to Bernard Rose's Candyman.
Favorite track: It Was Always You Helen
4. Riz Ortolani- Cannibal Holocaust
The first images you see are a helicopter shot of the jungle and the river. The first sounds you hear is Ortolani's soothing score. As much as I adore the main theme, the one that wrecks me is 'Crucified Woman'.
3. Fabio Frizzi- City of the Living Dead
Spielberg has Williams. Burton has Elfman. Nolan has Zimmer. Fulci has Frizzi.
70's/early 80's Italian horror goes hand in hand with the work Frizzi did with the Godfather of Gore.
If I were to single out the most effective film to music blend it would have to be City of the Living Dead. While it can be said to have the mutated DNA of Zombi 2's score, this twist is even more menacing and foreboding.
As far as individual tracks go, the 7 Notes In Black from The Psychic is his crowning achievement. Tarantino fans will recognize it instantly for it being in the infamous achilles tendon slashing scene from Kill Bill Vol. 1.
2. Popol Vuh- Nosferatu the Vampyre
Nothing like it. Captures a worldly rhythm I have yet to hear in anything horror based. I would imagine, this is best listened to in the wet, dark catacombs of a crypt. But I have yet to be at one so my room will suffice.
1. Goblin- Suspiria
4. Riz Ortolani- Cannibal Holocaust
The first images you see are a helicopter shot of the jungle and the river. The first sounds you hear is Ortolani's soothing score. As much as I adore the main theme, the one that wrecks me is 'Crucified Woman'.
3. Fabio Frizzi- City of the Living Dead
Spielberg has Williams. Burton has Elfman. Nolan has Zimmer. Fulci has Frizzi.
70's/early 80's Italian horror goes hand in hand with the work Frizzi did with the Godfather of Gore.
If I were to single out the most effective film to music blend it would have to be City of the Living Dead. While it can be said to have the mutated DNA of Zombi 2's score, this twist is even more menacing and foreboding.
As far as individual tracks go, the 7 Notes In Black from The Psychic is his crowning achievement. Tarantino fans will recognize it instantly for it being in the infamous achilles tendon slashing scene from Kill Bill Vol. 1.
2. Popol Vuh- Nosferatu the Vampyre
Nothing like it. Captures a worldly rhythm I have yet to hear in anything horror based. I would imagine, this is best listened to in the wet, dark catacombs of a crypt. But I have yet to be at one so my room will suffice.
1. Goblin- Suspiria
It's hard to add any more praise to a piece of music that has received so much. For the score, Argento told Claudio Simonetti of Goblin "I need the audience to feel that the witches are still there, even if they're not on the screen." Season of the Witch, indeed.
Honorable mentions:
Classics:
Classics:
John Carpenter and Alan Howarth- Christine
John Carpenter- Prince of Darkness
John Williams- Jaws
John Williams- Jaws
Tangerine Dream- Near Dark
Goblin- Dawn of the Dead
Manfred Hubler and Siegfried Schwab- Vampyros Lesbos
Toru Takemitsu- Kwaidan
Richard Band- The House On Sorority Row
Nora Orlandi- The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Ennio Morricone- The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
Guilani Sorgini- The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue
Libra- Shock
Goblin- Dawn of the Dead
Manfred Hubler and Siegfried Schwab- Vampyros Lesbos
Toru Takemitsu- Kwaidan
Richard Band- The House On Sorority Row
Nora Orlandi- The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Ennio Morricone- The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
Guilani Sorgini- The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue
Libra- Shock
Ennio Morricone- Spasmo
Nicola Piovani- The Perfume of the Lady In Black
Stelvio Cipriani- Nightmare City
Walter Rizzatti- The House By the Cemetery
Berto Pisano and Elsio Mancuso- Burial Ground
Walter Rizzatti- The House By the Cemetery
Berto Pisano and Elsio Mancuso- Burial Ground
Tim Krog- The Boogey Man
Nico Fidenco- Zombie Holocaust/ Dr. Butcher
Alesandro Blonksteiner- Cannibal Apocalypse
Riccardo Biseo and Manuel De Sica- Cemetery Man
Robert McNaughton- Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer
Herman Kopp- Nekromantik
Karl Schulze- Next of Kin
Karl Schulze- Angst
Joe Renzetti- Child's Play
Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn- Ravenous
Harry Manfredini- House
Recent:
Disasterpiece- It Follows
Thom Yorke- Suspiria
Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson- Room 237
Jeff Grace- House of the Devil
Broadcast- Berberian Sound Studio
Bobby Krlic- Midsommar
Nico Fidenco- Zombie Holocaust/ Dr. Butcher
Alesandro Blonksteiner- Cannibal Apocalypse
Riccardo Biseo and Manuel De Sica- Cemetery Man
Robert McNaughton- Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer
Herman Kopp- Nekromantik
Karl Schulze- Next of Kin
Karl Schulze- Angst
Joe Renzetti- Child's Play
Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn- Ravenous
Harry Manfredini- House
Recent:
Disasterpiece- It Follows
Thom Yorke- Suspiria
Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson- Room 237
Jeff Grace- House of the Devil
Broadcast- Berberian Sound Studio
Bobby Krlic- Midsommar
