Best Horror Film Score/Soundtrack

[teamcerberus]

Since we just keep moving on with these "favorite" lists, how about we take a look at music in horror movies. I'm going to go with my top 5 here, in no real order:

-Dracula: Ironically, it's the music from Swan Lake that begins this movie that sets the perfect mood for me and sucks me in every time. Every time I watch Dracula I can't help listening to that theme over and over for days on end.

-Godzilla: Akira Ifukube's scores in so many of the Godzilla films have shaped my musical tastes greatly. It began my love of dark orchestral music and eventually heavy metal (I see the 2 as very similar, but that's a topic for another day and another forum). It also strikes me as monumental that the sounds of Godzilla's roar and footsteps were also done by Ifukube, it feels sometimes that the monster and music are one.

-Halloween: John Carpenters music for Halloween is nothing short of perfect for the film. I know I don't need to say much about this one, I doubt any horror fan can here that theme without getting excited.

-The Exorcist: Another great theme. Similar to the Halloween theme, it creates a sense of movement and tension that I don't think the movie would work without.

-The Lost Boys: Kind of a weird end to my list, but I wanted to include something other than orchestral themes, and I think this is a perfect choice. I always look forward to hearing "People are Strange" and "Cry Little Sister" whenever i put this movie in my dvd player. Hell, I even kind of enjoy the music played by the oiled up sax player, if for nothing more than 80's camp value.

[Zombiezack50]

Ya Halloween and Exorcist are my favorite sound tracks!

[Mr.Skemer]

I HAVE TO GO WITH HALLOWEEN, SAW AND EXORCIST

[themorguethemerrier]

Really iconic choices guys.Hmmmmmm.....I know Halloween is going to be in here(how can it not?) I really like the Nightmare On Elm Street score as well.........Hellraiser's got a nice Christopher Young tune......So many catchy tunes from gremlins to Dracula yeah man good thread....I think I need to dive deeper into this....Tales From the Crypt's theme is swell but not a score ugh....:(

[pzuzu]

My kind of topic! Horror movie music is a passion of mine. I have a huge collection (and I'm always willing to share!).

My favorite all time score is Candyman. Phillip Glass is an absolute genious and I've never heard music as haunting and beautiful as what he did for Candyman.

Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7FFEu7H ... re=related

Another Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jjLMm7C2EY

The Reflecting Skin - a little known film starring a younger Viggo Mortesen that messed me up when I was like 13 years old. But the music is truly amazing and merits way more recognition than it ever received. Genious stuff. I'm so glad there are samples on youtube, cuz I almost didn't expect it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-p-jq3-o4

Actually, I found the whole movie is up there. Very cool...part 1 starts here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JlZ9E1p ... re=related

Friday the 13th is right up there too, especially parts 1 and 7. The piano theme when Alice is in the lake is the perfect lullaby for that setting and the credits of part 7 bring back alot of childhood memories for me.

Part 1 Piano theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecDdeA5U ... re=related

Part 7 Credits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql_5rRd3zBc

Christopher Young's score for Hellraiser is another masterpiece. And if you like his work, definitely check out his score for Flowers in the Attic. It's not as epic, but it's definitely creepy and the melody is gorgeous.

Flowers in the Attic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gcW7LnpQ6E

As much as I love Tubular Bells, I gotta say that the score for Exorcist II gets under my skin way more...and is probably the reason why I'm one of like three people in the world who actually liked that movie. :) Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPdK1CW6 ... 73E85ECB91

I can still remember being a kid and going to see Bram Stoker's Dracula in theaters with my dad. He didn't take me willingly, there was a tantrum involved. Heh...but anyways, the movie starts and throughout that whole beginning section I'm glued to my seat with bulging eyes until the moment the film title appears on the screen. What a beginning! That movie was like the best rollercoaster...or like a universal studios attraction for me. And the music was a HUGE part of that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB92kcrwBo4

Other favorites:

28 Days Later - This gets me so pumped for some reason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbwlGv9SWfY

Cannibal Holocaust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1Vt6r-sj8

Suspiria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4DHif2GQrU

Needful Things - love Patrick Doyle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uu9bszR ... B111DBCDF8

Child's Play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJasZ2X3yXc

Phantasm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3ieQxm_M2I

Profondo Rosso (Deep Red) - an absolute favorite!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZULOZVcGDY

The Beyond - another favorite!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1pPT-6gFQo

Carrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpnqTDerJfg

Fulci's Zombie - hell yeah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39szQy3TcH4

Dawn of the Dead - US release & Italian release
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISPjAzAg ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T43EhAka ... re=related

Children of the Corn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzFR9r8C7cI

Creepshow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_QSfOnFzAM

Return of the Living Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp48bNu- ... re=related

Dexter - this my favorite theme from the show (not the opening credits, though that's fun too!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2xxizpHuoo

Amityville 1992: It's About Time - this little movie had a haunting little tune I always enjoyed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMzob3RP ... 97CE4AF77B

Dolls - a playful score, very circus-ish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkrPgWs9 ... re=related

Dolly Dearest - what is it about killer dolls that invoke creepy tunes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWf0kr-N ... D28FB539EC

Saw - a modern classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWaNoK3g ... re=related

The Omen - Jerry Goldsmith is da man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OkFLdPaoZQ

The Omen III: The Final Conflict - bettered the original IMO, skip to 4:45 for the goods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CLDHWPFjl0

Okay...I need to stop. So much great horror movie music...so little time!

-Fernando

[TexasKev]

Kick ass, This is a really cool post so...I have to contribute. I love movie scores, especially horror soundtracks. I have several albums and I listen to them when writing, customizing, driving, working, shitting, and what ever else comes to mind.

So, here are my top 10 movie scores.

10. Rob Zombie Halloween II - Tyler Bates

9. The Fog- Reboot- Graeme Revell

8. 30 Days of Night - Brian Reitzell

7. Christine- John Carpenter

6. Halloween III- John Carpenter

5. The Fog- John Carpenter

4. When a Stranger Calls Remake - James Dooley

3. Nightmare on Elm Street 2- Charles Bernstein

2. Nightmare on Elm Street- Charles Bernstein

1. Halloween 1978- John Carpenter :smokin:

[Steph_nightmares]

The thing-John carpenter
Evil dead 1 and 2
Halloween -John carpenter
Fright night
Near dark-tangerine dream
The shining
Reanimator
Henry portrait of a serial killer :imcrazy:
Amityville horror
Maniac
Christine

And legend-tangerine dream "not really horror awesome soundtrack though"