Seven Scary Classic Horror Film Scores
Music from some of my favourite cinematic nightmares
With Halloween coming up, ‘tis the season to be scared out of your wits.
With that in mind, here are seven splendidly scary film score excerpts accompanying some great horror films. That five of these originate in horror’s greatest decade — namely, the 1970s — is no coincidence.
I should add that it is well worth picking up the complete soundtracks of these films, as they are so much more than the most well-known pieces I’ve typically selected below. However, for this overview, I’ve mainly erred towards those pieces that have long percolated in popular consciousness.
Halloween (1978)
In addition to directing duties, John Carpenter frequently scored his films, including this seminal slasher shocker. The music has become so utterly iconic that it’s a miracle it hasn’t lost its power. But it hasn’t. The moment the opening bars of that chilling main theme kick in, I tense up and move to the edge of my seat.
