The Amityville Horror
Released by Aleph Records, 2017.
17 Tracks, with a total running time of 61:02 min.
Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin

There are some movies that are obviously classics, The Amityville Horror being one of them. But that can be said for soundtracks as well, and the score that Lalo Schifrin created for this 1979 film is also one of them. From the opening Main Title theme, it creates a false sense of comfort with this dreamy, child-like nursery theme, but then also has some darker elements in the background, like a storm brewing! But then next track, Father Delaney, it immediately starts to build up the suspense and the terror that is soon to come.

Schifrin has done something that is so essential for movie scores, and one that most people don’t opening recognize when they are actually watching the film. And that is when the music has such a powerful impact on the viewer, even though they don’t realize it because they are so captivated by the story playing out in front of them. Tracks like Screams, shows how it enhances the tension and suspense that is building up, and then at the end of tracks The Ax, it hits the crescendo!

This really is an must for horror soundtrack fans. It is as powerful now as it was when the film first came out.