The Dark Half
Released by Varèse Sarabande, 1993
13 Tracks, with a Total Running Time of46 min.
Music Composed by Christopher Young

I’ve been a fan of Young’s work since those first notes from his Hellraiser score reached my ears. He never ceases to impress me with the sounds and feelings from his scores, and this is no different.

This one starts out with such a beautiful opening track, a pleasant piano tune that is quiet and somber, before some strings and other strange sounds start to come in. And then the angelic vocals! But even with all this striking sounds, there seems to be a darkness lurking under there, waiting to break free. Considering the story, it makes perfect sense.

There are small bits of piano that we hear right in the beginning that we’ll get quick glimpses of throughout the score, almost like a melody or theme. Not long enough really, but enough to resonate in your brain that when you hear it again, it catches your attention. I also loved how Young incorporated the sounds of birds chirping in the opening of track 7, Omnibus Death., that we hear a few other times. A nice touch, again making a connection with the story.

While the movie might not be one of Romero’s best, I think that Young still delivered a powerful score here and still makes the impact needed for a good and effective soundtrack.