Don’t Go in the House
Released by Howlin’ Wolf Records
44 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 66:43 min.
Music Composed by Richard Einhorn

Richard Einhorn is on one those composers that has created some amazing scores with just the simple use of synthesizers and a keyboard. One of my all-time favorites is what he did on Shock Waves (1977), which happened to be his first film score. His haunting piano score for Dead of Winter (1987) is another favorite of mine, simple and quiet but highly effective. When one thinks of a musical score for a film about a guy who burns women to death in his house, you’d think that not a lot of time and money went into creating a score for this type of film. Well, you would be correct on the time and money part, but the dedication and hard work was there. Einhorn still wanted to create a score that would enhance what we’re seeing on screen, but also give it depth and feeling, which is exactly what he did.

Using his ARP 2600 and ARP Omni synthesizers and a Tascam 8-track recorder, Einhorn was still able to create some very effective mood enhancing sounds throughout this score. We get some tracks with long, eerie notes that help create the suspense and tension, to some tracks that have a little bit of a melody or theme to it. We get some with electronic sounding percussions, again creating tension, to some repeating chimes or bells to create a very strange mood.

Howlin’ Wolf Records has done an amazing job giving a lot of care and attention to a score for a movie that most film fans wouldn’t even bother looking twice at. But they knew the effectiveness of Einhorn’s score and how well it does to create those feelings. They even have added plenty of the electronic effects used in the films, such as for the flamethrower effects. But it is Track 34 – Electronic Screams that is extremely effective! Using “actual human screams passed through the microphone input on the ARP 2600 and modified through synthesizer patches”, which gives the listener something that would make the hair on your neck stand up!

This is a score that will hopefully show listeners that there is much more going on in this film than what most would assume, that these low budget “grindhouse type” titles have a lot more meaning and impact.

You can order your copy through Howlin’ Wolf’s website HERE.