Soundtrack Review: The Ritual

ritual

The Ritual
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2018

18 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 40 min.
Music Composed by Ben Lovett

When you come down to the basics, there are two kinds of original score soundtracks. One with a collection of musical pieces, orchestrated in a way to create feelings. And then the ones that don’t have melody, or even music really, but just sounds. Not as simple as that, but sounds that also create feelings, usually ones that work their way under your skin, building tension and even terror. That is exactly what Lovett has done with this score.

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Soundtrack Review: Saw Anthology

Saw Anthology
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2017
2-Discs with 66 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 1 hr. & 20 min.
Music by Charlie Clouser

It’s kind of amazing that the Saw series has continued for this long and pretty much kept the same plot line throughout them. Whether you like them or not, that is a pretty impressive. Same with composer Charlie Clouser, who has worked on each of the films. He has created a very unique sound and feeling for this series and that theme flows through them all, with a very industrial-sounding feel to them. Which, considering all the mechanical traps and abandoned warehouses the films take place in, it fits perfectly, especially with the main theme popping up in different parts of each movie, usually during the big ending.

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Soundtrack Review: The Walking Dead

Walking Dead

The Walking Dead
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2017
23 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 74 min.
Music by Bear McCreary

While I’m not a huge follower of The Walking Dead TV series, I am a big fan of Bear McCreary and am always interested in what he’s been creating because it’s usually pretty damn interesting. And this score is no different.

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Soundtrack Review: Wish Upon

Wish Upon CDWish Upon
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2017

25 Tracks with a Total Running time of 42 min.
Music by tomandandy

When four notes of a score hook you in, showing just what kind of music you’re in for, the composer has done something right. There are a ton of scores out there that while are good and fill out the background while the movie is playing, a good and creepy score will grab you right away, burrowing its way into your psyche. The four notes that I mentioned are used throughout the entire score, but it is that one chilling part that gets you.

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Soundtrack Review: Stonehearst Asylum

stonehearstasylumcd

Stonehearst Asylum
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2014

31 Tracks with a total running time of 78 min.
Music by John Debney

This was a score that I received to review and never even heard of the title before hand, so you go into it completely blind…or deaf as the case may be. But it doesn’t take but a few seconds into the first track, Eliza’s Theme, for the composer to draw you in. By that time, he’s got you hooked. For being a horror film, this soundtrack contains so many beautiful pieces of music, but it still is able to give the listener’s the darker element needed for it.

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Soundtrack Review: The Belko Experiment

belko experiment soundtrack

The Belko Experiment
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2017
18 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 40 min.
Music by Tyler Bates

When a score starts off with a Hispanic version of I Will Survive, it makes you wonder if you can take it serious. But once the second track, Security, kicks in, you can tell you’re in for a dark ride.

The main feel to this score is not really music but sounds. Long, drawn out ones, almost like feedback, or something metal being dragged across another metal object, but slowly. Then you throw in a little pounding rhythm here and there, and there is your score. This is not a criticism, but just trying to explain what you’re going to get here. It is very atmospheric, creating a very disturbing sensation with it playing in the background, that something dark is just around the corner, or just out of sight, but it is there. Then in the middle of the score, we get a break with another Hispanic version of California Dreaming. After that, we’re right back into the thick of it with track # 9, Panic. It starts off with some clanging in the distance, with some strange electronic beat, and that screeching sound again. Highly effective.

From what we know about this movie, this score seems like it would fit perfectly. It just emits suspense and tension with these noises bleeding through your speakers. We can’t wait to see the film and see just how well it works within the images on the screen.

Soundtrack Review: Stray Bullets

stray-bullets-soundrack

Stray Bullets
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2017
16 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 33 min.
Music by Jack Fessenden

Being a huge fan of Larry Fessenden, when I saw the name on this score, it had me immediately interested, since I assumed it was a relative of Larry’s. As it turns out, Jack is Larry’s 16-year old son, who has written, directed, co-produced, and edited his first feature film, as well as composing the music as well! Sounds to me that the father has definitely past on his creative talents to his son. I’ve only seen the trailer, but it really looks like an interesting story and the fact that it coming from a 16-year old kid, is even more amazing. But enough of that….let’s get to the score.

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Soundtrack Review: Don’t Breathe

dont-breathe-cd

Don’t Breathe
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2016
15 Tracks with a Total Running time of 59 min.
Music by Roque Baños

Typically, I prefer for soundtracks to have a melody, or some sort of musical theme. Not that I have a problem with atmospheric soundscape-type scores since there are plenty that I quite enjoy. But it doesn’t hold a candle opera to a nice classic piece of eerie music. That being said, this score that Baños has created for Don’t Breathe is just incredible.

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