Favorite Horror Themes

SaxCatz · 04-11-2010, 01:08 AM

I don't believe that this has been discussed recently, so I thought I'd create a thread to throw my two-cents worth in and invite everyone to share their favorites.
Note that these are my top 10 favorite themes. This does not mean soundtracks in general. If the entire soundtrack were taken into account, this list would look quite different.
So, without further ado, my top 10 favorite horror themes are:
10. Tenebre (Main Title) - Goblin "Tenbre";
9. Friday the 13th Part 2 (Main Theme)- Harry Manfredini "Friday the 13th Part 2"-
(Just as I find the sequel superior to the original, I also prefer its theme somewhat);
8. Zombi 2 (Main Title)- Fabio Frizzi "Zombi 2";
7. Valley- Bill Wyman "Phenomena"-
(I know that this is not the main theme of the film, but it is the first theme that we hear and, for me, it is far more powerful than the stil-excellent main theme);
6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Main Title)- Charles Bernstein "A Nightmare on Elm Street";
5. Phantasm (Theme)- Fred Myro "Phantasm";
4. Suspiria- Goblin "Suspiria"
3. Halloween Theme- John Carpenter "Halloween"
2. Profondo Rosso - Goblin "Deep Red";
And lastly, in my opinion, an true masterpiece...
1. Voci Dal Nulla - Fabio Frizzi "The Beyond".

dave13 · 04-11-2010, 04:36 AM

i love the deep red stuff by goblin, as well as the vampire hunters theme from bram stokers dracula

Erick H. · 04-11-2010, 08:14 AM

Tough to narrow this down but here are some of my favorites....

PSYCHO (Maine Theme) by Bernard Herrmann.How can I not list it,one of the greatest scores by my favorite film composer.

SISTERS (Title Theme)Bernard Herrmann again.Less well known that PSYCHO but a remarkably creepy score.The soundtrack is worth seeking out.

THE OMEN (Main Theme),a great score,very influential,and amazingly the only score for which the great Jerry Goldsmith took home an Oscar.

JAWS.It seems so simple but it's so unforgettable.John Williams,of course.

HALLOWEEN,perhaps the best known of John Carpenter's collaborations with Allan Howarth.Another one that seems so simple yet you never forget it.

PROFONDO ROSSO (DEEP RED).For whatever reason,when I think of Argento this is the music that pops into my head.Goblin in top form.

THE FOG-My pick for John Carpenter's most underrated score.The main theme is saved until the end.

''Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield.Not really composed for the film THE EXORCIST but it's impossible not to couple them together.So associated with ''scary'' that it played on the music track at my grocery store for three days leading up to Halloween.Fresh produce has never been so creepy.

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT.One of my favorite film composers was the sadly overlooked ''house composer" for Hammer Films,James Bernard,and this score is one of his best.I was reminded of this films credit sequence when I saw DRAG ME TO HELL come on last year.

CREEPSHOW.Another score that really puts me in the mood for Halloween,multitalented John Harrison at his best.

I could go on forever but I'll wrap up with a two fer from Ronald Stein.He goes way back and spent a lot of his film career on cheapies but he did some great scores and two of his most memorable are for Roger Corman's faux Poe adaptation (by way of H.P. Lovecraft) THE HAUNTED PALACE and the public domain classic DEMENTIA 13,a forefather to the modern slasher film.Figured I'd give a shout out to an oft forgotten composer.

Iron Jaiden · 04-11-2010, 04:02 PM

How could nobody mention Ennio Morricone's phenomenal score for John Carpenter's The Thing?!?

Ok, I mentioned it now

rhett · 04-11-2010, 04:20 PM

I am sort of love it and hate it with Goblin's music on DEEP RED. There are some riffs that are just amazing, but there is a lot of time where they are getting all crazy on the organ that I could certainly leave behind. I liked their later work when they fully came into their own, embodying an almost entirely synthetic sound. I still get psyched up whenever I listen to the Tenebre theme.

I really like all the themes listed here, but here are a few I think are underrated and worthy of mention as well:

Village of the Damned (Remake) - Carpenter really shot out a menacing, ominous title track

The Burning - Both the opening and closing themes by Rick Wakeman use the synthesizer in such a way to give it this kind of fluttery, organic sound scape that makes it sound as if the tragedy is literally just reverberating off the lake.

Prom Night - Paul Zaza's disco theme is pretty lovable. "Let's show them what we can do!"

Madman - How can you not sing along with Stephen Horelick's cautionary ballad about the legend of Madman Marz? The legend lives!

The Shining - It's pretty tough to divorce that classical organ from the opening aerial shots of the Overlook. Ominous and epic.

Sleepaway Camp - The cold synth beat is a big ingredient in what makes the final reveal so unsettling. It's tough not to think dick when you hear those lyrics "When I look...into your eyes..."

Cat in the Brain - Fabio Frizzi delivers another classic, this one a total change of pace for both the composer and the film. It's this nice little travelogue kind of tune, and just works so well for the film's final pulling of the rug.

Don't Go in the Woods - You probably will be thrilled!

More to come, that's just a few off the top of my head.

dave13 · 04-11-2010, 05:21 PM

well rhett, if you're going to mention don't go in the woods, you have to include the theme song for The Forest!

philxus · 04-11-2010, 05:28 PM

Candyman Theme

rhett · 04-11-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave13

well rhett, if you're going to mention don't go in the woods, you have to include the theme song for The Forest!

"Are you crazy!?"

"OF COURSE I AM!"

Body Boy · 04-11-2010, 05:56 PM

Themes from...

Candyman
Sleepaway Camp
Friday the 13th (1-5)
The Burning
Zombi 2
The Beyond
Phenomena
Tenbre
Deep Red
Inferno
Twitch of the Death Nerve
Lisa and the Devil
Prom Night
Nightmare at Shadow Woods (synth-tastic!)
Halloween II '81
Dressed to Kill

...and more....to think of...

chancetx · 04-11-2010, 07:15 PM

Lots of great ones mentioned already. I'm a big fan of Pino Donaggio's orchestral scores - "Carrie," "Tourist Trap," "Blow Out," "The Fan," "Raising Cain." A shame so many are out of print or entirely unavailable.

Erick H. · 04-12-2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chancetx

Lots of great ones mentioned already. I'm a big fan of Pino Donaggio's orchestral scores - "Carrie," "Tourist Trap," "Blow Out," "The Fan," "Raising Cain." A shame so many are out of print or entirely unavailable.

I love his work too,other great tracks include BODY DOUBLE,DON'T LOOK NOW,PIRANHA and THE HOWLING.There's some synth to some of these but some great orchestrations.

Mr. Cole · 04-12-2010, 02:29 PM

I'll add la chiesa / the church (emerson, glass, goblin). Matches visuals and camerawork to create perfect atmosphere.

Clayton · 04-12-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philxus

Candyman Theme

Thank you! Philip Glass doing a horror theme - how can that not be amazing!

SaxCatz · 04-13-2010, 03:52 AM

I'm surprised to hear several people mention Sleepaway Camp...
I've seen that film quite a few times but can't remember the theme for the life of me.
I've got the Survival Kit box set in my collection, so maybe I'll have to check it out...

wago70 · 04-13-2010, 04:26 PM

ZOMBIE - 1979 opening and end titles
CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD/GATES OF HELL - the dead rising in Father Thomas' tomb
BARON BLOOD - opening titles
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 - opening titles, love those manic, screeching violins.
HALLOWEEN III - opening and end titles.
PROM NIGHT - just before ax strikes Lou. Same theme used later in "Curtains".

04-11-2010, 01:08 AM	#1
SaxCatz Maniac Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dry Dry Desert, AZ Posts: 927	Favorite Horror Themes I don't believe that this has been discussed recently, so I thought I'd create a thread to throw my two-cents worth in and invite everyone to share their favorites. Note that these are my top 10 favorite themes. This does not mean soundtracks in general. If the entire soundtrack were taken into account, this list would look quite different. So, without further ado, my top 10 favorite horror themes are: 10. Tenebre (Main Title) - Goblin "Tenbre"; 9. Friday the 13th Part 2 (Main Theme)- Harry Manfredini "Friday the 13th Part 2"- (Just as I find the sequel superior to the original, I also prefer its theme somewhat); 8. Zombi 2 (Main Title)- Fabio Frizzi "Zombi 2"; 7. Valley- Bill Wyman "Phenomena"- (I know that this is not the main theme of the film, but it is the first theme that we hear and, for me, it is far more powerful than the stil-excellent main theme); 6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Main Title)- Charles Bernstein "A Nightmare on Elm Street"; 5. Phantasm (Theme)- Fred Myro "Phantasm"; 4. Suspiria- Goblin "Suspiria" 3. Halloween Theme- John Carpenter "Halloween" 2. Profondo Rosso - Goblin "Deep Red"; And lastly, in my opinion, an true masterpiece... 1. Voci Dal Nulla - Fabio Frizzi "The Beyond".

04-11-2010, 08:14 AM	#3
Erick H. HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7,440	Tough to narrow this down but here are some of my favorites.... PSYCHO (Maine Theme) by Bernard Herrmann.How can I not list it,one of the greatest scores by my favorite film composer. SISTERS (Title Theme)Bernard Herrmann again.Less well known that PSYCHO but a remarkably creepy score.The soundtrack is worth seeking out. THE OMEN (Main Theme),a great score,very influential,and amazingly the only score for which the great Jerry Goldsmith took home an Oscar. JAWS.It seems so simple but it's so unforgettable.John Williams,of course. HALLOWEEN,perhaps the best known of John Carpenter's collaborations with Allan Howarth.Another one that seems so simple yet you never forget it. PROFONDO ROSSO (DEEP RED).For whatever reason,when I think of Argento this is the music that pops into my head.Goblin in top form. THE FOG-My pick for John Carpenter's most underrated score.The main theme is saved until the end. ''Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield.Not really composed for the film THE EXORCIST but it's impossible not to couple them together.So associated with ''scary'' that it played on the music track at my grocery store for three days leading up to Halloween.Fresh produce has never been so creepy. THE DEVIL RIDES OUT.One of my favorite film composers was the sadly overlooked ''house composer" for Hammer Films,James Bernard,and this score is one of his best.I was reminded of this films credit sequence when I saw DRAG ME TO HELL come on last year. CREEPSHOW.Another score that really puts me in the mood for Halloween,multitalented John Harrison at his best. I could go on forever but I'll wrap up with a two fer from Ronald Stein.He goes way back and spent a lot of his film career on cheapies but he did some great scores and two of his most memorable are for Roger Corman's faux Poe adaptation (by way of H.P. Lovecraft) THE HAUNTED PALACE and the public domain classic DEMENTIA 13,a forefather to the modern slasher film.Figured I'd give a shout out to an oft forgotten composer. Last edited by Erick H.; 04-11-2010 at 08:18 AM.

04-11-2010, 04:02 PM	#4
Iron Jaiden Maniac Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 538	How could nobody mention Ennio Morricone's phenomenal score for John Carpenter's The Thing?!? Ok, I mentioned it now __________________ "Hey, does this rag smell like chloroform to you?"

04-11-2010, 04:20 PM	#5
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	I am sort of love it and hate it with Goblin's music on DEEP RED. There are some riffs that are just amazing, but there is a lot of time where they are getting all crazy on the organ that I could certainly leave behind. I liked their later work when they fully came into their own, embodying an almost entirely synthetic sound. I still get psyched up whenever I listen to the Tenebre theme. I really like all the themes listed here, but here are a few I think are underrated and worthy of mention as well: Village of the Damned (Remake) - Carpenter really shot out a menacing, ominous title track The Burning - Both the opening and closing themes by Rick Wakeman use the synthesizer in such a way to give it this kind of fluttery, organic sound scape that makes it sound as if the tragedy is literally just reverberating off the lake. Prom Night - Paul Zaza's disco theme is pretty lovable. "Let's show them what we can do!" Madman - How can you not sing along with Stephen Horelick's cautionary ballad about the legend of Madman Marz? The legend lives! The Shining - It's pretty tough to divorce that classical organ from the opening aerial shots of the Overlook. Ominous and epic. Sleepaway Camp - The cold synth beat is a big ingredient in what makes the final reveal so unsettling. It's tough not to think dick when you hear those lyrics "When I look...into your eyes..." Cat in the Brain - Fabio Frizzi delivers another classic, this one a total change of pace for both the composer and the film. It's this nice little travelogue kind of tune, and just works so well for the film's final pulling of the rug. Don't Go in the Woods - You probably will be thrilled! More to come, that's just a few off the top of my head. __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

04-11-2010, 05:28 PM	#7
philxus Stalker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 280	Candyman Theme __________________ http://philxus.dvdaf.com/owned(My DVD Collection)

04-11-2010, 04:36 AM	#2
dave13 HackMaster Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,761	i love the deep red stuff by goblin, as well as the vampire hunters theme from bram stokers dracula

04-11-2010, 05:21 PM	#6
dave13 HackMaster Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,761	well rhett, if you're going to mention don't go in the woods, you have to include the theme song for The Forest!

04-11-2010, 05:56 PM	#9
Body Boy HackMaster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Posts: 1,448	Themes from... Candyman Sleepaway Camp Friday the 13th (1-5) The Burning Zombi 2 The Beyond Phenomena Tenbre Deep Red Inferno Twitch of the Death Nerve Lisa and the Devil Prom Night Nightmare at Shadow Woods (synth-tastic!) Halloween II '81 Dressed to Kill ...and more....to think of... __________________ www.oh-the-horror.com... ...DVD Collection (most of it)

04-11-2010, 07:15 PM	#10
chancetx Stalker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 304	Lots of great ones mentioned already. I'm a big fan of Pino Donaggio's orchestral scores - "Carrie," "Tourist Trap," "Blow Out," "The Fan," "Raising Cain." A shame so many are out of print or entirely unavailable.

04-12-2010, 02:29 PM	#12
Mr. Cole Screamy Bopper Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: I'm in Chicago Posts: 37	I'll add la chiesa / the church (emerson, glass, goblin). Matches visuals and camerawork to create perfect atmosphere.

04-13-2010, 03:52 AM	#14
SaxCatz Maniac Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dry Dry Desert, AZ Posts: 927	I'm surprised to hear several people mention Sleepaway Camp... I've seen that film quite a few times but can't remember the theme for the life of me. I've got the Survival Kit box set in my collection, so maybe I'll have to check it out...

04-13-2010, 04:26 PM	#15
wago70 Robinson Crusoe on Mars Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Francisco - down by them two ol' sheds Posts: 2,980	ZOMBIE - 1979 opening and end titles CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD/GATES OF HELL - the dead rising in Father Thomas' tomb BARON BLOOD - opening titles FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 - opening titles, love those manic, screeching violins. HALLOWEEN III - opening and end titles. PROM NIGHT - just before ax strikes Lou. Same theme used later in "Curtains".

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