Best Use Of Music In Horror Movies?

[Elvis_Christ]

My favorite would have to be Dario Argento his soundtracks, mainly done with his band Goblin, are really unerving and creepy. I like how he puts metal bands into his movies too (the soundtrack to Creepers stands out with Iron Maiden and Motorhead providing songs to accompany Argento's messed up murder scenes). John Carpenter would have to come a close second his original scores are awesome (the Halloween theme is a particular favorite).

[Signs515]

I often praise this movie but Suspiria is truly a haunting score, Dario Argento and Goblin make the movie so much better by music alone; that's a rare accomplishment. Sadly Suspiria is the only Argento movie I've seen so far.

[kpropain]

The Halloween score is one of the creepiest, Freddy vs Jason has a kick ass soundtrack also.

[Dr.Kelvinstein]

I agree. Goblin and Argento is the best, but I'm not a huge fan of what they did with Dawn. Tim Burton and Elfman are good together, and Carpeneter's Halloween and Assault score are tops.

Robert Rodriguez using Tito and the Tarantulas in From Dusk really added to that movie's sleaziness and Tex/Mex feel.

[Macabre_Maiden]

I actually enjoyed the remake of the William Castle movie, House on Haunted Hill. In one scene of the movie, (right before they discover Evelyn Price being shocked) they play a great song. I'm not sure what it is, but it fits the mood perfectly and adds to the creepy atmosphere.

Worst use of music: Prom Night. *shudder* Just thinking about the terrible disco-y soundtrack makes me feel sick to my stomache.

[Elvis_Christ]

I often praise this movie but Suspiria is truly a haunting score, Dario Argento and Goblin make the movie so much better by music alone; that's a rare accomplishment. Sadly Suspiria is the only Argento movie I've seen so far. You should definatley check out more the man is a genius and has made some of the best horror movies I've ever seen.
Robert Rodriguez using Tito and the Tarantulas in From Dusk really added to that movie's sleaziness and Tex/Mex feel. Definatley the music fully made the movie with those totally sleazy garagey tunes. Desperado had a good use of music also....

[knife_fight]

a friend of mine once claimed to have actually seen the Goblins perform (or Goblin or whatever they're called).

[sleepaway]

Halloween and Psycho have the best scores and are both heavily copied. But the Elm Street and Friday 13th scores are also great, everytime I hear the Elm St one I go right back to my childhood! There's also the scene in Silent Night, Deadly Night where the parents are killed and it's accompanied by a great piece of music, not sure if it's a song or a score but it works brilliantly.

[Dreaming Girl]

Dario Argento's soundtracks are just great. One of the reasons he's one of my top three favorite directors. The music he chooses is so effective with the imagery - whether it be the creepy yet beautiful soundtrack of Suspiria, brutal murder to the cheesy synth theme of Tenebrae, or the great metal soundtrack of Phenomena...

[paramour]

...you guys are gonna throw stuff at me, but i really liked the soundtrack to Queen of the Damned *ducks!* no kidding. not because it is a scary sort of music, but more of the macabre/punk/rock thingie. i likes it. :)

...paramour.

[orangestar]

People are going to think Im crazy, but In American Psycho when Patrick kills Paul while listening to "Hip to be Square" by Huey Lewis and the News, It fits the movie so well its like nothing I have ever seen. The movie is just so weird and confusing, that listening to Huey Lewis while killing a co-worker just fits.

http://s2.icr.cz/titulky/mini/American%20Psycho.jpg

[Distorty]

I think the Halloween score is classic along with the friday the 13th score...However another that stands out for me just because it was so different was last house on the left...

[otis]

I think Cabin Fever has a great score. It really adds to the moments.

[shorty tha pimp]

riz ortolani's score's in house on the edge of the park, and cannibal holocaust are both sickly sweet and haunting,
and fabio frizzi in films like Zombie, city of the living dead and the beyond are all good too

[Arioch]

Completely agree on american psycho orangster. That movie does have a great soundtrack that fits perfectly.

I will have to throw something at you for Queen of the Damned tho......lol.

[BudMan]

Speaking of Queen. Another great music in movie scene is in the movie "Highlander" at the beggining in the wrestling ring, when Queens "Princes of the Universe" starts up and is timed perfectly with the action on screen.

[otis]

I hated Queen of the Damned. I also hated Underworld. New vamp movies blow....

[Sam The Egg]

Halloween was good, the music complimented the movie perfectly. As for recent movies, I love the music in 28 Days Later

[vera-icon]

i agree with American Psycho, Suspiria, Cabin Fever etc... but does anyone recall the movie "Ravenous"?
This movie had a unique soundtrack and it seemed to fit the film rather well!

[otis]

Holy Shit that movie is cool. I forgot that one.

[Arioch]

Halloween was good, the music complimented the movie perfectly. As for recent movies, I love the music in 28 Days Later

I fucking love the music in 28 days, wow sam thats like 5 or 6 post ive completely agreed with.Perhaps our views arent as different as i first expected, you like izzard after all;)

[in the woods...]

i like scenes when the hair stands up when the music starts like right after "Mari" is raped in "Last house on the left", one scene i just thaught was greate was in zombie 2 ( or zombie fesh eaters or whatever) and the zombies starts to rise in the spanish graveyard and the music build, i just love that scene.

[Killer Clown#1]

Lets see, Hellrasier, Halloween, Friday the 13th and Wes Craven's New nightmare.

[Elvis_Christ]

Return of the Lving Dead had some good tunes in it The Cramps, T.S.O.L, Rocky Erickson they should have more punky horror movies it works well.

[Elvis_Christ]

I totally forgot about Bernard Herrmann. Probably some of the most amazing film scores ever written. Some one already mentioned Pyscho but Taxi Driver is one that sticks in my head and is very effective.

[alkytrio666]

Originally posted by orangestar
People are going to think Im crazy, but In American Psycho when Patrick kills Paul while listening to "Hip to be Square" by Huey Lewis and the News, It fits the movie so well its like nothing I have ever seen. The movie is just so weird and confusing, that listening to Huey Lewis while killing a co-worker just fits.

http://s2.icr.cz/titulky/mini/American%20Psycho.jpg

Great movie, amazing use of music. I completely stand behind you on that. I love that film.

I like Halloween and An American Werewolf in London ( I love how they use different renditions of "Blue Moon" throughout the thing.)

I also (go ahead and throw, I don't give a damn) love the Scream score. Of the first film. The other two scores were terrible attempts at remixes, but the original score was actually pretty creepy and fit the movie well.

[zwoti]

Originally posted by alkytrio666
An American Werewolf in London ( I love how they use different renditions of "Blue Moon" throughout the thing.)

agreed,

and can i find the soundtrack..........can i hell

[alkytrio666]

Originally posted by zwoti
agreed,

and can i find the soundtrack..........can i hell

Yah. I'm hoping I'll find it one day at some crappy old used music store. But I'd love to get my hands on a copy.

[SKOOFx]

Devils Rejects - Great 70s soundtrack that makes me want to light a joint.

[novakru]

Originally posted by zwoti
agreed,

and can i find the soundtrack..........can i hell

http://www.fast-rewind.com/cgi-bin/pfr1101.cgi?search=amwerewolf&NA&lp&findbest

[Despare]

I'd have to go with John Carpenter, loved Halloween and The Thing and most of his stuff was cool.

[Doc Faustus]

My favorites:
1.)Baby Firefly's rendition of I Want to be Loved by You in House of a Thousand Corpses
2.) Argento using Verdi and metal in the same movie to startling effect in Opera
3.) Though only on the verge of being a horror movie, Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet singing in Dreams
4.) the single ominous moment in Scream: Nick Cave's Red Right Hand. The guy's a god.

[TheOmen]

1. Suspiria
2. Halloween
3. The Omen
4. The Shining (Kubrick)
5. The Wicker Man
6. The Thing (Carpenter)
7. Deep Red
8. Zombi 2
9. Friday The 13th
10. Seven

[Maerlyn]

Let me think...

Halloween's music is really sound.

My favourite music (not horror, but gothic) Batman 1's.

Others are: Omen, Return Of The Living Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street, Candyman, Children of the Corn, American Psycho, The Diary of Allen Rimbauer, Lost Boys etc...

[The_Return]

Halloween, Suspiria, The Shining, Psycho, Exorcist, as alot of you have mentioned, are amazing.

The original NotLD had great score, aswell. The orinal Amityville however, is by far the creepiest score I have ever heared. I love it.


Dracula [1931], the original version at least, has great music. Damn near nothing, only a tiny bit over the credits. This added so much to the eeriness of the film, and Im not looking forward to seeing the recently scored version.