Horror movies and T.V. shows would not be as well-known and suspenseful without their instrumental compositions full of fast-paced staccato runs, dissonant chords, drawn-out half notes and (lets not forget) the spooky synthesizer chords. Composer John Carpenter admits that after showing 'Halloween' (without music) to an unmoved 20th Century exec, he was determined to "save it with the music." Check out the best horror movie and TV instrumental songs as rated by AOL listeners and be sure to listen to these classics on AOL's Halloween radio station.
10) Goblin: Suspiria
The 1977 theme song merging acoustic guitar, synthesizers, bells, and disturbing cries complements the film plot about an aspiring dancer who enrolls in a German dance academy run by witches. Their progressive rock sound has been an inspiration for many heavy metal bands.
9) Danny Elfman: 'Beetlejuice'
This is some of Elfman's earliest work; somewhat jumpy and overly dynamic, it still remains a classic 20 years later. The version of the theme song titled 'Main Titles' on the soundtrack is different from what is heard on the film.
8) Marius Constant: 'Twilight Zone'
The 'Twilight Zone''s music in the main and end titles for the fall 1960 season was composed by Constant; previously recorded in the late '50s the music didn't consist of fragments longer than five seconds. But the two compositions, 'Etrange No. 3' (repeated four-note phrases on electric guitar) and 'Milieu No. 2,' (compilation of disturbing brass, flutes, guitar, and bongo drums) together are the Halloween-themed favorite we hear today. Constant sold all music rights to CBS, not realizing at the time that his compositions were the theme of a well-known U.S. T.V. show.
7) Goblin: 'Profondo Rosso'
6) Charles Clouser: 'Hello Zepp'
The original score first appears at the end of the film 'Saw' in a climatic plot twist (warning: spoiler alert!) revealing that the character Zep is a victim to the antagonist Jigsaw Killer. The sequels include variations of this score.
5) Marco Beltrami: 'Trouble In Woodsboro/Sidney's Lament'
4) Danny Elfman: 'Tales from the Crypt'
Elfman's composition work not only includes all the prestigious Tim Burton films but also theme music for T.V. series such as HBO's 'Tales from the Crypt.' Bigscreen Records released the soundtrack in 1991, which also includes composers Jimmy Webb and James Horner.
3) Mike Oldfield: 'Turbular Bells'
The initial music in the trailer for 'The Exorcist' film was a score by Lalo Schifrin, later rejected by director William Friedkin because it was too scary combined with the film's plot. They ended up going with a tuned-down score -- the opening theme of Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.
2) Bernard Hermann: 'The Murder'
The score for the film, 'Psycho' only uses the string section and is divided into three main movements: 1)The first has no melody, but is comprised of numerous runs and staccato notes alternating eighth-note semitones to create suspense and approaching danger. 2) A single violin plays diminished chords before the rest of the string section comes in. 3) Drawn out notes from the Cello and double bass dominate this section.
1) John Carpenter: 'Halloween 1978'
John Carpenter composed and produced the music as well as directed the film, all on a budget of only $300k. The 5/4 rhythmic count was inspired from a bongo exercise Carpenter learned from his father as a child and the synthesizer programming was done by composer Dan Wyman, who also oversaw the recording process (overdubbing one instrument at a time).
