Favourite Songs & Themes From Horror Movies
by Dylan Blight (Bevan Beats #13)
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Welcome to Bevan Beats! This is a fortnightly article and accompanying playlist from us at the Explosion Network. It aims to enable us the ability to share the music we love, discuss a certain theme, or share what we are simply listening to in our everyday lives. You’ll be able to find the playlist on YouTube and on Spotify.
This week I’ve made a list of some of my favourite pieces of original music or songs used in horror movies. Ranging from classics theme songs to songs used in horror movies you might not be aware of. Enjoy and I hope you had a spooky Halloween.
Prelude by Bernard Herrmann — Psycho
The opening of Psycho accompanied with Bernard Herrmann’s ‘Prelude’ sets such a tone for the movie that follows and the song, most importantly, puts you on the edge of your seat for what follows; one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Nothing is happening on-screen other than credits, but as you sit waiting, the piece unnerves you and also stands out as one of the great songs in horror movie history.
The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash — Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of the George A. Romero classic features a really fantastic use of a Johnny Cash song (not the last time Snyder does this by the way). After the opening scene with Sarah Polley’s character Anna escaping her home as the zombie apocalypse begins, a montage showing the world collapsing begins with zombie madness across the world to Cash’s ‘The Man Comes Around.’
The Final Zepp by Charlie Clouser — SAW Franchise
There are many different variations of the ‘Zepp’ theme and its use in the Saw franchise, but the main piece would be easily recognisable to anyone as “the Saw music.” The dun-dun-dun and heavy strings and percussion always make me think of the shocking final moments of the original film and this piece is so integral to the franchise as a whole, tying that first film together so well in the final scene.
Halloween Theme by John Carpenter — Halloween Franchise
Easily one of the most famous and recognisable horror themes of all time. John Carpenter’s monumental budget horror film is backed up by his work on the soundtrack, showing that sometimes simplicity is key and that an unnerving few key presses within the context of a film can become forever haunting.
This Is Halloween by Danny Elfman — The Nightmare Before Christmas
“This is Halloween, this is Halloween — Halloween, Halloween.” It’s hard not to sing along anytime this song comes on. The film has plenty of great songs, but this is the most memorable. You may also be wondering if this counts as a horror movie, but it scared me as a kid so the answer is yes, yes it does.
Title/Theme (Disasterpeace / Rich Vreeland) — It Follows
It Follows is one of the greatest horror films from the last 10 years and it also happens to feature one of the greatest soundtracks. A very 70’s-inspired synth-wave score includes many standouts, but the ‘Title’ track probably stands out the most — unless you prefer the creepy waves of ‘Anyone.’
The Exorcist Theme (Tubular Bells) by Lalo Schifrin & Mike Oldfield — The Exorcist
‘The Exorcist Theme’, or as titled on the original soundtrack ‘Tubular Bells’, is one of the most recognisable themes of the 70s and one of the most notable pieces of horror music. It wasn’t used in the film’s most tense moments — instead introduced to build upon the arrival of the priests — but it sets up the movie so well.
Tip Toe Thru’ The Tulips With Me by Tiny Tim — Insidious
There are two scenes featuring ‘Tip Toe Thru’ The Tulips With Me’ in Insidious, but the first stands out as the creepiest. Anyone who has watched the film has presumably had their skin crawl somewhat when Rose Byrne’s character walks outside only to hear her record skip and the new song start playing as she looks into her house to see a young boy dancing.
We’ve Only Just Begun by Carpenters — 1408
The song recurs throughout 1408 as John Cusack’s character stays in his hotel room and the terror begins (based on the Stephen King short story). 1408 is what I consider one of the scariest movies of all time — it just ruins me — and the use of the Carpenters’ song has also ruined that song for me… but maybe in a good way (I think).
Goodbye Horses by Q Lazzarus — The Silence of the Lambs
You either think of The Silence of the Lambs or Clerks II… or both. ‘Goodbye Horses’ is ingrained in pop-culture history with many parodies and homages to Buffalo Bill’s infamous scene, forever cementing it as a wonderfully weird song to listen to.
Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann — The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys is the movie that made me wish I had been brought up in the 80s. When I first watched it I was getting into a lot of glam-rock and horror movies and wanted to live in that world (minus the killer vampires). ‘Cry Little Sister’ serves as the theme for the late-80s classic and it’s a very 80s song featuring a killer chorus that’s impossible not to sing along to.
Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd — The Devil’s Rejects
Lots of Lynyrd Skynyrd songs have been used in many movies, but the use of ‘Free Bird’ in The Devil’s Rejects will always stand out as the best. I’m an admitted huge fan of Rob Zombie’s 2005 film, and a lot of that comes down to the way it’s shot and edited at times — like a music video. Particularly in the final act where the entirety of ‘Free Bird’ is used to build up and end the film in glorious fashion you probably didn’t see coming.
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