Music is of course, one of the most important elements of the horror movie. It works to create ambiance as well as to build up tension. Many people would agree that, without music, horror movies just aren't as scary.
Here are a couple of tracks from my favourite horror soundtracks which I believe would work well for Talisman. Once I have decided on which one to use, I can email the record label to ask for permission for use in my horror movie opening sequence.
The first is the soundtrack for The Rite. The Rite is a supernatural horror movie, focusing on the story of a possessed priest. I believe that the slightly religious sound to this soundtrack (e.g. the sound of choir voices) would work well with my own movie idea. A talisman is an object often used by religious people. Furthermore, the necklace is a possessed object, relating to the idea of a possessed person.
I have also considered using the soundtrack from supernatural horror movie, Let Me In. The track below, Los Alamos (from around 1:15), would be perfect for the scene in which Bonnie is compelled to pick up the talisman. Once again we hear choir voices. Furthermore, many tracks on the Let Me In Sound track use screeching violin sounds and gentle piano music (this was highlighted as popular in my target audience survey).
The Red Riding Hood score is also a potential option. The unusual sounds created definitely inspire feelings of unease and suggest something supernatural. However, in order to fit the mise-en-scene of this movie, the music does have a certain medieval quality which of course does not correlate with my own mise-en-scene. In addition, no strings or piano music is used.
Finally, I do have the option of using music created by a friend. A fellow filmmaker from the USA spends her spare time creating original and improvised piano pieces. These would be very fitting for an opening sequence of the horror genre. However, with only one instrument, the music fails to create as much impact as the full orchestral soundtracks do. Stephanie Ann created the score for the short film below.
Having studied all of my options, I feel that the Let Me In sound track would be most fitting for my own opening sequence. The tracks have a lot of variety and inspire many different emotions.
For example, I could use 'Hammertime' for my opening credits. With off-key strings the piece will immediately establish my genre.
Next, I could use 'Sins of the Father' for the scene of Bonnie preparing for her first date. The piece is mysterious and quiet but quickly becomes off-key with a crescendo towards the end. This would be perfect for the moment Bonnie slices open her finger with the back of her earring.
'Peeping Owen' could work for both the sequence of Nate arriving at Bonnie's door and the couple approaching the old abandoned barn house. The quiet off-key piano music immediately implies that something is not right, creating unease within an audience without being over-dramatic.
'Los Alamos', as I mentioned earlier, is the track that I would like to use for Bonnie's discovering of the Talisman. Incredibly loud and creepy, this piece of music suggests the evil nature of the so-called 'talisman'. The choir voices also have connotations of religion, a common convention of the horror genre.
For the rather romantic moment in which Nate places the necklace tenderly around Bonnie's neck, I could use 'Visitation Rights'. The slow piece of high pitched piano music adds a gentle and, of course, romantic air to the scene. The piece was actually used for a romantic scene in the movie Let Me In.
Finally, I could use both 'The Blood Flood' and 'The Back Seat Killer' for the bath scene. Both are off-key and scary tracks, inspiring fear. They also include a build up to a dramatic climax, perfect for the death of Bonnie.
Let's hope the record label allow me to use this music! Here is a screen shot of my email.
Fingers crossed!
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