by Ken S on 7/28/2001
favorite track: 1
 
This remake of the original classic (1959) was destroyed by a disastrous script and too many effects. It seems that Jerry Goldsmith was aware of this and decided to save the movie with his music - thank God for him!

Although the entire score works splendidly within the movie, the action tracks reveal in listening that Goldsmith isn't at his best. In contrast to the magnificent "Main Theme" (composed for the coldest, most luscious violins heard in horror movie history), the action music seems too synthesized - the music that should be horrific is not. It's somewhat odd that Goldsmith's The Mummy score was much more scarier with its rich orchestral structure and chorus. But, nevertheless, the score for The Haunting works well in the movie and contains (in addition to the marvelous "Main Theme") some very beautiful orchestral writing for the lighter moments of the movie, and to top it all - Goldsmith's most rollicking theme to date, "The Carousel."