For me, it's only a few composers; but they each deliver such a great atmosphere of mood and eerieness that always makes me think of horror. I've got my iTunes playlist ready.

It's fairly obvious by anyone who's a fan that Christopher Young is the biggest influence on modern horror scores (well, the more melodic, traditional ones). Hellraiser gets tossed around a lot, and rightfully so (I've included it on my list); but I have my ears set on his recent score to The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Along with The Fly II and The Dark Half, those four scores have been on heavy rotation for me ever since the beginning of the month.

Make no mistake about my Howard Shore affection, he's possiblyamong my favorite composers (and, again, simply not because of LotR) and his horror material is too die for. While The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en provide for some moody listens, his work for David Cronenberg's films are truly brooding. Videodrome, The Fly, and eXistenZ are my favorite three around this time. I also shouldn't forget The Cell and The Game.

And how could I go another Halloween without Goblin's Suspiria score playing as loud as possible (preferably towards the end of the evening, I wouldn't want to scare any parents). Another Argento-inspired score that I've gotten within the year is Ennio Morricone's score for The Phantom of the Opera. While some parts are rather tender and emotional, when Morricone is in full horror mode, his stuff is chilling. There's also a compilation disc of Morricone's music called Crimes and Dissonance which must be heard around these times. Especially for fans of Morricone's more atonal works.

While Elliot Goldenthal hasn't worked much in recent years, his early work still gets regualr play whether I'm at home or in the car. Alien 3 is a true scary masterpiece, as is the latter half of Sphere. His work on Pet Cemetary is one of my favorite horror scores of all time.

Of mention is Christopher Gordon's recent score for the Salem's Lot TV remake. It's a remarkable score, filled with a lot of great cues. Definitely one of my favorite horror scores of the last four years or so.

And what of Goldsmith, you ask? The Mephisto Waltz is like required listening for all score fans; and The Omen is near-perfect. Capricorn One is also pretty moody and filled with that trademark Maestro atmosphere that keeps my spine tingled on Halloween night.

Being a Marco Beltrami fan, I should mention his scores for Screan, Mimic, and his score for The Omen remake as being particularly effective. There are also a few cues amongst Blade II and Hellboy which are great spook tracks. Unfortunately, not so much for Underworld: Evolution.

For honorable mentions I'll remark on Caine Davidson's score for An American Haunting, John Barry's White Buffalo, Lalo Schifrin's Abominable, John Williams' Jaws and War of the Worlds, and David Shire's heart-wrenching Zodiac score.

So fellow score-buffs, what are your favorites?

quote:

---

Originally posted by nuts_score:
So fellow score-buffs, what are your favorites?

---

The Prague Orchestra playing Goldsmith.

--Brian

...or crack?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Crono/Kyp:
ummmmmm there's nothing there...are you hopped up on candy?

...or crack?

--Bri

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by sean:
I have 3 damn papers due tomorrow (currently in the process of writing them) and I just put on the various artists Ghostbusters! Scary. Currently my iPod is at Laura Branigan's "Hot Night"! LMAO! Maybe I should switch to Goldsmith's Poltergeist to regain my sanity.

---

I knew you were a Laura Branigan fan! I thought I heard "Creatures of the Night" playing.

quote:

---

Originally posted by rkeaveney:
Ken Wannberg/Rick Wilkins/Howard Blake's THE CHANGELING and the Climax Golden Twins' SESSION 9. One is melodic horror, the other is pure disturbing atmosphere.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BackToTheFutureFan:
I watched the The Haunting (1963), then pulled out the score to The Shining before I hit the sack. I haven't heard any music creepier than the music Kubrick chose for The Shining.

---

There's an actual score to it?! I looked to find one and all I came across were a bunch of fake fan made CD's and then one CD with like 4 tracks by Wendy Carlos.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkA:
The title of this topic makes me think of Ricardo Montalban.

---

Indeed.

quote:

---

Originally posted by scoreguy16:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by BackToTheFutureFan:
[b]I watched the The Haunting (1963), then pulled out the score to The Shining before I hit the sack. I haven't heard any music creepier than the music Kubrick chose for The Shining.<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE>

There's an actual score to it?! I looked to find one and all I came across were a bunch of fake fan made CD's and then one CD with like 4 tracks by Wendy Carlos.

Clayton[/B]

---

I don't know if mine is fan made. It wasn't commercially released, but it seems to have quite a bit of the music from the film in good quality. All the Kryzysztof Penderecki stuff is the highlight. I have 14 tracks with 1:13:00 of music. Very creepy music.