10 Best Horror Scores In Cinematic History

10. Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1982) - Jerry Goldsmith

Music 2 Poltergeist II Jerry Goldsmith wrote many prolific horror scores in his time including The Omen, Gremlins, Alien and - of course - the original Poltergeist. However, where he really had fun was with the sequels. In sequel land, all bets were off. The music can be exponentially expanded upon into new dark or humorous territories; the established themes can be toyed with, even torn apart into something brand new. Evidence of this can be seen in not only Damien: Omen II and Psycho II, but also in other composer€™s works, such as Danny Elfman€™s Batman Returns. When looking at the music objectively - and having admitted that Poltergeist II isn€™t the greatest film this side of the grave - it can still safely be asserted that it has one heck of a score. There€™s a return of the sweet Carol Anne theme from the original film, but it€™s starkly contrasted with the new theme for the diabolical Reverend Kane. As the lead spectral antagonist hell-bent on stealing the young girl€™s soul, Kane is often introduced into scenes singing a simple old-time-religion tune in order to coax Carol Anne into a state of ease. Goldsmith takes what he did with the Gregorian chants in The Omen one step further and incorporates Kane€™s song into the score itself, only this rendition is populated by a full choir, giving the tune a powerful, driving sense of dread. Dancing around this melody are invasive electronic and synth sounds to punctuate the horror. The resulting music cues convey a sense of insurmountable evil, appropriate for a film about religious insanity.
 
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Contributor

I have a keen, almost obsessive fascination with the macabre. It has lead me from a quiet life growing up in a small town to where I am now; creating horrific works about horrific things in many different mediums including films, short stories and essays. I live life by a simple motto: learn to like the dark, cause eventually, it'll come for all of us (lightening flashes and thunder claps)... but it ain't so bad.