1. Carrie (1976) - Pino Donaggio
In a failed attempt to avoid being overly dramatic, I must announce that we have finally arrived at one of the greatest horror scores of all-time (if not
the). Before getting into what makes this score such a treat, let's just clear a few things up. Its true there are many great piece of horror music out there that did not make this list, but very few hit all the marks like Pino Donaggios compositions for Carrie. At one moment it is movingly sentimental, and at the next it's gut wrenchingly sorrowful until finally reaching is tragic trajectory of inescapable horror. Throughout the film, the character of Carrie White is followed by a delicate orchestra lead by a single breathy flute. Its a sensitive, thoughtful piece that makes promises of sweetness and tender dreams coming true; the perfect setup for the films unforgiving and brutally heartrending finale. Once Carrie reaches the prom and the sweetness has slowly turned sour, the music teases its way into a darker tone as the camera follows a rope thats about to be pulled, the result of which is a bucket of blood to be emptied on top of Carries unsuspecting head. The melodies become a gloomy shadow of what they once were as Carrie enacts her terrible, fever driven revenge. If the main function of a horror film in society is to express that not every ending is a happy one, that not every storm cloud allows for a silver lining, that goodness, no matter how pure the virtue, can always be corrupted, then Donaggios music is the perfect embodiment of it. Its sweet and sinister, tender and yet terrible. The final cue of the film sums up exactly this notion as Carries sentimental theme returns one last time, only to be interrupted by a different jarring tune lead by her precious flute, which now painfully squeals out its notes like an animal in the thralls of death. This new music laced with malice accompanies Carrie to her sad, tragic, and all too relatable end. Its horror with a sense of poetry, which is why its here at number one.
Like this list? Which classic scores have we omitted? Let us know in the comments section below.