8. The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) - Ennio Morricone
We have reached yet another reluctant admittance: The Exorcist II is a laughably bad movie. But Ennio Morricones gorgeous score is worth suffering through the blundering plot of this wacky horror sequel. Without digging too deep into the story of the messy mud pit that is The Heretic, the character of Regan - played once again by Linda Blair - is taken on a journey that reveals her to be some kind of semi-saintly figure; an instrument of pure goodness if you will, which is why the demon Pazuzu is so keen on corrupting her. Morricone wrote a theme for Regan that is at one moment gentle and serene, then grows to such enlightening heights, one can't help but be swept up and inspired by its beauty. The melody is carried by a strong single female voice, perfectly connecting it to our main protagonist. Its used sparingly in the film, only at key moments of triumph, which only helps to emphasis its impact. On the other end of the spectrum, theres the music composed for the demon itself. These compositions include piercing woodwinds and an extensive use of African drums, which, aside from being jarring and erratic, also help to connect the demon with its back-story. Most notably, there is a cue entitled Magic and Ecstasy that can best be described as a macabre rock ballad. It's as if Beelzebub was part of a rockin hair band led by a choir of eerie children. Seems an exquisitely bizarre mix.