The Ten Most Terrifying Horror Movie Themes
Does the music make the movie?
Have you ever tried watching a horror movie with the sound turned off? Even the scariest scenes lose their bite. Music is an important part of the vast majority of films, but it’s most vital in the horror genre. The music score can easily make or break a scary moment. A select few horror movie themes have become iconic over the years.
Here are my ten favorite horror movie themes ranked. I am by no means a music expert, so if you’re looking for in-depth analysis, you won’t find it here. My rankings are based on the general mood and feel of the music, and how well it relates to the movies’ themes.
10. Terrifier
Composer: Paul Wiley
Terrifier’s creepy, menacing theme accentuates the dark atmosphere of this wildly gory franchise. It’s the perfect soundtrack for Art the Clown’s rampage, with a mix of ’80s sounds and modern rock.
Composer Paul Wiley has worked as a guitarist for Marilyn Manson. His hard rock experience are evident in his Terrifier work.
9. Saw
Composer: Charlie Clouser
Charlier Clouser, a keyboardist and former member of Nine Inch Nails, created the dark industrial rock sound that the Saw movies are known for. The original “Hello Zepp” theme has been remixed numerous times throughout the series.
The way that the beat escalates makes it the perfect twist-revealing score. It’s impossible to listen to it without thinking of the big reveal at the end of the first movie.
8. Nightmare on Elm Street
Composer: Charles Bernstein
Charles Bernstein, who also scored Cujo, is responsible for this iconic score. Nightmare on Elm Street‘s electronic instrumental theme captures the movie’s surreal vibe with eerie ringing sound effects.
Bernstein was able to create a surprisingly effective and varied score despite the original film’s limited budget
7. Candyman
Composer: Philip Glass
This simple, minimalist score is hauntingly elegant. It was created by classic composer Phillip Glass. Most horror movie themes are known for intense, scary vibes, but some do great with softer, less intimidating music. This score fits Candyman – both the character and the film – perfectly.
6. Friday the 13th
Composer: Harry Manfredini
Manfredini’s score was blatantly inspired by Psycho‘s famous theme, but it’s become iconic in its own right. The famous ch ch ch…ha ha ha has been referenced and imitated countless times.
According to Manfredini, though, people have been getting it wrong: it’s actually k..k…k…ma…ma…ma, referencing the child Jason’s “kill her mommy” voice that Pamela Voorhees hears that spur her to kill.
5. Suspiria
Composer: Claudio Simonetti with his band Goblin
The Italian prog rock band Goblin collaborated with director Dario Argento on several projects, most notably the evocative and unforgettable soundtrack to Argento’s witch ballerina epic, Suspiria. The whimsical and surreal music fit the the story like a glove.
4. The Exorcist
Composer: Mike Oldfield
The Exorcist has one of the most instantly recognizable horror movie themes. It’s a beautiful yet eerie piece that has stood the test of time as one of the best horror themes. Ironically, “Tubular Bells” has a more upbeat sound than most horror themes.
If someone heard it without knowing the context, they probably wouldn’t suspect it was from one of the most notorious horror films ever made.
3. Jaws
Composer: John Williams
The Jaws theme is probably the most famous horror movie music in existence. Even people who never watch horror movies will immediately recognize the “da dum dum” main theme.
Williams, now renowned as a genius at film composition, created this classic. The score’s rumbling, gradually increasing momentum underscores the looming, hidden threat of the killer shark.
2. psycho
Composer: Bernard Herrmann
Countless horror movie theme songs have been influenced by Herrmann’s unforgettable score, which appropriately has a stabbing, attacking feel. Practically every slasher movie has tried to rip off this theme, but Psycho‘s score remains unmatched.
Composer Bernard Herrmann has been mentioned as a influence by numerous other successful horror film composers, such as John Carpenter and Harry Manfredini.
1. Halloween
Composer: John Carpenter
Sometimes the simplest scores are the best, and director John Carpenter struck gold with this piano theme. Lacking the budget to hire a professional composer, Carpenter created the famous Halloween theme himself.
He has cited the Suspiria and Exorcist themes as influences. Like “Hello Zepp”, the Halloween piano music has been remixed numerous times through the franchise and remains an iconic staple of the horror genre.
