Halloween Day by Day: "The Amityville Horror" (1979) Theme

When it comes to music, horror tends to have some of the most dramatic, visceral melodies around. This Halloween season, I'm going to examine five iconic horror movie themes.

First up is the theme to the 1979 horror, "The Amityville Horror". I won't go through the synopsis- since it would have nothing to add to the theme.

So, let's get to it!

I love how this starts out calm and serene. You could almost imagine driving a gentle tree edged drive way up to your new home in autumn- the leaves drifting lazily from the trees, only to get airborne again from the tires passing buy.

The house comes into view, and it's magnificent... but something's off.

The music slowly adds scratchy, hard edged notes... hollow thrumming as the house gazes down upon you... judging you... and waiting for you to enter its shadowy embrace...

This particular theme reflects both the surface and the underbelly of the famous house: serene and welcoming on the outside, but chaotic and greedy once you enter it. The house was almost a character in it's own right in the movie, and that's embodied perfectly in this piece.

The use of a chorus of children adds a wonderful level of creepiness to the song as it blends and distorts the line between hopes and dreams of the homeowners, and the hunger and nightmares of the house itself. The emotional dissonance is perfectly balanced, creating a sense of unease, and looking over your shoulder paranoia.

One of the finest- and in my opinion under appreciated, pieces of horror movie music.

Listen to it below!

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