Halloween Day by Day: "The Omen" (1976) Theme

Religion sometimes has a huge influence on horror movies- especially when it involves Satan.

So, one could expect religious influences to appear in the music from such movies. 1976's "The Omen" is a perfect example of that influence- and is this week's horror movie theme to be enjoyed and commented on.

Not many horror movie themes have actual titles. The theme from "The Omen" is different in this regard. This Jerry Goldsmith created piece was title "Ave Satani". It is essentially a "Satanized" version of the Latin Mass- and was one of the few non-English songs to be nominated for an Oscar.

It's short, but memorable, and sets up the tone of the movie perfectly. The religious sound of the Gregorian style chanting is familiar (especially to those of Roman Catholic upbringing), but is just off centered enough to create a dissonance that makes you uneasy. The low tone of the melody, and the slow, deep sound of the chanting sinks in slowly and brings to mind tortured souls wailing in the sulfur fire of Hell... or of misshapen figures chained to a dank dungeon wall as a hooded monk whips them... or of decaying fingers reaching from the shadowing pit of a grave for you... or any number of monsterous abominations our minds can conjure.

"Ave Satani" is shadowy and dark- sinister and vicious in its relentless reaching towards your soul.

Just a wonderful example of religiously inspired horror music. Listen to it below!

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