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The Theme From John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978)


It's day four of my first annual "Spookapolooza", and I felt like bringing you something a little different... a song.

Music is often overlooked when assessing and reviewing a movie- but is often one of the key elements to creating the right mood and atmosphere... especially in horror movies.  In addition to the books and movies I'll be reviewing this month, I'm going to be bringing you specific songs from various horror movies, and letting you know why I like them.

October, and Halloween wouldn't be the holiday we know and love if it didn't involve today's theme... from the classic 1978 horror movie "Halloween".  John Carpenter composed the music for the movie using a 5/4 meter, and a piano.  While it's been called, "relatively simple and unsophisticated," it is one of those themes that is effective and stays with you.

Why do I like it personally?  Probably because of it's simplicity and how effective it is.  With minimal use of instruments it manages to express the sense of being watched from the shadows.  When I hear it, I can't help but tingle with the sensation that I'm being stalked in my own darkened home by some unknown evil.  The simple reptition of the piano notes is very much like a heartbeat- echoing my racing heart as that unseen killer gets closer and closer to me.  The bass notes make me think of footsteps approaching down the hallway and stopping behind me in the shadows as I write...

I think I'm going to sleep with the light on tonight...


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Comments

  1. We Came from the BasementOctober 4, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    Best. Movie. Theme. Ever.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michael StewartOctober 4, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    I KNEW this would get a respons out of you... knew pretty much what that response would be. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AuthorOctober 5, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    I thought it was a stupid movie, but it was 1978 and they didn't have the technology that we have today, its still a classic though. I like the Remake. H20: 20 Years Later was pretty good, so was Halloween: Resurrection!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michael StewartOctober 5, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Tech doesn't necessarily make a movie good. I hated "Avatar" even though it was a technologically slick movie. I really liked "H20", and "Resurrection". I also liked Zombie's version, though it had a few flaws. I'll be reviewing both versions later this month.

    ReplyDelete

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