Did you honestly think I'd let this year's " Halloween Day by Day " go by without covering THIS particular theme? Shame on you, ye of little faith! John Carpenter's musical theme to his first movie is just a masterpiece of horror movie music.  It's a pulse quickening, uneasy melody that matches your racing heart and panicked thoughts.  It always sounds as if it's coming from the shadows behind you- just like the stealthy stalking of Michael Myers himself.  The different layers of tones and melodies keeps changing sides, and makes you look over your shoulder at any little sound in your empty house. This theme is the sound of slow, inevitable fear and death coming for the unwary- relentless in it's approach, unyielding in it's mission, uncompromising in it's plans for you. It is the sound of " Halloween ", the night death came home. My words can't do this piece of music justice, really.  Just listen to it bel...

One of the must important elements of a horror movie is the music- especially when it's subtle enough to go unnoticed, but still creep into your soul and chill your blood.  Most horror movie themes are rather ordinary sounding, but some... some transcend the ordinary, and become iconic and set the bar high for those that come after... John Carpenter's main theme for his 1978 feature, "Halloween" is one those iconic songs. At first listen, it's not a very complex piece, but as you listen further... it turns out to be comprised layers of dark, sinister intent stalking you from the theatrical shadows of the movie screen.  It is slow and rhythmical, like a heartbeat- your heartbeat as you check behind the couch, in the closet, under the bed for The Shape that lurks out sight... picking up speed as your realize that it's right behind you. This music is an ominous blanket of shadows falling over a quiet, idyllic neighbourhood, as Death flits from hedgerow t...