The Definitive Horror Movie Music Collection [Box set]

Christopher Young (Composer), Carter Burwell (Composer), Johan Soderqvist (Composer), Michael Giacchino (Composer), Maurice Jarre (Composer), David Shire (Composer), Rolfe Kent (Composer), Javier Navarrete (Composer), James Newton Howard (Composer), John [Film Composer] Williams (Composer), Charlie Clouser (Composer), John Murphy (Composer), Hans Zimmer (Composer), Alan Silvestri (Composer), Patrick Cassidy (Composer), Jerry Goldsmith (Composer), Danny Elfman (Composer), John / Davies, Dave Carpenter (Composer), Wojciech Kilar (Composer), Joseph LoDuca (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Christopher Young, Carter Burwell, Johan Soderqvist, Michael Giacchino, Maurice Jarre, et al.
• Audio CD (October 13, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Silva America
• ASIN: B002MT3BK8
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,225 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Drag Me to Hell/End Titles

2. Twilight/Edward at Her Bed (Bella's Lullaby)

3. Lät Den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One In)/Eli's Theme

4. Cloverfield/Roar!

5. Sunshine/Adagio in D Minor

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Mummy/The Sand Volcano/Love Theme

2. Sleepy Hollow/End Titles

3. The Haunting/The Carousel/End Titles

4. The Sixth Sense/Malcolm Is Dead

5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Theme

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street/Main Theme

2. Christine/Bad to the Bone

3. Poltergeist/Main Theme

4. The Thing/Main Theme

5. Halloween II/Main Theme

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. The Omen/Ave Satani

2. Young Frankenstein/Transylvanian Lullaby

3. Tubular Bells (As Used in the Film the Exorcist)

4. Duel/The Cafe/Truck Attack

5. Taste the Blood of Dracula/The Young Lovers/Ride to the Ruined Church

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably Wonderful Collection, December 2, 2009

By 

Scott A. Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Definitive Horror Movie Music Collection (Audio CD)

For years, music companies have put out CD compilations of movie themes that promise to be the "ultimate" or "complete" set. And most of them are woefully disappointing. While they contain the themes to great movies, they're usually performed on synthesizers or are knockoffs that don't have near the power or beauty of the originals. So when a four-CD set called "The Definitive Horror Music Collection" landed in my mailbox, I was skeptical to say the least. I looked at the track listings and imagined another crappy set that sounded more like elevator music than a moving score. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, not only did the set include some great songs, but were played by some really impressive musicians.

To begin with, the four CDs play like a lesson in movie history with the earliest tracks going back to 1922's Nosferatu, continuing to 2009's Drag Me to Hell. By taking some of the most powerful music (not just themes) from eighty-seven years worth of horror films, this collection gives the reader a real education in influences and advances in the art of scoring a movie. The composer list reads like a who's who of music, with names like Danny Elfman, John Williams, Elmer Berstein, and Pino Donaggio.

It also doesn't go for the easy market by picking only the popular films. Some of the titles in this collection, I must admit, I'd either forgotten about or had never heard. The music from Duel and Taste the Blood of Dracula are a couple of wonderful surprises, as is the "Twisted Nerve Suite" and "Creation of the Female Monster" from Bride of Frankenstien. The collection does contain some of the old stand-bys that no collection should be without, like "Tubular Bells" and "Dance of the Witches" from The Witches of Eastwick, but it also contains surprises like John Carpenter's ultra-cheesy theme to They Live, the theme to Dexter, and a fully realized theme to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Also included is the theme to Ghostbusters, which, contrary to popular belief, is not the Ray Parker Jr. song.

What sets this collection apart from others, besides the incredible choice in music, is the caliber of musicians who play on it. The majority of the tracks are played by the City of Prauge Philharmonic Orchestra, which means the songs are played with all the beauty of emotion they deserve. Also featured on the collection is London Music Works, who do an excellent job of capturing the mood and feeling of each piece. Other artists on the collection include The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia, Michigan Music Works, Gareth Williams, Nick Watson and Mark Ayres.

In all, the collection is nearly flawless, and I say "nearly" because also included is an instrumental version of "Bad to the Bone" from Christine, which doesn't sound right unless George Thorogood is playing it. Every other track in the collection is perfect, well excecuted, and well worth the listen.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collection, December 5, 2010

By 

Patrick Blind "Helicopters are fun" (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Definitive Horror Movie Music Collection (Audio CD)

This collection really is wonderful. I run a haunted house every year out of my home and wanted something more than the standard "scary music" CD. This collection delivered. I will say that not all the music is good for a haunted house as some of the longer songs are themes from movies that hold a "happier tune" for a minute or so. I couldn't have happy music playing while walking through a haunted house, so I just didn't use those songs.

On a whole this was a great purchase. I would highly recommend it for any horror fan or for someone who wants to add something to a haunted house.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Song Selection, but NOT Original Recordings, July 18, 2011

By 

musiclover - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Definitive Horror Movie Music Collection (Audio CD)

I was thrilled to see so many titles on this compilation. However, be warned these are NOT the original recordings. They've all been re-recorded by various orchestras. I was incredibly disappointed by Rosemary's Baby Theme.