Customer Reviews

Halloween 2 Soundtrack

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, I love the Halloween movies. Second, I love Carpenter's score(s). Third, I love dark, ominous, moody, creepy, unsettling music. This soundtrack is all three. There is the 2009 version of Carpenter's original score, but besides the first track, it is not a typical representation of a Halloween score. The rest of the tracks are a collection of noises and sound, but is effective at creating an unsettling atmosphere. It is as different to other Halloween scores as Zombie's Halloween II is to the original Halloween II; just similar enough to satisfy the loyalists while not rehashing old scores or themes.

If you are after Carpenter's score, buy the single MP3 or the soundtacks to Halloween I & II (originals). If you like something that will sound unlike the Halloween scores that came before it, then make this purchase.

Cult director Rob Zombie's ultra-violent re-imagining of the classic Halloween legend continues with Halloween II. Picking up immediately from where the last film left off, the film stars Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Strode, who has been taken to hospital to recover from the wounds inflicted on her by her psychotic, murderous brother Michael Myers (Tyler Mane). However, Laurie's recuperation is short lived when the supposedly dead Michael returns, very much alive, intent on reuniting with his sister, even if it means murdering everyone in the hospital who stands in his way. Despite an idiosyncratic cast that includes Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif and the director's wife Sheri Moon-Zombie, Halloween II was called a "brutal, bloody, badly executed mess", and was a comparative box office failure.

The same adjectives could apply to Tyler Bates' score. I mustered up the intestinal fortitude to listen to Bates' first Halloween score in 2007, and to prove how much I love you all and what I'm willing to subject myself to for my art, I did so again here, several times. My masochism clearly knows no bounds. The modern reworking of John Carpenter's classic Halloween theme is fine, despite being accompanied by all manner of industrial sound effects. Unfortunately, the rest of it is simply abysmal; a collision of industrial white noise and synthesized sound effects masquerading as music. It grinds and groans and moans and pounds and rumbles and mutters unnerving in your ear. Occasionally it leaps into action with a screeching stinger, and as such cues such as "Rabbit in Red" or "Van Kill" could make the unwary leap from their comfortable chair.

However, other than the Carpenter theme and a brief moment at the beginning of "Brackett Finds Annie", there's no melody, no harmony, and nothing that is actually discernible as being music. In short, it's an absolute wasteland, a complete abomination devoid of anything remotely resembling musical composition. It's like listening to the internal workings of a broken storage heater for an hour. I you value your sanity, I suggest giving this one a wide berth. I'm not kidding. The half star rating is simply to recognize that Bates didn't butcher Carpenter's theme beyond recognition.

This is an outstanding score composed by Tyler Bates. The mood/atmosphere is very well executed by delivering all the chills and "jumps" to Rob Zombie's "Halloween 2" (a film that I find to be a very original and refreshing).
The music on this cd-r is very well produced and it is only available here on amazon.com (just like the "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" score). For anyone who likes a great horror film soundtrack, then by all means pick this up today and enjoy. A highly recommended cd.

I loved the film, the acting, the directing, the soundtrack, and the score. Anyone who didn't does not appreciate Originality.