The Haunting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Jerry Goldsmith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00000JMXU
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Carousel

2. Terror in Bed

3. A Place for Everything

4. The Curtains

5. Curly Hair

6. The Picture Album

7. Return to the Carousel

8. Finally Home

9. Home Safe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting mostly for a little-known piece of trivia..., June 14, 2006

By 

Musical Lover (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

This isn't Goldsmith's best score, but it's a necessary addition to your collection for a big reason: it's an indirect sequel to Goldsmith's heart-stopping work on Poltergeist and Poltergeist II.

You see, Goldsmith was the original composer for MGM's ill-fated Poltergeist III. When studio execs were...desperately underwhelmed with the rough first cuts of the film, they demanded re-shoots and a new ending, and slashed the film's budget by about $10 million. These cuts necessitated the removal of Goldsmith as composer (he was replaced by another, cheaper composer who created one of the least dramatic scores in film history using what sounds like a Casio keyboard).

However, Goldsmith saved much of his work from Poltergeist III and is rumored to have included most of it in this, his score for The Haunting. Indeed there are many moments here that seem to be cribbed straight from the Poltergeist films:

* Compare "The Curtains" with "The Calling" from Poltergeist I
* Compare the flute solo in "A Place for Everything" with Carol Anne's Theme in Poltergeist I's "Main Title"; the themes are obviously different, but the orchestrations are largely the same
* Both scores use the celesta for important motifs; "Home Safe" in particular sounds like it could be interchangible with several cues from the Poltergeist series
* Compare the playful woodwind motif in "Curly Hair" with Poltergeist's "The Clown"

There are many more similarities, obviously, but they would take up too much space here. Appraising the score on its own merits, it's more tuneful and sweeping and a bit sadder than Goldsmith's other horror scores. The Haunting is relatively light on the disorientating percussion and bombastic brass that trademark Goldsmith's work, but still retains his dramatic flair. If the Omen was influenced by Orff, and Alien was influenced by Stravinsky, this particular outing feels like Strauss with a bit of Debussey.

The quality is good and we're thankfully spared too many electric instruments, as these tend to instantly date the work. The exposition and development is good, if a little stunted by the limited selection of cues on display here.

All in all, better than the film for which it was made!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I've just added Varese onto my hit list, February 11, 2000

By 

"drevil4934" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

The Haunting, Jan De Bont's odd collaboration of bad F/X scenes, muddled story, and just stupid "feelings" and visions, was only saved by Jerry Goldsmith's mediocre score. To start, Varese Sarabande, the label, allowed a mere 30 minutes of music to their release of the CD. Now, come on. Goldsmith deserves more than that. I was also suprised at the selection of tracks. The only ones worth discussing are tracks one and eight. 1 begins with a funny little waltz placed under the name "The Carousel". It uses synthesized beats and weird bells in a truely genious jingle that sounds a lot like that Meow Mix one. The best part of this track, however, is the powerful roar of trumpet, which I believe should have been elaborated on. It is played the most, making it the theme. And shouldn't the theme be the spine of the whole release? Last, 8, FINALLY HOME, is a great track. It begins by slowly rolling over and over again a very tedious theme, constantly growing stronger, ending in a burst of life as a synthesized beating and horns entrap the viewer to that scene when the ghost of Hugh Craine came alive, out of his portrait. These are, I'm sorry to say, the only true highlights of the release. The other tracks are a bad mix of subtle undertones and The Haunting's main theme, played again and again and again and again! 2, TERROR IN BED, encorporates the same beating as 8 does, but in a more dramatic situation. Track four, A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, has a beautiful flute and harp piece, which tell us the many things going on in Nell's head. 5 and 6 are just bad; misplaced blends of wierd noises and beats that die as soon as they start. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, just the ones to have the money hanging around.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's the best score for a movie like this., November 5, 1999

By 

Justin Halat (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haunting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

If you like horror movie music that is really eerie and mysterious, then this is the cd to get. I love it, it's not one of his best, but it's up there. Another good one is The 13th Warrior.