Panic Room (Score) [SOUNDTRACK]

Howard Shore (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00006580W
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #178,760 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With its central story line of a woman trapped in her home, shrewdly fighting off a band of equally determined intruders, Panic Room hearkens back to thrillers like Wait Until Dark and others. But in the playful hands of director David Fincher, it's a story whose technology--be it onscreen or in or behind the camera--is considerably more than mere plot point; it's a turnkey to ratchet the tension to almost nerve-wracking levels. Composer Howard Shore is Fincher's masterful musical accomplice in the caper, tightening the screws with swirling, unearthly orchestral flourishes, then hammering home the action with massive blasts of bass and percussion. Where the Oscar^®-winning Lord of the Rings displayed the maturity of his dramatic writing, the composer's work here is an exercise in sheer psychological manipulation that, like that of Bernard Herrmann before him, succeeds less by melodic conceits than it does in the dark, almost subliminal power of Shore's orchestral writing and arranging. Though the Master would've likely never admitted it, this is music that would've done Hitchcock proud. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More wonderfully dark, edgy string work from Mr. Shore., May 6, 2002

By	Josh (Wyoming) - See all my reviews

Granted, I have not seen the movie, but I can only imagine how well this music must fit it. I absolutely adore the way Mr. Shore uses his string sections to convey the most emotion in his music. His brilliant use of low, brooding cello, double bass work is stunning and haunting and eery. Howard Shore has not only cooked up a simple yet wonderful theme for Panic Room, but also some wonderful suspense music to fill in the film's dark "David Finch directed" nature. If you love Shore's music, you'll still be amazed by this score and what Shore can accomplish with strings. This is nothing like his score to 'Fellowship of the Ring', but it's a very different kind of score, and certainly another worthy addition to Mr. Shore's scoring legacy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different, March 23, 2003

By A Customer

In this score, by Howard Shore, it plays like the pouring of maple syrup; long, dark, and rich. The score is almost completely string related. For an example, the orchestra that performed it (the Hollywood Studio Symphony)didn't need to include the trumpet performers in the credits, for they didn't play in this piece. The wonderful string work gets this CD five stars. It's that good. Also on this CD there is no repetition of any music, making it an shorter than usually , but still worth it.
A different CD, but if you keep an open mind, it will go with the other great works of Howard Shore.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great score! I am Shore of it!, June 21, 2002

By	Varese Fan (Sunny FL) - See all my reviews

I am hardly a fan of Howard Shore's work, but this is great! Being a fan of thriller scores, I picked this one up after I saw the movie (which was great too!). However, I must warn you it doesn't have anything bombastic. It does have some action and dramatic tracks, but none that really jump out at you. That does not bother me, of course. It is all very subtle like the music is shouting in a whisper. There's not much else I can say except if you like soft thriller music, then this is for you!