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John Debney gives us the ideal score for a film based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether". Debney has composed scores for "Dream House", "Elf", "Hocus Pocus", "Iron Man 2", and "Aliens in the Attic". His resume is certainly sprinkled with every genre out there and his experience is put to good use with this suspense thriller. We find a reoccurring theme throughout the score and it is first introduced in track 1, "Eliza's Theme". It can be described as soft and elegant...with a dash of melancholy. It is simple and effective in musically painting a picture of the character. It reappears a various moments throughout the score and I do appreciate when a composer does this. Sometimes important themes can be lost in film scores and this is one of those that you don't want that to happen in. Track 2, "Opening", establishes the darker elements at play in the story. I've noticed that the score pushes the boundaries into what could be described as "horror music" but it always pulls back to stay on a more "mystery/thriller" level. Tracks like "Eliza warns Edward/Secret Passage" (#8) and "Shock Therapy" (#17) are some good examples of Debney's "terror" music for the film.
This is indeed primarily a "mystery/thriller" score that reminds me of a Sherlock Holmes adventure but Debney has included a few extras that musically captures other moments in the film. Track #4, "Wagon Ride", is a comic sounding piece while Track #9, "We are Not Crazy" is just plain creepy. The funny thing about "We Are Not Crazy" is that it sounds like it should be called "Oh Yes You Are Very Crazy". Debney has also included a famous composition by Camille Saint Saens (#18) entitled "Danse Macabre Saint Saens". Those who love classical music will recognize this one as being the piece that is based off the poem in which Death calls forth the dead at Halloween to dance for him as he plays the fiddle. It is a piece that fits very well with the atmosphere and mood of the score/film. There is plenty of romantic moments captured with the music as well. Tracks 13, 27, and 31 are some good examples of this and helps to develop Edward and Eliza's relationship. The action numbers are definitely Tracks 25 and 26. So, you'll find just about everything packed into this one score. Comic relief, terror, mystery, thriller, action, and romance! The great thing is that we do have a theme that reoccurs throughout too. My favorite piece from the score is probably #30, "Eliza's Waltz". Debney does a great job with this and his skill as a composer shines here as he creates a very authentic sounding waltz from the period.
The CD version contains 31 tracks and runs about 1 hr. & 19 minutes. It is produced by Lakeshore Records and is a limited edition pressing with only 1000 copies made. The packaging is a cardboard bi-fold with four page booklet that contains photos from the movie and credits/thanks. Unfortunately there are no notes from the composer or director.
This is a great score that does just what it needs to do for the film. Listening to the score and appreciating it outside of the movie can be easily done due to the variation that Debney has included within. It never becomes predominately one thing, but more of a collection of various storytelling musical bits. I fear that this score will probably be buried under the more popular releases of the time...but for those who find it...I think you will enjoy it.
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