While the imagery in any horror movie is obviously the scariest element, a good soundtrack can complement this and make a good horror movie, an iconic horror movie. A soundtrack can stay with us long after the movie is finished and continue to play in our heads when we’re in bed, walking down a dark corridor, or alone watching TV.
Indeed, many horror movies have reached immortal levels in our popular culture due to the fact that their soundtrack continued to scare us long after the credits rolled. This article will list the 10 scariest horror movie themes.
28 Days Later
28 Days Later is a British horror movie that focusses on the effects of a zombie outbreak on the UK. The film gets its title from the fact that the main character, played by Cillian Murphy, wakes from a coma 28 days after the initial outbreak of the zombie virus. The film reinvigorated the zombie genre and was universally praised by critics, in 2017 Time Out magazine ranked it as the 97th best British film ever.
The soundtrack to the movie was also critically acclaimed. While the theme may not be the scariest on this list, it is a fantastic piece of conducting that brilliantly induces a sense of dread and urgency.
It Follows
2014’s It Follows was one of the best horror movies of the decade. The movie revolves around what is essentially, a sexually transmitted demon - the demon is passed from person to person after having sex. However, you can never be rid of the demon after transmitting it onto another; you simply fall behind that person in the pecking order for the demon.
The soundtrack perfectly fits in with the theme of the movie and successfully builds on the creep factor provided by the terrifying plot, while also drawing inspiration from horror movie soundtracks of the 70s and 80s.
Babadook
The Babadook is a 2014 Australian horror movie that managed to take the world by storm. The film follows a single mother as she raises her son. While being a single mother is already difficult enough, Amelia (the mum) must also contend with a demon called the Babadook that starts following them after she reads a children’s book. The film magnificently dips into the psychological, leaving us wondering how much of the movie was supernatural and how much was in the characters’ heads.
The soundtrack perfectly captures the creep factor of the Babadook, making us check for any top hat-wearing creatures in the vicinity whenever we hear it.
Suspiria
Suspiria is a 1977 Italian horror movie that became a cult classic. The film follows an American ballet student as she transfers to a German ballet academy, only to become embroiled in a terrifying supernatural conspiracy. The film is highly influential in the horror movie genre and recently inspired a remake by Call Me By Your Name director, Luca Guadagnino.
The soundtrack to Suspiria is unnerving and odd, and it genuinely makes your skin crawl whenever you listen to it.
The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man is a British classic. It follows Police Sergeant Neil Howie, played by Christopher Lee, as he investigates the disappearance of a young girl and visits a remote island named Summerisle in search of her. However, upon arriving on the Island, Howie discovers that the islanders now practice a form of paganism. The film ends with the horrific scene in which Lee is placed in the titular Wicker Man.
The soundtrack is as unnerving as the movie itself. While not necessarily as openly scary as some others on this list, certain tracks, such as the Maypole song, manage to disturb the listener.
The Shining
The Shining is one of the most iconic horror movies ever released. The Kubrick masterpiece shockingly captures the descent of Jack Torrance as he stays in the Overlook Hotel. In addition to Jack Nicholson’s unnerving portrayal of Jack Torrance, the movie also features some terrifying ghosts that leave a lasting impression, such as the woman in the bath tub and the twin girls in the hallway.
The soundtrack to The Shining is iconic in its own right. The theme is played as the family drives to the Overlook Hotel, and the ominous music perfectly captures the terrifying experience they are about to have.
Psycho
Psycho isn’t only one of the most iconic horror movies of all time; it’s one of the most iconic movies of all time. The film follows Marion Crane as she steals money from her boss before driving to a motel owned by the terrifying Norman Bates.
The opening music is ominous and tense, foreshadowing the extreme violence and terrifying encounters. The theme famously played during the iconic shower scene in the movie, making us all scared to take a shower after the movie ended.
The Omen
The Omen was directed by Richard Donner and released in 1976. The film, starring Gregory Peck as Robert Thorn, follows the story of how the antichrist came to Earth. Thorn’s son was murdered in the hospital and replaced by the antichrist. The parents are unaware that their child is the antichrist, but they become more suspicious as bizzare deaths follow the family.
The Omen theme sticks to its Christian horror roots by incorporating chanting into its theme. This chanting is truly terrifying and brilliantly instills ominous and unnerving fear in the listener.
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies ever made. Not only is it terrifying to watch at the time, but it also leaves a disturbing impact on the viewer that lingers long after the credits have rolled. Not only is the movie disturbing because of the transformation of a young girl into a demon child, but also because of several artistic choices made by director William Friedkin. The most notable of which was the decision to superimpose the demon’s face into several shots throughout the movie.
In addition to the disturbing subject matter, The Exorcist has a perfect soundtrack to accompany it. Whenever anyone hears this theme, they can instantly place it as the Exorcist theme, and it never fails to make a shiver run down one’s spine.
Halloween
Halloween is John Carpenter’s 1978 masterpiece. The movie started many of the ’tropes’ and ‘cliches’ that would become synonymous with, not only the Halloween franchise, but the slasher and horror genre as a collective. The film follows Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode as she tries to survive the attacks of the escaped mental patient, Michael Myers.
In addition to directing the movie, John Carpenter also scored the movie’s soundtrack. The result of this was an iconic theme that never fails to scare the listener. Whenever you hear the Halloween theme, you will always check over your shoulder.
