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Terry's
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Lakeshore Records – 2008
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THE STRANGERS is easily the best horror film released in 2008. It's beyond suspenseful. It's an utter piece of terror and this score backs that to the hilt. What's most surprising and refreshing about the film and the music created for it is that it's really very simple. Instead of the huge convolution of elements we see in most films today, THE STRANGERS takes two main characters puts them in basically one location and brings in three embodiments who represent evil, pure and simple. I'm actually kind of tired of hearing the rehashed heavy screaming brass scores that have been dominating the horror sound scrape since Elliot Goldenthal's brilliant score for ALIEN 3. I know that type of score was used before then but he made it the popular way to score these films. THE STRANGERS is nothing like that. Like tomandandy did with their master work THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, the score for THE STRANGERS is progressive and visionary. It doesn't just recycle a themes throughout the musical score. The music is ever changing following the pathway the film leads and I love how subdued the music is for the most part, which totally adheres with the set-up in the film. I think the music is especially appropriate since it takes place mostly during the wee hours of one horrendous night. I feel the quietness of the score adds unbelievable amount of tension to an already high-octane combustion of suspense The composition in THE STRANGERS could almost be described at times as sound effects. In this way, it in some ways reminds me of what Tobe Hooper did in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. When listening to the seventh track "3AM Knock" there are sounds that are very TCM like, so that comparison is pretty accurate. The metallic clangs and bumps in "James Returns" also reminded me of that seminal horror film music. "Run To the Car" is propeller of terror as things bump and clang to chilling effect as the music builds to a frightening end. "Mike" has the feel of something really tragic happening and this is accomplished with just a few simple notes that dig deep into your heart and consciousness. I love how The Bratislava Symphony Orchestra is used to augment the electronics tomandandy use. Neither side overpowers the other, always serving what was happening on the screen. That's another thing I have to mention, the style this movie was made. The film wasn't designed to jump out say "Boo." This was constructed to crawl slowly up your body and get under your skin. That is such a unique way of doing movies nowadays where most filmmakers feel the need to have a cut every two seconds and patience is not even their vocabulary. With THE STRANGERS it's all about the waiting and anticipation of what could happen. This is way more frightening that all the torture scenes in HOSTEL or the SAW franchise. What's best about listening to THE STRANGERS, especially during Halloween is that it's actually scary. This music will raise the hairs on your body and let you know that you are still alive. For me, that's an exhilarating feeling.
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