Top 20 Horror Movie Themes – Part 2

As we begin with Part 2 of my Top Horror Movie Themes, these are what I feel should be in the Top 10. These are the best of the best, the ones that will forever live on and for most, will be instantly recognizable from the films in which they came. All of these themes in the Top 10 are not only fondly remembered, but they are a key ingredient to making each film the classics they are, because without these pieces of music, each and every film highlighted would have been less effective without the music.

So sit down and take a load off, turn down the lights, throw on your headphones, and be prepared to be transported back in time to a darker place.

In case you missed in, check out my Top 20 Horror Movie Themes Part 1 for the rest of the list!

10.  The Shining (1980) – Main Title Theme by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind

The electronic main title theme is composed by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind based on Hector Berlioz’ “Dies Irae”. The main title is appropriately creepy as it is played over the opening credits of the film. The opening theme sets the eerie tone for the rest of the picture and I can’t even imagine any other piece of music being any more atmospheric.

9.  Candyman (1992) – Helen’s Theme by Philip Glass

This simplistic piano melody is evocative of the haunting themes that run throughout the film. It’s a cue that sticks with you even after you leave the theater. I remember seeing the film during its original theatrical run and I couldn’t shake the haunting melody from my head. It really is a memorable tune and supports the film in every way.

8.  Psycho (1960) – The Murder Theme by Bernard Herrmann

Hitchcock insisted Bernard Herrmann compose the score for Psycho. The iconic theme from the infamous shower scene is one of the most recognizable themes ever! Hitchcock even stated 33% of the effect of Psycho was due to the music, and I have to agree. Herrmann used a string orchestra for the score and during the shower scene, the music was achieved by using only violins to achieve the screeching, stabbing sound.

7. Hellraiser (1987) – Hellraiser Main Theme by Christopher Young

The Hellraiser theme is a classic cue that has managed to stay in our consciousness since the film debuted. I keep going back to the word “haunting” to describe many of these themes, but the melody is otherworldly and haunting to the nth degree.

6.  The Exorcist (1973) –  Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield

One of the most frightening films of all-time owes a great deal to the musical score and especially the Tubular Bells theme by Mike Oldfield. It’s a fairly simply, yet extremely effective melody. The sense of dread evoked from the theme during the film is immeasurable.

5.  Friday the 13th (1980) – Overlay of Evil / Main Title by Harry Manfredini 

What would any of the Friday the 13th films and Jason Voorhees be without the instantly recognizable cue of the “ki ki ki, ma ma ma”, (Everyone thinks it’s cha cha cha) to signify his arrival? Composer Harry Manfredini actually borrowed the simplistic melody from John Williams’ Jaws theme, where in Jaws, the shark is not seen until the finale and the melody represents the shark’s invisible menace, Manfredini wanted to do the same thing.

4.  A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Prologue/Main Title by Charles Bernstein

The film features a group of teenagers who are stalked and killed in their dreams by dead child murderer Freddy Krueger. Bernstein’s choice of music for the theme had to be scary, yet ethereal at the same time. Kruegar’s theme is another instantly recognizable musical motif that even non horror fans know what the music is from.

3.  Suspiria (1977) – Suspiria Theme by Goblin

Legendary Italian director Dario Argento hired progressive rock band Goblin to compose the score to his film Suspiria. Argento frequently collaborated with Goblin on his films, but there was something different about the score for Suspiria. The main title theme Suspiria has got to be one of the weirdest and most haunting theme I’ve ever heard. I remember watching the film for the first time as a child and was chilled the bone by the cacophony of sounds in this theme. The melody is eerily evocative of how Argento’s film is such a chilling piece of cinema.

2.  Jaws (1975) – Main Title (Theme From Jaws) by John Williams

It’s hard to describe how effective the very simple music cue from the theme was for the film Jaws. Like the film itself, the theme taps into primal fears we all have of sharks and water and still frightens me to this very day. John Williams earned an Academy Award for his Jaws soundtrack. The main shark theme, a simple alternating pattern of two notes—variously identified as “E and F” or “F and F sharp”—became a classic piece of suspense music, synonymous with approaching danger. Steven Spielberg later said that without Williams’ brilliant score, his film would’ve been only half as successful.

1.  Halloween (1978) – Halloween Theme Main Title by John Carpenter

The score from this classic film is written and performed by the director, John Carpenter. In musical terms, it’s a simplistic melody consisting of a piano melody played in a 10/8 or “complex 5/4” meter, along with a synthesizer Carpenter himself has stated that he can neither read or write a note of music, yet manages to create some of the best film scores in history. Of all the incredible horror movie themes since the beginning of cinema, Carpenter’s main theme still has the ability to strike fear into the hearts of listeners, making it the most iconic and best horror movie theme of all-time.  Wikipedia

So there you have it, the top 20 Horror Movie Themes of all-time. Do you agree or disagree? Should some be higher or lower on the list than they are? Sound off and let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts.