The Frighteners is the soundtrack album to the 1996 film of the same name directed by Peter Jackson.[1] The film's original score composed by Danny Elfman, featured 14 tracks in the album with a cover of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" performed by New Zealand alternative rock band The Mutton Birds, accompanied the soundtrack.[2] It was also played in the film's closing credits. The soundtrack was released by MCA Records and Universal Records on July 16, 1996.
| The Frighteners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | July 16, 1996 | |||
| Genre | Film score | |||
| Length | 41:14 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Danny Elfman | |||
| Danny Elfman chronology | ||||
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Reception
editJason Ankeny, writing for AllMusic, complimented it as an "imaginative" score rating three stars of out five.[3] Filmtracks.com rated 1-star to the album, saying "With the composer's previous ideas for the genre thrust together as a horror score package, The Frighteners is correctly identified by many mainstream listeners as lacking much cohesion or singular creativity."[4]
Todd McCarthy of Variety commented that Elfman's score is "busily in your face and ears".[5] Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times called the score as "spooky".[6] Edward Guthmann of San Francisco Gate criticised Elfman's score as an "overmixed onslaught".[7] In retrospect, Cody Hamman of JoBlo.com felt that the score was "done to perfection",[8] while Alex Behan of Stuff called the score as "great".[9] Reviewing for the director's cut, Michael Drucker of IGN wrote "the great Danny Elfman music also comes through really well".[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Danny Elfman, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro / Titles" | 5:43 | ||
| 2. | "The "Lads"" | 2:00 | ||
| 3. | "Poltergeists" | 2:05 | ||
| 4. | "Victim #38" | 1:52 | ||
| 5. | "Who's Next?" | 1:39 | ||
| 6. | "The Garden" | 3:08 | ||
| 7. | "Chilly" | 1:29 | ||
| 8. | "Time" | 4:41 | ||
| 9. | "Patty's Place" | 2:12 | ||
| 10. | "Flashbacks" | 1:07 | ||
| 11. | "Patty Attack" | 3:04 | ||
| 12. | "Franks' Wife" | 0:50 | ||
| 13. | "Doom" | 3:08 | ||
| 14. | "Heaven" | 1:46 | ||
| 15. | "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" | Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser | The Mutton Birds | 5:46 |
| Total length: | 40:30 | |||
Accolades
editAt the 23rd Saturn Awards, The Frighteners' score was nominated for Best Music.[11] The score won Best Soundtrack at the 1997 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Credits
editCredits adapted from CD liner notes.[1]
- Music composer and producer – Danny Elfman
- Conductor – Artie Kane
- Contractor – Patti Zimmitti
- Orchestrator – Steve Bartek
- Additional orchestrations – Edgardo Simone, Mark McKenzie
- Programming – Marc Mann
- Recording and mixing – Shawn Murphy
- Mastering – Patricia Sullivan
- Editing – Ellen Segal
- Musical assistance – Livia Corona
- Copyist – Joel Franklin
- Design – Wilson Design Group
- Art direction – Vartan
- Photography – Pierre Vinet
- Executive in charge of music for Universal Pictures – Harry Garfield
References
edit- ^ a b "The Frighteners: Music From The Motion Picture [SOUNDTRACK]". Amazon.com. ASIN B000002P1W.
- ^ "The Mutton Birds: overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- ^ "The Frighteners overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- ^ "Filmtracks: The Frighteners". Filmtracks.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2000. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (July 15, 1996). "The Frighteners". Variety. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Turan, Kenneth (July 19, 1996). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Frighteners' Jolts Both Nerves and Funny Bone". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Guthmann, Edward (July 19, 1996). "FILM REVIEW – 'Frighteners' Busted by Special Effects". SFGATE. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Hamman, Cody (April 5, 2023). "The Frighteners (1996) Revisited – Horror Movie Review". JoBlo. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Behan, Alex (July 8, 2021). "The Frighteners: The film that paved the way for Peter Jackson's Rings hits Neon". Stuff. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Drucker, Michael (December 14, 2005). "The Frighteners (Unrated Director's Cut)". IGN. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Past Saturn Awards". Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2008.