Halloween H20 (Portrait In Terror) Soundtrack CD

Halloween H20 (Portrait In Terror)
1992, Miramax.
John Ottman.
Verese Sarabande, CD, 1998, VSD-5986
Rating:

John Ottman’s interesting contribution to the ‘Halloween’ series reaches us in a rather roundabout way; re-titled and re-worked - the score was only partially used in the film, cue the title ‘Portrait Of Terror’, supplemented by Marco Beltrami’s temp-track, preferred by Miramax - this is, at times, an experimental sounding effort, flecked with vocal effects (‘Rest Stop’, ‘Disposal’) that peak your interest but sound somewhat out of place. Much stronger are Ottman’s adaptations of John Carpenter’s original theme, orchestrally beefed-up with a booming bass line, that positively differentiates it from the original sparser (though ultimately superior) material, and his new theme for Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), laden with a sense of impending doom and a childlike accent of her innocent past. Add to this a nice homage to ‘Psycho’ in ‘Advice’ (Janet Leigh, starred in both ‘Psycho’ and ‘Halloween H20’) and an impressively powerful climax (’Farewell, Michael’) and we are left with an entertaining, if flawed piece of horror fare that deserved more of a hearing in the film itself.
Portrait Of Terror (‘Halloween H20’) Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Main Title.
2. Laurie.
3. Narrow Escape.
4. Advice.
5. Rest Stop.
6. Disposal.
7. The Evening Begins.
8. Seventeen.
9. Face To face.
10. Letting Go.
11. Here’s Company.
12. Sonata For Molly.
13. Death of A Nurse.
14. Final Confrontation.
15. He’s Dead.
16. Road trip.
17. Farewell, Michael.

Christine Soundtrack CD

Christine Movie Soundtrack
1983, Columbia .
John Carpenter.
Verese Sarabande, CD, 1991, VSD-5240.
Rating:

John Carpenter’s horror, based on a novel by Stephen King, about a car possessed, may not be the scariest movie ever made but its convincing evocation of teenage life in 1950s America distracts from its more ridiculous moments. Carpenter’s cold, electronic score is perfect in the film (used in conjunction with a roster of songs from the era) as school nerd Arnie (Keith Gordon) falls under the spell of an abandoned flaming red Plymouth Fury with a dark past. Though the score also works well away from the film, some the cues are ultimately little more than stingers used to punctuate dramatic moments. Clever use of ‘Here Comes The Bride’ to accent the ‘love affair’ between man and car is particularly effective in ‘Show Me’. Beyond this, the best cues are chase (to the death) sequences, ‘Moochie’s Death’, ‘Buddie’s Death’ and the excellent ‘Christine Attacks’, the only track from the score used on the original release of the soundtrack back in 1982, mainly populated by the likes of Buddy Holly, Danny and the Juniors and Little Richard. A chilling, effective cruise through Carpenter’s filmic landscape.
Christine Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Arnie’s Love Theme
2. Obsessed With The Car
3. Football Run
4. Kill Your Kids
5. Rape
6. Discovery
7. Show Me
8. Moochie’s Death
9. Junkins
10. Buddie’s Death
11. Nobody’s Home
12. Restored
13. Car Obsession Reprise
14. Christine Attacks (Plymouth Fury)
15. Talk On The Couch
16. Regeneration
17. Darnell’s Tonight
18. Undented
19. Moochie Mix Four

Other Versions Available:

Motown, LP, 1983, ZL 72139.
Rating:
Though John Carpenter created an atmospheric score to accompany this Stephen King adaptation, it failed to evoke the 1950s period in which the film is set. This collection of pop classics from the era feature the likes of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Danny And The Juniors, along with the atmospheric ‘Harlem Nocturne’ by The Viscounts and 1980s rocker ‘Bad To The Bone’, that opens the movie. A great collection deserving a re-release.

Side Two:
6. I Wonder Why (Dion & The Belmonts).
7. Harlem Nocturne (The Viscounts).
8. Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harris).
9. Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Here To Stay (Danny & The Juniors).
10. Christine Attacks (John Carpenter/Alan Howarth).
11. Bony Moronie (Larry Williams).

The Burning Soundtrack CD

The Burning.
1981, Filmways.
Rick Wakeman.
Fusion, CD, 2006, MFVP110CD
Rating:

This first CD release of Rick Wakeman’s score for cult slasher flick ‘The Burning’ may have sounded relatively modern on its original release some eighteen years ago, but electronic scores don’t always age well and this is no exception. Highly anticipated by fans, this album is largely for them; however, it is more engaging overall than John Carpenter’s score for seminal horror ‘Halloween’, that relied on repetition of its major themes to make its point. Wakeman’s inclusion of his ‘Wakeman’s Variations’ on ‘The Burning’ takes listeners back to his prog-rock roots, offering up an interesting parallel score which contrasts sharply with the largely electronic one used in the film. Meanwhile, cues such as ‘Devil’s Creek Breakdown’ and ‘Doin’ It’ respectively crank up the banjo’s and 1970’s MOR. Dated or not, ‘The Burning’ remains an effective slow-burner with plenty of atmosphere and originality.
The Burning Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.

Track Listing:
1. Theme From The Burning.
2. The Chase Continues (PO’s Plane)
3. Variations On The Fire.
4. Shear Terror And More.
5. The Burning (End Title Theme).
6. Campfire Story.
7. The Fire.
8. Doin’ It.
9. Devil’s Creek Breakdown.
10. The Chase.
11. Shear Terror.