they’re the songs that bring you back to that moment of pure terror in the cinema
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 horror movie musical themes
for this list we’re looking at the
for this list we’re looking at the musical accompaniment of horror films
musical accompaniment of horror films
musical accompaniment of horror films that are either used as a theme song or
that are either used as a theme song or
that are either used as a theme song or to set the tone in one of the film
to set the tone in one of the film
to set the tone in one of the film scenes we’re choosing our entries based
scenes we’re choosing our entries based
scenes we’re choosing our entries based on a mix of their memorability and
on a mix of their memorability and
on a mix of their memorability and iconic status they’re majestic fantastic
iconic status they’re majestic fantastic
iconic status they’re majestic fantastic and the perfect accompaniment to the
and the perfect accompaniment to the
and the perfect accompaniment to the most blood-curdling scream you can
most blood-curdling scream you can
most blood-curdling scream you can muster number 10 the ring
written by legendary movie scorer Hans
written by legendary movie scorer Hans Zimmer the theme song to this 2002
Zimmer the theme song to this 2002
Zimmer the theme song to this 2002 American remake of the Japanese classic
American remake of the Japanese classic
American remake of the Japanese classic achieves its status for sounding as if
achieves its status for sounding as if
achieves its status for sounding as if it was directed by a masterful horror
it was directed by a masterful horror
it was directed by a masterful horror auteur
it begins with subtle piano notes that
it begins with subtle piano notes that give but a faint hint of the horror to
give but a faint hint of the horror to
give but a faint hint of the horror to come a slow build follows and as the
come a slow build follows and as the
come a slow build follows and as the excitement mounts audiences know they
excitement mounts audiences know they
excitement mounts audiences know they are in for delightfully petrifying treat
though many horror themes play off the
though many horror themes play off the melodic qualities of a lullaby the theme
melodic qualities of a lullaby the theme
melodic qualities of a lullaby the theme to this 1968 Roman Polanski film takes
to this 1968 Roman Polanski film takes
to this 1968 Roman Polanski film takes our number 9 spot based on creep factor
our number 9 spot based on creep factor
our number 9 spot based on creep factor alone
Kristof cometa known for writing several
Kristof cometa known for writing several Polanski film scores is the mastermind
Polanski film scores is the mastermind
Polanski film scores is the mastermind behind this hair-raising trap
the soft motherly voice is betrayed by
the soft motherly voice is betrayed by the shrill instruments and listeners are
the shrill instruments and listeners are
the shrill instruments and listeners are greeted to a key theme of the story of
greeted to a key theme of the story of
greeted to a key theme of the story of Rosemary’s Baby a mother’s love that’s
Rosemary’s Baby a mother’s love that’s
Rosemary’s Baby a mother’s love that’s hiding something truly evil
longer
longer number eight 28 days later
anyone who has seen the film
anyone who has seen the film accompaniment to our eighth pick will
accompaniment to our eighth pick will
accompaniment to our eighth pick will agree that the ravaging hyper-violent
agree that the ravaging hyper-violent
agree that the ravaging hyper-violent zombies are only half of what makes the
zombies are only half of what makes the
zombies are only half of what makes the film so scary
second half is the mounting feeling of
second half is the mounting feeling of desolation and hopelessness this song
desolation and hopelessness this song
desolation and hopelessness this song written by John Murphy delivers that
written by John Murphy delivers that
written by John Murphy delivers that feeling in audio form for the audience
feeling in audio form for the audience
feeling in audio form for the audience as its booming crescendo delivers a vast
as its booming crescendo delivers a vast
as its booming crescendo delivers a vast sense of isolation
the final soft notes leave us with a
the final soft notes leave us with a thought we had from the very beginning
thought we had from the very beginning
thought we had from the very beginning we are not safe
I was longer than a heartbeat number
I was longer than a heartbeat number seven a Nightmare on Elm Street
beginning with an oddly soothing tone
beginning with an oddly soothing tone any ideas that the movie it accompanies
any ideas that the movie it accompanies
any ideas that the movie it accompanies is going to be a happy one are quickly
is going to be a happy one are quickly
is going to be a happy one are quickly shattered by composer Charles Bernstein
shattered by composer Charles Bernstein
shattered by composer Charles Bernstein after about a minute in
as the movie follows a group of teens
as the movie follows a group of teens that are killed in their dreams this
that are killed in their dreams this
that are killed in their dreams this theme is all too fitting as it pretends
theme is all too fitting as it pretends
theme is all too fitting as it pretends to soothe us and then acts as a vicious
to soothe us and then acts as a vicious
to soothe us and then acts as a vicious reminder that something wicked lurks in
reminder that something wicked lurks in
reminder that something wicked lurks in the shadows
listen to this a few times and you can
listen to this a few times and you can forget about sleeping number six saw
forget about sleeping number six saw
forget about sleeping number six saw hello miss handle or if they called you
hello miss handle or if they called you
hello miss handle or if they called you around the hospital so how many songs do
around the hospital so how many songs do
around the hospital so how many songs do you know that make you feel stressed
you know that make you feel stressed
you know that make you feel stressed that you’re running out of time and that
that you’re running out of time and that
that you’re running out of time and that your life is in grave danger
your life is in grave danger
your life is in grave danger will you murder a mother and her child
will you murder a mother and her child
will you murder a mother and her child to save yourself well there’s at least
to save yourself well there’s at least
to save yourself well there’s at least this one thanks to Charlie clauser the
this one thanks to Charlie clauser the
this one thanks to Charlie clauser the man behind the Saw theme and a former
man behind the Saw theme and a former
man behind the Saw theme and a former Nine Inch Nails member
the perfect accompaniment to the film it
the perfect accompaniment to the film it represents this track really works to
represents this track really works to
represents this track really works to showcase the psychological thriller and
showcase the psychological thriller and
showcase the psychological thriller and its sequels gruesome traps high tension
its sequels gruesome traps high tension
its sequels gruesome traps high tension situations and twist endings number five
situations and twist endings number five
situations and twist endings number five psycho coming in at the midpoint on our
psycho coming in at the midpoint on our
psycho coming in at the midpoint on our list is a tune that isn’t technically
list is a tune that isn’t technically
list is a tune that isn’t technically psychos theme song but is so iconic and
psychos theme song but is so iconic and
psychos theme song but is so iconic and inextricable from the horror thriller
inextricable from the horror thriller
inextricable from the horror thriller that it’s got to be here at the time of
that it’s got to be here at the time of
that it’s got to be here at the time of release the movie’s infamous shower
release the movie’s infamous shower
release the movie’s infamous shower scene achieved notoriety for being one
scene achieved notoriety for being one
scene achieved notoriety for being one of the most graphically violent
of the most graphically violent
of the most graphically violent sequences ever put to the big-screen
Bernard Herrmann’s soundtrack is
Bernard Herrmann’s soundtrack is expertly laid over the film’s
expertly laid over the film’s
expertly laid over the film’s lightning-fast cuts and the screeching
lightning-fast cuts and the screeching
lightning-fast cuts and the screeching violins have come to represent not only
violins have come to represent not only
violins have come to represent not only the genius that is Alfred Hitchcock’s
the genius that is Alfred Hitchcock’s
the genius that is Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho but also horror films in general
Psycho but also horror films in general
Psycho but also horror films in general it’s enough to give us mommy issues
our film franchises are known for their
our film franchises are known for their reboots and sequels and few characters
reboots and sequels and few characters
reboots and sequels and few characters have had as many different incarnations
have had as many different incarnations
have had as many different incarnations as this hockey mask wearing serial
as this hockey mask wearing serial
as this hockey mask wearing serial killer another staple of the Friday the
killer another staple of the Friday the
killer another staple of the Friday the 13th series though is its catchy and
13th series though is its catchy and
13th series though is its catchy and creepy theme song written by Harry
creepy theme song written by Harry
creepy theme song written by Harry Manfredini and our favorite version is
Manfredini and our favorite version is
Manfredini and our favorite version is the 1982 disco inspired track from part
the 1982 disco inspired track from part
the 1982 disco inspired track from part three
if at some point while listening you are
if at some point while listening you are tempted to get up and dance don’t worry
tempted to get up and dance don’t worry
tempted to get up and dance don’t worry that’s normal on the other hand if you
that’s normal on the other hand if you
that’s normal on the other hand if you begin to feel a bit violent then you may
begin to feel a bit violent then you may
begin to feel a bit violent then you may want to call a doctor or the cops
number three Jaws well done movie music
number three Jaws well done movie music is like another character in the scene
is like another character in the scene
is like another character in the scene you’re watching and one of our favorite
you’re watching and one of our favorite
you’re watching and one of our favorite characters from Steven Spielberg’s jaws
characters from Steven Spielberg’s jaws
characters from Steven Spielberg’s jaws is the theme written by another
is the theme written by another
is the theme written by another composing legend John Williams
the score gives its listeners a front
the score gives its listeners a front row seat to the mayhem that’s about to
row seat to the mayhem that’s about to
row seat to the mayhem that’s about to ensue a deadly game of predator and prey
whether it was at the movie theater in
whether it was at the movie theater in the 70s or at summer camp where a friend
the 70s or at summer camp where a friend
the 70s or at summer camp where a friend teased you while swimming in the lake
teased you while swimming in the lake
teased you while swimming in the lake everyone has heard this iconic track and
everyone has heard this iconic track and
everyone has heard this iconic track and everyone knows exactly what it means
everyone knows exactly what it means
everyone knows exactly what it means dinner is served we go home now
dinner is served we go home now
dinner is served we go home now number two The Exorcist not only a
number two The Exorcist not only a
number two The Exorcist not only a phenomenon in the horror genre The
phenomenon in the horror genre The
phenomenon in the horror genre The Exorcist is one of the most iconic films
Exorcist is one of the most iconic films
Exorcist is one of the most iconic films of all time
director William Friedkin originally
director William Friedkin originally rejected the score written for him and
rejected the score written for him and
rejected the score written for him and instead used the song tubular bells by
instead used the song tubular bells by
instead used the song tubular bells by Mike Oldfield to be canonized as the
Mike Oldfield to be canonized as the
Mike Oldfield to be canonized as the theme
the song while only featured briefly is
the song while only featured briefly is a perfect reflection of the film it’s
a perfect reflection of the film it’s
a perfect reflection of the film it’s mysterious
mysterious
mysterious determined and spine rattling ly creepy
in short it’s the ideal accompaniment to
in short it’s the ideal accompaniment to a story of two priests willing to give
a story of two priests willing to give
a story of two priests willing to give anything to save an innocent young girl
anything to save an innocent young girl
anything to save an innocent young girl from the devil himself as you before we
from the devil himself as you before we
from the devil himself as you before we slash our way to our top pick here are a
slash our way to our top pick here are a
slash our way to our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one Halloween Halloween director
number one Halloween Halloween director John Carpenter also wrote the film score
John Carpenter also wrote the film score
John Carpenter also wrote the film score which is beautiful in its simplicity
which is beautiful in its simplicity
which is beautiful in its simplicity and effectiveness a notion mirrored in
and effectiveness a notion mirrored in
and effectiveness a notion mirrored in the mask worn by the slasher flicks
the mask worn by the slasher flicks
the mask worn by the slasher flicks killer Michael Myers although similar in
killer Michael Myers although similar in
killer Michael Myers although similar in melody and tone to another contender for
melody and tone to another contender for
melody and tone to another contender for our list the fog
the quick tempo and dramatic violins
the quick tempo and dramatic violins give halloween-themed the sharper edge
this terrifying number will have you
this terrifying number will have you checking over your shoulder long after
checking over your shoulder long after
checking over your shoulder long after you’re done trick-or-treating
do you agree with our list I think that
do you agree with our list I think that I am familiar with the fact that you are
I am familiar with the fact that you are
I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem
going to ignore this particular problem
going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites you on the
until it swims up and bites you on the
until it swims up and bites you on the ass
ass
ass what iconic horror movie themes did we
what iconic horror movie themes did we
what iconic horror movie themes did we miss
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