The Strangers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score soundtrack to the 2008 film The Strangers directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. The original score is composed by Tomandandy and performed by the Slovakian based Bratislava Symphony Orchestra. The album was released through Lakeshore Records on May 27, 2008.
Development
The duo of Thomas Hajdu and Andy Milburn, under the stage name Tomandandy, had provided the musical score for The Strangers. Hajdu noted that the inspiration behind The Strangers soundtrack was primarily influenced by Bernard Herrmann's Psycho (1960), both in terms of the sonic perspective and punctuating silence through music. The duo sat in a dark room watching the film to understand its arc, where it goes from subdued and quiet to intensely loud and planned to make as little music and combine it as a part of the sound design, especially through the sounds of an engine, old record player, natures which were taken into consideration.
Considering how silence provided a new perspective on horror films, they created "3 AM Knock" that utilizes a silent tone that built into the crescendo of fear, which allowed a different context for the music and an innovative approach on how horror music being made. The duo also intentionally mixed strange sounds with familiar sounds, which was a combination of analog, synthetic, and ambient sounds, along with silence put together in unusual ways, especially in the opening track that had an 1960s Alien saucer sound in the middle of the track. Most of the instruments for particular tracks were built on processed cello sounds combined with electric guitars to provide a unique, screeching sound.
The score is performed by the Slovakian based Bratislava Symphony Orchestra. The composers provided extreme freedom to the sound team, on blending the sounds with the music, which re-recording mixers Marti D. Humphrey and Chris Jacobson had complimented about.
Reception Jeff Swindoll of Monsters and Critics stated, "It's a creepy score for what appears to be a movie that well makes you jump as well as make sure that the doors are locked at night."
Zach Freeman of Blogger News wrote "This is an impressive score and adds a tremendous chill-factor to the film. Apart from the film, and simply as a score, it's still an absolute triumph of horror tonality."
William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote: "Strings play sustained notes at the high ends of their ranges to make for an eerie mood and are mixed with electronic sounds, the whole given added resonance by the use of echo and reverb."
Brent Simon of Screen International wrote: "...the film's soundtrack ... makes fine use of crackling fire and record player pops in the background."
Track listing
Additional music Songs featured in the film but not included in the soundtrack: "Ariel Ramirez" by Richard Buckner "Hopeful" by Jennifer O'Connor "At My Window Sad and Lonely" by Billy Bragg and Wilco "Sprout and the Bean" by Joanna Newsom "My First Lover" by Gillian Welch "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes
Music composer and producer – Tomandandy Orchestra – Bratislava Symphony Orchestra Orchestrator – Dwight Mikkelsen Conductor and copyist – Allan Wilson Contractor – Paul Talkington Cello – Jessica Catron Guitar – Jeremy Drake, G.E. Stinson Electronics – G.E. Stinson Sound effects – Jeremy Drake Engineer – Todd Brodie Recording – Peter Fuchs Mixing – Jamie Steele Mastering – Blue Labyrinth Production Music Music editor – Sheri Ozeki Music supervisor – Season Kent Production supervisor – Jennifer Towle Executive producer – Brian McNelis, Skip Williamson Photography – Philip V. Caruso Art direction – John Bergin, Stephanie Mente Layout – Linda Karr A&R – Eric Craig Music business and legal affairs – Christine Bergren
Accolades Award/association Year Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2009 Best Score Tomandandy
Notes
References