The Frighteners (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 1996 film directed by Peter Jackson. The album contains the film's original score, composed by Danny Elfman, along with a cover of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" performed by New Zealand alternative rock band The Mutton Birds, which played in the film's closing credits. The album was released by MCA Records and Universal Records on July 16, 1996.
Reception Jason Ankeny, writing for AllMusic, complimented it as an "imaginative" score rating three stars of out five. 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."
Todd McCarthy of Variety commented that Elfman's score is "busily in your face and ears". Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times called the score as "spooky". Edward Guthmann of San Francisco Gate criticised Elfman's score as an "overmixed onslaught". In retrospect, Cody Hamman of JoBlo.com felt that the score was "done to perfection", while Alex Behan of Stuff called the score as "great". Reviewing for the director's cut, Michael Drucker of IGN wrote "the great Danny Elfman music also comes through really well".
Track listing
Accolades At the 23rd Saturn Awards, The Frighteners' score was nominated for Best Music. The score won Best Soundtrack at the 1997 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Personnel Credits adapted from CD liner notes.
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