Fear Street: Playlist Takeover
To celebrate the release of Netflix’s hit film trilogy, Fear Street, we invited three of the film’s composers, Anna Drubich, Brandon Roberts and Marcus Trumpp, to share some of their favorite horror soundtracks – and we’re thrilled to see some Milan songs in the mix. Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling novels, Fear Street is a heart-pounding slasher film that follows a group of teenagers as they band together to uncover the truth about the evil force that has plagued their town for centuries. From Midsommar to Under the Skin, this playlist features dynamic synths that play a crucial part in bringing a film’s themes and motifs to life.
Listen along to their spine-chilling selections on our Spooky Scores & Soundtracks Spotify playlist here:
Anna Drubich
1. Psycho – “Prelude” – Bernard Herrmann
2. Midsommar – “Gassed” – Bobby Krilic
3. Under the Skin – “Andrew Void” – Mica Levi
4. Suspiria – “Olga’s Destruction” – Thom Yorke
5. Eraserhead – “In Heaven” – David Lynch & Alan R. Splet
“Psycho was the very first thriller I ever watched and this was the first time I really noticed how cool film music could be. No big orchestra, only strings, but so much energy and colors. Midsommar and Under the Skin used very simple musical ideas, but the texture, sound product and sonic impact are absolutely unique and outstanding. Played on cello, Under the Skin’s main motif, although the simplicity, is so haunting. As for Suspiria, whatever Thom Yorke does, I dig. Same with David Lynch. They are both living geniuses.” – Anna Drubich
Brandon Roberts
1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – “Mina/Dracula” – Wojciech Kilar
2. The Witch – “A Witch Stole Sam” – Mark Korven
3. The Lighthouse – “Arrival” – Mark Korven
4. Chernobyl – “Clean Up” – Hildur Guonadottir
5. The Omen – “The Dogs Attack” – Jerry Goldsmith
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Omen are perfect examples of melodic composition for Horror. What Wojciech Kilar and Jerry Goldsmith can do with themes and simple motifs is unbelievable. Sometimes frightening and gothic, sometimes transcendentally beautiful, the results are scores that are ironically as thematic as any heroic John Williams soundtrack. In both scores, the mastery of harmony, paired with perfect pacing is very humbling. On a more modern front, what Mark Korven and Hildur Guðnadóttir are doing with textures, real-world sounds, and elastic composition is amazing. They create dread and fear with simple processed sounds: a rub of metal, or banging of a solo cello body, etc. It’s incredibly effective and inspiring and is a great lesson for what can be accomplished without a large orchestra.” – Brandon Roberts
Marcus Trumpp
1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – “The Beginning” – Wojciech Kilar
2. The Thing – “Desolation” – Ennio Morricone
3. Twilight Zone: Eye of the Beholder – “Revelation” – Bernard Herrmann
4. Alien – “The Alien Planet” – Jerry Goldsmith
5. Hellraiser – “Resurrection” – Christopher Young
“The immediacy with which these pieces grab the listeners attention is absolutely fascinating. Whether it’s the thunderous opening of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the foreboding electric Bass pulse in The Thing, or the use of vibes and muted low brass for Eye of the Beholder, the masterful use of color and harmony and how they connect with the mood and intention of the material so effortlessly is something to behold (and be humbled by…)
I also included two of my all-time favorite horror scores: Alien, in which Goldsmith used a variety of exotic instruments (such as Conch Shells) – plus some really cool tape effects for sound design – and Hellraiser, which to me is one of Chris Young’s most iconic and beautiful scores.” – Marcus Trumpp
All three installments of the Fear Street trilogy are now playing on Netflix. Watch the official trailer here.