Vote up the most chilling horror movie scores that make you feel uneasy.
The best horror films would be nothing without their scores. Music sets the tone, builds the tension, and creates the world the story is told in. From shrieking violins to unrelenting synthesizers, here are the scariest horror scores that keep us up at night long after the movies have ended.
Vote up the horror movie scores you think are the most terrifying and have you looking over your shoulder. Vote down the scores that aren't quite as scary.
1978’s Halloween saw the horror debut of icon John Carpenter, who was just 30 at the time. Carpenter would go on to be one of the most prolific and esteemed directors in the genre. In addition to directing and writing, Carpenter also composes the scores to most of his films.
This chilling horror anthem is one of the most famous and recognizable scores in the genre, and it’s the perfect synth soundtrack to watch Michael Myers terrorize Haddonfield.
Italian mastermind Dario Argento is known for his bright colors, brutal gore, and excellent soundtracks. 1977’s Giallo classic Suspiria is no exception. Set at a prestigious German ballet academy, the film sees the gruesome downfall of several dancers at the hands of an evil coven.
The band Goblin collaborated with Argento to compose the film’s hypnotizing score, following the success of their previous work on 1975’s Deep Red. The score is critically acclaimed, adored by fans, and still performed live by the band.
Beloved horror antihero Freddy Krueger first came onto the scene in Wes Craven’s 1984 classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. Charles Bernstein composed the dreamy score to immerse viewers into Freddy’s world of nightmares.
Actress Heather Langenkamp’s (who played prototypical final girl Nancy) boyfriend at the time was actually credited with creating Freddy’s infamous nursery rhyme song, written into the script by Craven. This is one ear-worm that’s truly the stuff of nightmares.
Is there any modern film score more commonly known than that of Spielberg’s 1975 quintessential summer blockbuster Jaws? The ultimate in simplicity, John Williams’s minimalist score is the perfect match for the tension in Jaws.
Though director Steven Spielberg initially disliked the score, it’s hard to imagine this classic film with anything different. Sometimes, the simplest choice is the best.
Every horror fan knows that Alfred Hitchcock helped trailblaze the genre. Slashers wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for his filmography, none more popular or terrifying than 1960’s Psycho. Not many films have the staying power or continued relevance of this one, but perhaps even more popular and recognized is its score.
Renowned composer Bernard Herrmann composed this score in the midst of a long collaboration with Hitchcock. His credits include a long partnership with Orson Welles, and scoring other films like The Birds, Cape Fear, Taxi Driver, and Rod Serling’s television classic The Twilight Zone.
After blazing onto the scene with 1978’s Halloween, John Carpenter cemented himself as a horror great with 1982’s remake of The Thing. Much more gruesome and gory than his earlier projects, The Thing allowed Carpenter to let loose with practical effects and monster building.
Instead of writing his own score as he's often wont to do, Carpenter turned to prolific and acclaimed film composer Ennio Morricone, best known for the Fistful of Dollars scores. The result is a soundtrack that’s equal parts beautiful and horrifying.
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