POLL: Which Horror Film Has the Most Chilling Soundtrack?

Originally published on October 27, 2021. This article is a poll asking readers to decide which horror movie soundtrack is the scariest. Check out our Spooktacular event page for even more spooky news and fun!

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Do you hear that? Is it violins or sinister whispering? Maybe some tube-shaped bells or erratic piano chords? The terror that we feel while watching scary movies would be nothing without a chilling soundtrack to back it up. Music is our cue to be on the lookout for monsters, mayhem, and mischief. It raises the hairs on our necks and puts a shiver down our spines. It tunes us into our greatest fears. And its absence makes any silence that much spookier.

When utilized properly, horror movie OSTs gather us up and deposit us in the sweltering mouth of danger. Where we go from there is entirely up to the next progression of notes. Each mark on the sheet music is an opportunity to scream or settle. Every crescendo fills us with awe. But which horror films does the best job of taking us on this macabre melodic journey?

Vote below, then keep reading to learn why these soundtracks made it to our poll.

Without further ado, here are the contenders for most chilling soundtrack.

Scariest Horror Movie Soundtracks:

• The Exorcist
• Annihilation
• Psycho
• The Phantom of the Opera
• Halloween
• Friday the 13th

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The Exorcist

• Release Year: 1973
• Director: Wiliam Friedkin
• Composer(s): Jack Nitzsche

The Exorcist is often called the scariest movie of all time. But does it have the scariest soundtrack? You be the judge! Nitzsche’s avant-garde orchestral work pairs beautifully with the emotional highs and lows of each scene. It’s an incredible addition to cinematic OSTs everywhere, no matter the genre.

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Annihilation

• Release Year: 2018
• Director: Alex Garland
• Composer(s): Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow

Annihilation is an outlier in that it is quite cerebral. Its soundtrack requires a delicate balance of grief, guilt, and gore, mirrored by the narrative itself. In our opinion, the composers achieve this. Each scientific discovery is overlaid by music that moves so seamlessly through our minds and hearts.

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Psycho

• Release Year: 1960
• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Composer(s): Bernard Herrmann

Even people who haven’t watched the film know part of the Psycho soundtrack. During the iconic shower scene, Herrmann uses a jarring monotone noise for each downward stroke of the killing weapon. Both the sound and choreography have been referenced, homaged, and parodied within the genre for decades.

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The Phantom of the Opera

• Release Year: 2004
• Director: Joel Schumacher
• Composer(s): Andrew Lloyd Webber

This dark fantasy/gothic romance has the privilege of being composed by one of the greatest musicians of all time. It is also based off the rock opera musical of the same name, also written by Webber. Undoubtedly, the Phantom soundtrack has a few of the most beautiful soprano parts you’ll hear in your life. Do you agree?

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Halloween

• Release Year: 1978
• Director: John Carpenter
• Composer(s): John Carpenter

  

  
  

John Carpenter’s minimalist synthesizer score for Halloween lives in total icon status, as it was written in only a few days. It is tense and features an irregular time signature that keeps audiences on their toes throughout the entire movie. Strange and entirely played on piano, this is one for the history books.

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Friday the 13th

• Release Year: 1980
• Director: Sean S. Cunningham
• Composer(s): Harry Manfredini

Ki ki ki ma ma ma … well, you get it. Heavy on the reverb and echo, Manfredini’s slasher film score never manipulates its audience. Instead, music only plays when the killer is actually present, creating a trustworthy yet tense bond between fans and filmmakers. With this in mind, do you think it deserves the trophy as most chilling?

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A beautiful harmony can bring us to tears, but a discordant soundtrack can awaken our fears. Chilling instrumentals are one of the most necessary parts when arranging a truly scary movie.

Is there another film with a terrifying soundtrack? Let us know at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!