10 Movies With Excellent Scores

Today I'm writing about 10 films that have memorable musical scores. Most every movie has a score, so I have limited this list to soundtracks that didn't garner much attention in the way of awards. You'll notice that I left out everything by John Williams who scored Star Wars, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, and more. This is intentional as John Williams has won many awards and people are very familiar with his work.

1. Cape Fear (1991) - Bernard Hermann/Elmer Bernstein

Cape Fear is an outstanding psychological thriller originally released in 1962 with the score by Bernard Hermann. Cape Fear was fantastically remade in 1991 with the same score, only this time it was rearranged and conducted by Elmer Bernstein. The remake has an Allstar cast including Jessica Lange and Robert DeNiro.

The score for this movie is so memorable that it was partially used in the recent Netflix production of Ratched. I immediately recognized the music because it leaves a lasting impression. Hermann uses intense orchestrated sounds to invoke the dark emotions the audience experiences from this movie.

If you haven't seen Cape Fear it includes Juliette Lewis' best on screen performance. Check out Cape Fear when you are ready for a classic thriller that won't leave you disappointed.

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2. Basic Instinct - Jerry Goldsmith

Basic Instinct is one of my favorite movies, not only because of its overt sexuality, intelligent dialogue, and superb cinematography, but also because of its continuous, dark soundtrack. Jerry Goldsmith has recorded a plethora of soundtracks for movies, but Basic Instinct is one of his best.

The score for Basic Instinct is unrelenting in its continuity. There are few scenes in this movie that don't have Goldsmith's mark on them. The music adds a layer to this movie that literally takes the viewer into the world of the film. Suspension of disbelief occurs through a hypnotic cacophony of sound that Goldsmith crafted perfectly for this film.

If you haven't experienced the mystery of Basic Instinct, or haven't seen it in a while, you will be entertained to say the least if you check it out, now. Basic Instinct includes Sharon Stone's best on screen performance. Yes, even better than Casino.

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3. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) - Charles Bernstein

A Nightmare On Elm Street was released in 1984 and director Wes Craven based it on a true story that he read in the newspaper. The newspaper article he read was about a young man who refused to go to sleep. He claimed that someone, or something, was trying to kill him in his sleep. After several nights of unrest, the young man's family dosed him with some sleeping medication in his drink. The young man fell asleep, and like he predicted, he died, or was killed, during a nightmare.

A Nightmare On Elm Street has one of the most original plot lines ever developed for a movie. The production on this movie is lovingly executed with special attention to details. Those details include a haunting, and memorable score by Charles Bernstein.

The music in this movie helps develop the overarching theme and creates a nightmarish world for the audience. Bernstein creates one of the most unforgettable hooks in movie soundtracks. If you haven't seen A Nightmare on Elm Street, or just haven't viewed it in a while, you should check it out. It still holds up.

NOTE: The remake is not as good as the original.

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4. Friday the 13th - Harry Manfredini

Friday the 13th is a series of horror movies that most everyone is familiar with. Harry Manfredini created some of the most terrifying sounds ever put to screen for this series. Besides the famous "Chee Chee Chee Chee, Ha Ha Ha Ha" sounds that he created, he also uses many other sound gags to help scare the shit out of the audience, and it all works. The Friday the 13th series would not have reached the popularity that it achieved without the sound stylings of Manfredini.

I have chosen to link Part 2 (1982) to this article because it has the best cinematography of the Friday the 13th series. It is also the first movie to feature Jason as the killer. As a side note, many of the scenes and cinematography in Part 2 were copied directly from Italian horror movies that were being released around the same time. This combination of visuals and Manfedini's music really gave a boost to the Friday the 13th franchise.

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5. Psycho (1960) - Bernard Hermann

I felt I had to include Psycho on this list because the score was SO effective. Bernard Hermann created a sound for this movie that became part of the lexicon of popular culture and continues to endure.

Yes, this is the second time I mentioned Hermann's work, but he was just that good. The famous shower scene in Psycho actually has no music at all, until, of course, the stabbing starts. This shock of screeching violins definitely defined the intense horror of that scene. Without that sound the shower scene would be much duller and less memorable.

If you haven't seen Psycho for a while, or at all, you won't be disappointed. I'm always thrilled that the movie starts in Arizona, and that the main character. played by Janet Leigh, is murdered before the movie even gets going. Watch it again, and pay attention to how the sound design forces the perspective of the film.

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6. Blood Simple - Carter Burwell

Blood Simple, released in 1985, is the first Cohen Brothers film. It was filmed over several months which is unheard of for a film production. Normally movies are completed in a matter of weeks. The Cohen Brothers paid special attention to all the details in this movie, including the music, and it definitely shows.

Unlike most of the Cohen Brothers movies, Blood Simple is not a comedy. It's a murky, brooding journey into the dark recesses of human behavior. It's an artistic masterpiece. This is definitely the best Cohen Brothers film, and that can be attributed, at least partially, to the evocative musical score by Carter Burwell.

The music in this movie will stay with you long after watching the flick. It has a special, romantic hook that plays throughout the film. Carter's score for Blood Simple helped the movie achieve its artistic heights. Most people have not seen Blood Simple, but I urge everyone to give it a viewing. I always put this film in my top 10 films of all time, and it usually resides in first place.

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7. Halloween (1978) - John Carpenter

John Carpenter not only wrote and directed Halloween, he also created the musical score. The original version of this movie released in 1978 stars Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut. Jamie Lee is the daughter of the actress, Janet Leigh, that I mentioned from Psycho who was killed in the famous shower scene. Originally titled The Babysitter Murders, Halloween will forever be tied to the holiday that it shares its name with.

Halloween is a pretty good slasher flick. There was obviously much attention paid to the details in this film. This includes the soundtrack. The music in this movie actually makes the movie. I read once that the first screenings of the movie did not include Carpenter's score, and it received poor reviews. However, on second screening, with Carpenter's soundtrack added, the same reviewers gave it high marks and reported that it was terrifying.

Halloween is a perfect example of how a soundtrack can make or break a movie. If you haven't seen Halloween for a while, or haven't seen it at all, you should check it out, just for the music. If you're lucky, it will become the soundtrack for your nightmares.

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8. Candyman (1992) - Philip Glass

Candyman is another movie by Clive Barker based on the book he penned titled Books of Blood. It is one of the only horror movies to feature a black killer. Candyman is the story of a slave who was viciously murdered in the 18th century, but returns to take revenge when someone looks into a mirror and says his name three times.

The original storyline needed an original soundtrack, and that was provided by electronic musician Philip Glass. Glass has produced a plethora of minimalist music compositions that are highly revered in the art and music world. The soundtrack that he composed for Candyman is no exception.

The haunting composition that Glass wrote for this film will stay with you long after the credits roll. The soundtrack for Candyman sold as many copies as the movie itself. The film has been remade and will be released in 2021, but unfortunately, does not use the Philip Glass soundtrack from the original. This is a travesty. If you haven't seen the original Candyman, or just haven't seen it for a long time, you should check it out. The soundtrack really makes the movie.

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9. Twin Peaks - Angelo Badalamenti

Twin Peaks was a twisted television series from the early 1990s by famed artistic director David Lynch. The series was continued on Showtime in 2017. It's definitely one of the most original and bizarre productions to ever be televised.

Angelo Badalamenti did a fantastic job of creating an original soundscape for this original production. He uses electronic sounds and ethereal voices to create a world that encompasses Lynch's production perfectly. The music was so well received that a soundtrack for the television show was released. Something that is almost unheard of.

I have attached the movie Fire Walk With Me to this article because it is the movie that went with the TV show. Badalamenti's music is also featured in this film. If you have not seen the TV show, or don't want to watch an entire series, Fire Walk With Me can stand on its own as a freakishly bizarre avant-garde film. Take a fire walk and check out this movie, even if it's just to preview the soul-stirring, otherworldly music.

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10. Edward Scissorhands - Danny Elfman

I could not write a list about movie musical scores without including something by Danny Elfman. Elfman was in the band Oingo Boingo, heck, he was the band Oingo Boingo. He went on to write the music for almost everything, including The Simpsons theme song. He partnered with Tim Burton on several projects, but Edward Scissorhands is my favorite.

Edward Scissorhands is a twisted fairytale made even more warped by Elfman's playfully serious musical score. The music in this movie actually does transport the audience to a dark fairytale land. There are so many details in this movie that make it so good, but Elfman's music is definitely a big part of that.

If you haven't seen Edward Scissorhands, or you haven't watched in a long time, I urge you to check it out. It really is a very original cinematic masterpiece. The acting is on point, and all the details have been perfected.

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Thank you for reading this article. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact me. As always I'm open to any feedback or suggestions. Watch more good movies.