Halloween is just around the corner, and a lot of film and TV buffs are already queuing up their horror-themed movie nights. Far too often, scores from famous horror films and TV shows get overlooked, but we think they’re worth revisiting. Let’s look at just four of the best scores from horror films and television!

This list is as far from exhaustive as it gets, but we are particularly fond of these four albums of work.

1. Stranger Things (2016)

Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, so it only makes sense that the score would be a synth-filled wonderland of atmospheric tracks and even danceable songs. Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon were on another level with this score, though. It’s not what anyone was expecting.

Not only does their work on this score transport you straight back to the 1980s, but it also has this looming sense of dread and dreaminess mixed into it. If this duo of composers decided to score something Lovecraftian, we know they’d be amazing at it.

2. Hereditary (2018)

A scary horror film is only as terrifying as the ambiance its score lays down in the background. While Hereditary is absolutely horrifying on its own, the score makes it even better. Especially during that ending scene.

Colin Stetson is the composer behind this film’s score, and he was the perfect choice for it. This score sounds unlike anything ever done in the horror genre before. It’s gripping, beautifully orchestrated, and notably quite modern without being cheesy. Stetson used a variety of reed instruments and strings to create a score both terrifyingly modern and classic at the same time.

3. Suspiria (1977)

When it comes to horror scores, sometimes you just can’t beat the classics. Italian prog-rock outfit Goblin put together the score for Suspiria after reading the script for the film. They only had three months to write and record the score , and the end result is on another level. If you love classic Moog synths and tabla drums, you’ll love this score.

4. Twin Peaks (1990)

It’s hard to define the David Lynch series Twin Peaks as solely a horror show. It has a ton of different surreal elements that go beyond just horror. But a big reason why that show gets defined as a horror series comes down to the background music that composer Angelo Badalamenti put together for the series.

The compositions are just on another level. It’s very much your typical atmospheric 1990s television score, but with something dark and creative lurking under the surface.

Photo by NETFLIX/Moviestore/Shutterstock

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