October 28

31 Days 31 Scores

October 28th

warlock_maf7003d

“You tellin’ me you’re a witch? You ain’t no witch! Witches are girls!”

Welcome Back to “31 Days 31 Scores”.   As we head into the final weekend of 31 Days 31 Scores I bring you the score to the 1989 film “Warlock” by Jerry Goldsmith.  Goldsmith was always an innovator and in this case you hear his experimental side.  The score on CD opens with “The Sentence” a beautiful string piece accented with electronic sound effects.  You can definitely hear “The Omen” influence here but with a more modern sound.  Running throughout the score are little sound effects that he would eventually use effectively in “Total Recall” a year later.  Again, much like “The Omen” Goldsmith uses the technique of subtle horror sitting in the shadows and creeping around in the dark.  It’s quite effective.  The orchestration in the cue “Old Age” is quite unique with an almost clock like beat with the occasional clock like sounds that almost sounds like clock springs.  I’m sure this was the intent.  “The Weather Vane” uses all kinds of electronic tricks and low brass with urgent strings to create a really great vibe.  The clock like feel returns in “The Uninvited” and “Salt Water Attack” with a feeling that time is running out.  The score on CD end with “The Salt Flats” a triumphant almost fantasy like cue with the mysterious sound effects we first heard in “The Sentence” as kind of a bookend to the score.   Goldsmith truly proves that he is the master of horror with his score to “Warlock”.  While by no means the “The Omen” this score has a wonderful classic vibe to it and with a cool sounding electronic sound to it that would become Goldsmith signature through most of the late 80’s and 90’s.  Warlock is available in many forms but I own the 1989 Intrada CD and it is well worth the listen.

Join me tomorrow for more 31 Days 31 scores with “8 Friends, 1 Killer, No Escape!”