The Top 10 Horror Movie Theme Songs To Date Sep 08 '11 (Updated Sep 13 '11)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line If you are ever in a mood to spook yourself or another, or just in that kind of mood, these are some songs you should listen too. I have always enjoyed the horror movies but, I am extremely picky on what I consider a good horror move or not.  With so many bad ones that have been made, and are still being made, you just never know what to expect or what you get.  These songs are my personal favorites when it comes to horror themes and each one I can listen too without the movie even playing.  Whether or not I liked the movie itself (most I did), if the theme song was good, it made my list.  Whether or not the villain on screen helps make the music, or the music help make the villain, these really had a huge impacted in the movies they were in. #10:  Candyman “It was you Helen” (1992) If you have not seen this rather interesting and different horror film than this song will probably sound rather “pretty” to you.  It has very nice and honestly pretty piano play but, if you do know the movie then it doesn’t quite come off as so pleasant.  This theme has very nice piano play and a quite beautiful background ‘humming” but, take on a whole other meaning if you know this movie.  I will admit, out of all the songs that make my list this one needs one to see the movie to understand the full affect of the eeriness behind it.   I may have solely based this on the movie itself with the music but, it takes on a whole new meaning that works so well with the film. 9:  Friday the 13th (1980) To make a list like this, you have to credit where credit is due.  This theme is deep, dark, and eerie in itself enough but, just like the movie (and franchise) it jumps around so much you can’t keep up.  There is neither rhyme nor reason in this theme but one thing is certain (Jason, Jason, Jason, Kill, Kill, Kill) is evident enough.  To me, that’s why it makes my list.  Because as horror films go, there really is no reason to them but, they are just to frighten and scare you.  If you were to here this song just blare out of nowhere in your car, home stereo, or walking down the street on your blue tooth, you would jump if you didn’t expect it.  That is exactly what this sporadic theme does.  It has no rhythm, beat, or real tone but, it has one thing in common and that is it’s spooky.  If you don’t know the movie it probably won’t make you fear it besides saying “what the heck was that?” but, if you have watched some of this series then you can re-late. #8:  The Shining “Rocky Mountains” by Wendy Carlos & Rachel Elkind (1980) This is a very hard song to find as it is the opening scene of the movie but, is different on the actual soundtrack.  The Shining is the first “true” classic horror film to make my list (in my opinion) and the theme disserves recognition as well.  It is not really hard to even play as it mostly consists of a very deep pipe organ.  But, it’s what goes on in the background in-between that organ play which makes it truly “creepy” enough.  Don’t get me wrong, the organ play is very dark and dreary but, the synthesizer (I maybe wrong there) playing little tidbits of creepiness pieces this all together.  Listening to this during the very beginning of the movie as the as the opening credits are played, puts you in the perfect mood for what follows.  This is a very worthy theme for a very good horror film. #7:  Phantasm (1979) As most horror themes go they use a lot of organ (piano) and synthesizer together.  This movie theme is really no different however; this was pieced together extremely well.  It truly is just both of these things the entire song but, it’s how eerie they are put together that stand out.  Also, it’s how the theme is put in the movie at the right times. The beginning is not anything worthy to mention but as soon as the piano starts then you know it’s a horror movie theme.  That is the part used in the movie and worthy so.  A theme you can play with just two hands on an organ but, it is just has that spooky sound to it that makes it stood out for me. #6:  Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) What horror fan doesn’t like a movie that is based on fearing your own dreams?  However, can the music make you fear just a little more?  In this case, yes it can.  It’s one of the few themes that concentrate on just a slow pick of a guitar rather than an organ and synthesizers to do the work.  An organ is used of course with a small amount of synthesizer work but, to me it is not the main tool.  It’s the slow guitar pick working and the fast little drum “riffs” in the background.  It is a very slow moving theme, which fits the movies themselves perfectly but, really is extremely eerie.  The movie maybe a classic horror “flick” and a lot remember the other theme to Freddy Kruger (1, 2, Freddy’s coming for you) more than this but, the main theme is what I liked the most. #5:   The Exorcist “Tubular Bells” (1973) Most people who like all kinds of music will know this song just by having heard it at some time but, not many remember that this song was made for this particular movie.  As a song itself, it may not seem so eerie or suspenseful and quite relaxing but, if you have seen this movie then you know it was not meant for that.  There have been many renditions of it throughout the years and even the original artist (Mike Oldfield) has made an entire alum based on it making tubular Bells II, III, etc...  The original version is a great theme for this movie using the “bells” as it does.  However, it’s one of the few good horror themes that use electric guitar as well.  It has very catchy piano play, an eerie atmosphere about it, and much different ending.  It’s a song that has stood the test of time really and is known outside the horror movie genre. #4:  Dead Silence (2007) Whether or not a movie (or its theme song) has to be a classic to me in order to make a top 10 list matter not.  Good music is just good music and I think that way for all songs, genres, and even theme songs.  That is the reason why this theme is so high on my list.  This maybe is not the most well known movie, nor will ever be a classic but, the theme song is excellent.  Starting and ending with a nice little music box playing a lone, it gets more and more eerie as it goes on.  It’s an excellent suspense song whether you have seen the movie or not as it changes well when it gets more “silent” to when it gets more intense.  It’s a song that will probably only show up on my top 10 horror theme songs list but, if you haven’t heard this or seen the movie give it a listen.  You just maybe will understand why I think it deserves to be recognized.  It doesn’t need to have the movie playing for you to feel the suspense. #3:  Saw “The Final Test” (2004) Whether you loved, hated, or just never could watch this fast paced movie after movie series there is one thing that always remained, “The Final Test”.  For the most part, horror themes are just not what they used to be however, there is an exception to every rule.  This theme which is widely used throughout the series has a faster pace than a lot of older horror themes.  What I like the most is how the song kind of tells a story in itself as it changes gears throughout.  Starts off with a nice little guitar riff then works its way into a slower tone.  However, the song slowly gets a faster and faster pace as if you were actually watching a scene on the screen.  This is a great eerie theme song that matches very well with the franchise and its used at the right times throughout (mostly the endings). #2:  The Thing (1982) Others may not agree with this one beating out other themes or even on the list at all but, to me, it is one of the most eerie sounding of all theme songs.  Of course, it’s the theme song from one of the best horror movies of all time (in my opinion) that doesn’t hurt either.  It is how the song starts from the first beat that puts it so high on my list. You can’t get much better than a deep, dark, heartbeat that plays throughout the song.  The entire theme of the movie is suspense (although rather gory) and the theme reflects that perfectly.  It is soft, slow, suspenseful, and just downright eerie to listen too just like the movie.  But again, it’s that heartbeat that does it for me.  It also fits extremely well in this extremely suspenseful horror movie and played through most of those scenes.  It may make a difference whether you have seen the movie or not to get the full effect of the tone but, it is still a great theme for a great horror movie. #1:  Halloween (1978) It’s an oldie but a goody.  Despite the fact that the character of Michael Myers is my personal favorite long lasting serial killer that did not weigh in its position on my list.  Yes, back with another John Carpenter movie he always had a flair for music as well as directing.  He wrote and composed a lot of his own soundtracks as this being one of them (as the Fog, Escape from New York, etc…) and is still is the most catchy horror theme I have still ever heard.  There is absolute nothing dramatic about it at all as it can be played by one person on an organ but, there has always been just something about the organ play.  The deep rhythm is dark and the higher much faster tone goes perfect with it. Despite the non complicity to it, it is just an extremely catchy little tune.  So catchy, I just had to learn how to play it on the organ myself and I don’t play a lot of organ.  It is played through the movies (especially the first 2) in many of its more suspenseful scenes.  The theme is completely tied with the villain and together put Michael Myers in history as one of the best horror villains ever. Conclusion: With the ratio probably being around 1 good horror flick to every 20 horror movies released you always take your chances when you sit down and watch one for the first time.  These are some of my personal favorites when it comes to their theme songs and most of these movies I really do like.  If you like the genre of movie, and have not heard some of these or watched the movie, I recommend giving them a listen.  There just might be some that you actually enjoy just listening too without the movie itself.  If a horror theme song comes out that I deem worthy to replace one on this list, I will update.  What is your personal favorite? Thank you for reading Honorable mention: Psycho Silence of the Lambs The Grudge Pumkinhead Hide & seek Other music top 10 lists I have reviewed if you are interested in reading any of them. Top 10 Scorpions Songs 1-10 Top 10 Scorpions Songs 11-20 Top 10 Def Leppard Songs 1-10 Top 10 Metallica Songs 1-10 Top 10 Movie Soundtracks

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