Malevolence
Steven Mena
" If you like a good old-fashioned horror score, this might be a score for you to enjoy. "Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the regular release
Malevolence is a horror picture from 2004 that American Steven Mena directed, produced, edited and written. Before I forget, he wrote the music too. Mena didn't have a normal budget to realize the film, so he decided to compose the score himself. He set up his personal recording studio at his own home and started to work with various synthesizers and an Ibanez guitar.
The score to Malevolence is quite enjoyable and reminds one of the old fashion horror scores from the 80’s. Mena creates a nice, ominous atmosphere with his synthesizers and cleverly uses all the horror clichés. The music is filled with the atypical high-pitched stingers and he builds up the tension nicely. In the process of writing the music Mena discovered the stingers coincidentally sounded like some John Carpenter famous horror scores and that is one of the few scores you can associate it with.
Malevolence is the first release of Howlin's Wolf records. If you like a good old-fashioned horror score, this might be a score for you to enjoy. I for one have a weak spot for some some synth horror scores such as The Howling by Pino Donaggio. While Malevolence is far from great, it provides you with some good scares and creates a nice atmosphere. To conclude this review I would like to quote the composer's liner notes: 'Writing this score was an act of sheer desperation for me, so the idea of someone buying a CD to listen to the music is mind blowing. I hope you enjoy this disc, and if you hear any imperfections in the sound, remember, I'm NOT a professional.'
Tracklisting
1. Main Theme / Opening Titles (2.57)
2. Motel (2.31)
3. Bank Robbery (3.15)
4. Kurt's Crash (1.07)
5. On the Run (1.32)
6. Kidnapped (1.52)
7. Hideout House (1.27)
8. Burying Max (1.05)
9. The Chase (1.04)
10. Driving to the House (0.55)
11. Julian and Marilyn (1.29)
12. The Window (0.53)
13. Give Me the Gun (3.51)
14. Look Out (1.13)
15. Mary's Murder (4.20)
16. Courtney (2.21)
17. Call the Police (2.11)
18. Change of Heart (1.23)
19. Sam's Theme (1.10)
20. Sorry (1.06)
21. Walking to Slaughter House (1.23)
22. Walking Into the Kitchen (0.52)
23. Escape Part One (1.18)
24. Bones / Escape Part Two (0.35)
25. Run (0.57)
26. The Evil (1.37)
27. He's Gone (0.42)
28. Not Dead Yet (1.22)
29. Stretcher (Alternate) (0.51)
30. Bodies (1.22)
31. Graham Sutter (4.55)
32. Dream / End Credits (4.40)
Total Length: 48.16
The score to Malevolence is quite enjoyable and reminds one of the old fashion horror scores from the 80’s. Mena creates a nice, ominous atmosphere with his synthesizers and cleverly uses all the horror clichés. The music is filled with the atypical high-pitched stingers and he builds up the tension nicely. In the process of writing the music Mena discovered the stingers coincidentally sounded like some John Carpenter famous horror scores and that is one of the few scores you can associate it with.
Malevolence is the first release of Howlin's Wolf records. If you like a good old-fashioned horror score, this might be a score for you to enjoy. I for one have a weak spot for some some synth horror scores such as The Howling by Pino Donaggio. While Malevolence is far from great, it provides you with some good scares and creates a nice atmosphere. To conclude this review I would like to quote the composer's liner notes: 'Writing this score was an act of sheer desperation for me, so the idea of someone buying a CD to listen to the music is mind blowing. I hope you enjoy this disc, and if you hear any imperfections in the sound, remember, I'm NOT a professional.'
Tracklisting
1. Main Theme / Opening Titles (2.57)
2. Motel (2.31)
3. Bank Robbery (3.15)
4. Kurt's Crash (1.07)
5. On the Run (1.32)
6. Kidnapped (1.52)
7. Hideout House (1.27)
8. Burying Max (1.05)
9. The Chase (1.04)
10. Driving to the House (0.55)
11. Julian and Marilyn (1.29)
12. The Window (0.53)
13. Give Me the Gun (3.51)
14. Look Out (1.13)
15. Mary's Murder (4.20)
16. Courtney (2.21)
17. Call the Police (2.11)
18. Change of Heart (1.23)
19. Sam's Theme (1.10)
20. Sorry (1.06)
21. Walking to Slaughter House (1.23)
22. Walking Into the Kitchen (0.52)
23. Escape Part One (1.18)
24. Bones / Escape Part Two (0.35)
25. Run (0.57)
26. The Evil (1.37)
27. He's Gone (0.42)
28. Not Dead Yet (1.22)
29. Stretcher (Alternate) (0.51)
30. Bodies (1.22)
31. Graham Sutter (4.55)
32. Dream / End Credits (4.40)
Total Length: 48.16