Sudden Death
John Debney
" Short but entertaining action score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
One of Jean Claude Van Damme's better movies was Sudden Death, an action movie taking place during a hockey match between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn't the first time director Hyams and actor Van Damme worked together (Timecop was their first), but it was the first for composer John Debney. The result is an entertaining movie and score, presented here in the usual 30 minute time frame by record label Varèse Sarabande.
The score opens with the same gloomy feeling as The Relic (Hyams and Debney's second movie together), but immediately shows a big difference between the monster movie and this action film, namely a memorable theme. It fuels the suspense well in "Main Title / Kitchen Fight", it underscores with suspenseful drums the intensity in "Finding the Bombs" and it shines with several strong fanfares in "Choppers / Scaling the Dome". However the most amazing performance is heard during "Seeing Tyler". This is used in the most memorable scene of the film, namely the one where Jean Claude replaces the goalie during the final minutes of the movie. Furthermore, this particular 1 minute cue shows you just how good this main theme is (especially in this particular scene).
And when the main theme is not taking center stage, be sure the attention is drawn to the suspenseful underscore that fuels the entire film. Like during The Fugitive like action music in "Locker Room Chase", the thoroughly entertaining climax of "Rooftop Battle" (with a couple of main theme statements for your amusement), and the action packed finale of "Race Against the Clock / The abduction", which is a feisty track all right. Of course everything comes together in "Chopper Explodes / Resolution" (including the final main theme version of the score).
Sudden Death is in fact one suspenseful action ride from start to finish. And even though it sounds somewhat the same after a while, one can please himself with the often entertaining versions of the wonderful theme, and hold on to the sometimes explosive rhythmic action music of John Debney. All in all a standard action score, but one with gun powder to please the Cutthroat Island fan amongst us.
Favorite Moment - Seeing Tyler (0.28 - 0.44)
There are a couple of powerful main theme versions, but not a single one rises to the challenge as this one in the film
Track Listing
1. Main Title / Kitchen Fight (5.31)
2. Finding the Bombs (2.29)
3. Seeing Tyler (0.59) Excellent track
4. Locker Room Chase (2.28)
5. Choppers / Scaling the Dome (4.01)
6. Race Against the Clock / The Abduction (6.36)
7. Countdown (0.44)
8. Rooftop Battle (5.26) Excellent track
9. Chopper Explodes / Resolution (2.02)
Total Length: 30.16
The score opens with the same gloomy feeling as The Relic (Hyams and Debney's second movie together), but immediately shows a big difference between the monster movie and this action film, namely a memorable theme. It fuels the suspense well in "Main Title / Kitchen Fight", it underscores with suspenseful drums the intensity in "Finding the Bombs" and it shines with several strong fanfares in "Choppers / Scaling the Dome". However the most amazing performance is heard during "Seeing Tyler". This is used in the most memorable scene of the film, namely the one where Jean Claude replaces the goalie during the final minutes of the movie. Furthermore, this particular 1 minute cue shows you just how good this main theme is (especially in this particular scene).
And when the main theme is not taking center stage, be sure the attention is drawn to the suspenseful underscore that fuels the entire film. Like during The Fugitive like action music in "Locker Room Chase", the thoroughly entertaining climax of "Rooftop Battle" (with a couple of main theme statements for your amusement), and the action packed finale of "Race Against the Clock / The abduction", which is a feisty track all right. Of course everything comes together in "Chopper Explodes / Resolution" (including the final main theme version of the score).
Sudden Death is in fact one suspenseful action ride from start to finish. And even though it sounds somewhat the same after a while, one can please himself with the often entertaining versions of the wonderful theme, and hold on to the sometimes explosive rhythmic action music of John Debney. All in all a standard action score, but one with gun powder to please the Cutthroat Island fan amongst us.
Favorite Moment - Seeing Tyler (0.28 - 0.44)
There are a couple of powerful main theme versions, but not a single one rises to the challenge as this one in the film
Track Listing
1. Main Title / Kitchen Fight (5.31)
2. Finding the Bombs (2.29)
3. Seeing Tyler (0.59) Excellent track
4. Locker Room Chase (2.28)
5. Choppers / Scaling the Dome (4.01)
6. Race Against the Clock / The Abduction (6.36)
7. Countdown (0.44)
8. Rooftop Battle (5.26) Excellent track
9. Chopper Explodes / Resolution (2.02)
Total Length: 30.16