The Tall Man
Todd Bryanton, Joel Douek and Christopher Young
" Christopher Young's contribution is solely worth it "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
The Tall Man, starring Jessica Biel is an example of a movie that takes the unexpected twist and leaves you baffled until the outcome. Of course you could easily say the same of the brilliant detective drama from several years ago (spoiler wise it would be an insult to reveal the name) considering it tackles the same twist in style and actual story line. Anyway, it was a joy to discover Pascal Laugier's direction on this film. Then again, his direction has led many to experience one of the most brutal and violent movies in cinema history when he unleashed Martyrs in 2008. Martyrs (which is one of the strongest movies I've ever seen in this genre) carries the same twist in style, but also the same gloomy nature that makes The Tall Man ever so interesting to look at. No need to point it out, but this movie is (luckily) nothing like the dumb horror movies of late.
For the music, 3 composers were given credit. Todd Bryanton, Joel Douek and Christopher Young. Todd Bryanton (who scored a hit with Surveillance in 2006) and Joel Douek (who delivered one of the most amazing finds for fans in 2010 with The Wildest Dream) are newcomers for the mass populas, however Christopher Young is not. And it will be his name that will give this album the biggest attention. However that is not to say the 2 composer's work is to be neglected, because that would be an insult to their work. It's however perfectly clear that they had to shape the darkness where Young had to shed the light.
The album (that delivers Bryanton and Douek's work separate from Young's suite) opens with "Opening", a cold and bone chilling piece of work for piano and violin. A sound that continues in "Julia Chases the Tall Man", "The Dog Attack" (through high pitched strings) and "Running Away". A children's lullaby pops up occasionally, always reminding us that children are touched by the horror of The Tall Man's presence ("The Tall Man Reveals", "The Truck", "Running Away" and "End Credits") all the while creepy eeriness and moody darkness roams the town where the Tall Man strikes ("The Truck", "In the Forest", "Looking for David").
The more emotional pieces (often highlighted by piano and strings) continue to deliver a somber tone, never allowing the community or the people involved to feel some kind of relief, or even closure. "Flashbacks", "We Got Too Comfortable", "There is No Tall Man" and "Miss Johnson" (which is by far the most heartbreaking piece of the 2 composers on the score) are proof of this. It's only in "A New Life" that true emotional color is added to the story (a sort of a pardon for the character on which it is based). It's also noticeable that the score undergoes the twist in the film, providing the second part of the album with less horror and thrills, and more reflective emotion.
But by far the most interesting and emotional piece of music comes from none other than Christopher Young. That's immediately noticeable when you hear "Dead?", the first piece of Young that immediately goes for the heart with beautiful violin solos. Young continues to deliver the most emotional material with piano work for "Where Are They Now?" and "Silent Blessing", while "The Invisible Children" dares to bring the most heartbreaking piece of all, a stunning cue where strings literally melt the heart. Luckily for the audience, Young was also given the chance to open the film with his take on the horror of "The Tall Man", delivering a most ingenious opening piece that unleashes amazing violin work and suspenseful brass, making it a powerful and fitting end to a score that saved the best for last.
The Tall Man is a good film that received an effective and interesting score. Effective because it does everything it needs to do, underscoring the horror, the disbelief and the pain that plagues the town. Interesting because it houses 3 composers, a rarity for scores (ghost and additional composers not included). It is obvious the one and only selling point will be Christopher Young's name, and rightfully he delivers the best and most beautiful music on this release. His 20 minutes are worth every second and show the gap between a composer at the top of his game and 2 hard working men trying to get there. Not that their contribution is anything but, but it's clear they weren't given or couldn't deliver the true classy material that Young was able to unleash in 5 extraordinary cues. Recommended for his contribution alone.
Track Listing
1. Opening * (1.46)
2. Julia Chases the Tall Man ** (2.25)
3. The Tall Man Reveals ** (1.25)
4. The Dog Attack ** (2.22)
5. The Truck ** (2.10)
6. In the Forest ** (1.58)
7. Looking for David ** (2.20)
8. Flashbacks ** (4.06)
9. We Got Too Comfortable * (2.50)
10. There is No Tall Man ** (2.11)
11. Miss Johnson * (1.36)
12. Running Away ** (2.34)
13. A New Life * (03:16)
14. Playing the Castle *** (1.15)
15. End Credits ** (4.28)
16. Hmm Lose'n Everythang + (1.09)
17. Tall Man Lullaby (0.45)
Suite from and Inspired by "The Tall Man" (Christopher Young)
18. Dead? (4.39) Excellent track
19. Where Are They Now? (3.14)
20. The Invisible Children (5.52) Excellent track
21. Silent Blessing (4.40)
22. Tall Man (2.25) Excellent track
* Composed by Joel Douek
** Composed by Todd Bryant
*** Composed by George Acogny
+ Performed by by Dale Williams
Total Length: 59.26
For the music, 3 composers were given credit. Todd Bryanton, Joel Douek and Christopher Young. Todd Bryanton (who scored a hit with Surveillance in 2006) and Joel Douek (who delivered one of the most amazing finds for fans in 2010 with The Wildest Dream) are newcomers for the mass populas, however Christopher Young is not. And it will be his name that will give this album the biggest attention. However that is not to say the 2 composer's work is to be neglected, because that would be an insult to their work. It's however perfectly clear that they had to shape the darkness where Young had to shed the light.
The album (that delivers Bryanton and Douek's work separate from Young's suite) opens with "Opening", a cold and bone chilling piece of work for piano and violin. A sound that continues in "Julia Chases the Tall Man", "The Dog Attack" (through high pitched strings) and "Running Away". A children's lullaby pops up occasionally, always reminding us that children are touched by the horror of The Tall Man's presence ("The Tall Man Reveals", "The Truck", "Running Away" and "End Credits") all the while creepy eeriness and moody darkness roams the town where the Tall Man strikes ("The Truck", "In the Forest", "Looking for David").
The more emotional pieces (often highlighted by piano and strings) continue to deliver a somber tone, never allowing the community or the people involved to feel some kind of relief, or even closure. "Flashbacks", "We Got Too Comfortable", "There is No Tall Man" and "Miss Johnson" (which is by far the most heartbreaking piece of the 2 composers on the score) are proof of this. It's only in "A New Life" that true emotional color is added to the story (a sort of a pardon for the character on which it is based). It's also noticeable that the score undergoes the twist in the film, providing the second part of the album with less horror and thrills, and more reflective emotion.
But by far the most interesting and emotional piece of music comes from none other than Christopher Young. That's immediately noticeable when you hear "Dead?", the first piece of Young that immediately goes for the heart with beautiful violin solos. Young continues to deliver the most emotional material with piano work for "Where Are They Now?" and "Silent Blessing", while "The Invisible Children" dares to bring the most heartbreaking piece of all, a stunning cue where strings literally melt the heart. Luckily for the audience, Young was also given the chance to open the film with his take on the horror of "The Tall Man", delivering a most ingenious opening piece that unleashes amazing violin work and suspenseful brass, making it a powerful and fitting end to a score that saved the best for last.
The Tall Man is a good film that received an effective and interesting score. Effective because it does everything it needs to do, underscoring the horror, the disbelief and the pain that plagues the town. Interesting because it houses 3 composers, a rarity for scores (ghost and additional composers not included). It is obvious the one and only selling point will be Christopher Young's name, and rightfully he delivers the best and most beautiful music on this release. His 20 minutes are worth every second and show the gap between a composer at the top of his game and 2 hard working men trying to get there. Not that their contribution is anything but, but it's clear they weren't given or couldn't deliver the true classy material that Young was able to unleash in 5 extraordinary cues. Recommended for his contribution alone.
Track Listing
1. Opening * (1.46)
2. Julia Chases the Tall Man ** (2.25)
3. The Tall Man Reveals ** (1.25)
4. The Dog Attack ** (2.22)
5. The Truck ** (2.10)
6. In the Forest ** (1.58)
7. Looking for David ** (2.20)
8. Flashbacks ** (4.06)
9. We Got Too Comfortable * (2.50)
10. There is No Tall Man ** (2.11)
11. Miss Johnson * (1.36)
12. Running Away ** (2.34)
13. A New Life * (03:16)
14. Playing the Castle *** (1.15)
15. End Credits ** (4.28)
16. Hmm Lose'n Everythang + (1.09)
17. Tall Man Lullaby (0.45)
Suite from and Inspired by "The Tall Man" (Christopher Young)
18. Dead? (4.39) Excellent track
19. Where Are They Now? (3.14)
20. The Invisible Children (5.52) Excellent track
21. Silent Blessing (4.40)
22. Tall Man (2.25) Excellent track
* Composed by Joel Douek
** Composed by Todd Bryant
*** Composed by George Acogny
+ Performed by by Dale Williams
Total Length: 59.26