The Woman in Black
Marco Beltrami
" The atonality in Beltrami "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
One of the more chilling horror movies of late is The Woman in Black, the film starring Harry Potter himself Daniel Radcliffe. The movie was a critical success, a huge financial whopper and an overall good scary movie for a windy evening. And of course, with a scary film belongs scary music, something Marco Beltrami happily delivers on command. This 55 minute soundtrack is a generous one, more than most relying on sinister mood and chilling instrumental high notes, highlighted by a tremendously effective music box lullaby, which so happens opens the score with tremendous fashion in "Tea for Three Plus One". By then the tone is set on the mystery, the hauntings, the disbelief. Choir enhances all of that in "The Woman in Black" while eerie strings fog the mystery even more in "Crossing the Causeway".
The music box theme, ever so distinctly always appears in one form or another. Whether brief and incredibly hidden like in "Voices in the Mist", whether playing on a music box like in "The Attic Room", whether through a solo cello like in "Crazy Writing", or whether through a growling menacing encore in the fire breathing "Into the Fire". There's also a mystery theme which is heard a lot throughout the score, followed mostly by Arthur's theme (a more fragile lonely theme) which is ever present as well throughout his journey.
The scary shrieks, always a necessity in these kinds of pictures are brief but spicy enough. Moments aplenty as the woman in black always wanders around for a scare or two. Tracks 5, 7, 18, all the final tracks you name them. Even creaky sound effects are added to heighten the tension in tracks such as "The Door Opens", or eerie wind effects like in "Fireside". Meaning alongside the many instrumental challenges Beltrami adds, there's room for brief but effective additional noise.
As for true horror material, you have to wait for the really crunchy ones. But those that require patience also deliver the necessary punch. "Into the Fire" is the first and most memorable one, and the racing tension and the emotional climax is really chilling for a mere couple of minutes. And what's definitely awesome is the brief but growling Woman in Black theme (I mean the lullaby) that enters the burning basement once she's seen by Arthur. The shrieks in "Race to the Marsh" is of a ferocious quality as time is ticking away fast. And this reaches a pinnacle of creepiness in "Rising From the Mud" and "Summoning the Woman in Black" (which is a bit of a letdown if we're talking about the final confrontation between the 2 characters).
The Woman in Black relies on returning themes yes, but most is still centered in the same foggy mists and eerie mysteries that haunt the story. Therefore, expect what the movie is offering you of chills and riddles. And be ready when Beltrami finally unleashes us the chills and the ultimate scare. All in all, The Woman in Black is in one way completely expectable, in another highly effective and deep down chilling. Meaning, predictable stuff but enjoyable because it builds on several themes and motifs, one that finds its own concert performance in the final track "Arthur's Theme". Though fairly listenable and darn right effective, a bit too long for my liking.
Favorite Moment - Into the Fire (1.15 - 3.17)
All that eerie mystery finally builds up to something bold, something exciting, something gripping
Track Listing
1. Tea for Three Plus One (1.40)
2. The Woman in Black (1.56)
3. Crossing the Causeway (2.24)
4. Bills Past Due (1.22)
5. Voices in the Mist (2.00)
6. Journey North (2.56)
7. Cellar Eye (2.49)
8. First Death (2.00)
9. The Attic Room (1.56)
10. The Door Opens (1.46)
11. Fireside (2.30)
12. You Could Have Saved Him (2.58)
13. Crazy Writing (2.16)
14. In the Graveyard (2.56)
15. Elisabeth's Vision (3.40)
16. Into the Fire (3.57) Excellent track
17. Jennet's Letters (2.12)
18. Race to the Marsh (2.11)
19. Rising From the Mud (3.13)
20. Summoning the Woman in Black (4.27)
21. Reunion (1.42)
22. Arthur's Theme (2.46)
Total Length: 55.02
The music box theme, ever so distinctly always appears in one form or another. Whether brief and incredibly hidden like in "Voices in the Mist", whether playing on a music box like in "The Attic Room", whether through a solo cello like in "Crazy Writing", or whether through a growling menacing encore in the fire breathing "Into the Fire". There's also a mystery theme which is heard a lot throughout the score, followed mostly by Arthur's theme (a more fragile lonely theme) which is ever present as well throughout his journey.
The scary shrieks, always a necessity in these kinds of pictures are brief but spicy enough. Moments aplenty as the woman in black always wanders around for a scare or two. Tracks 5, 7, 18, all the final tracks you name them. Even creaky sound effects are added to heighten the tension in tracks such as "The Door Opens", or eerie wind effects like in "Fireside". Meaning alongside the many instrumental challenges Beltrami adds, there's room for brief but effective additional noise.
As for true horror material, you have to wait for the really crunchy ones. But those that require patience also deliver the necessary punch. "Into the Fire" is the first and most memorable one, and the racing tension and the emotional climax is really chilling for a mere couple of minutes. And what's definitely awesome is the brief but growling Woman in Black theme (I mean the lullaby) that enters the burning basement once she's seen by Arthur. The shrieks in "Race to the Marsh" is of a ferocious quality as time is ticking away fast. And this reaches a pinnacle of creepiness in "Rising From the Mud" and "Summoning the Woman in Black" (which is a bit of a letdown if we're talking about the final confrontation between the 2 characters).
The Woman in Black relies on returning themes yes, but most is still centered in the same foggy mists and eerie mysteries that haunt the story. Therefore, expect what the movie is offering you of chills and riddles. And be ready when Beltrami finally unleashes us the chills and the ultimate scare. All in all, The Woman in Black is in one way completely expectable, in another highly effective and deep down chilling. Meaning, predictable stuff but enjoyable because it builds on several themes and motifs, one that finds its own concert performance in the final track "Arthur's Theme". Though fairly listenable and darn right effective, a bit too long for my liking.
Favorite Moment - Into the Fire (1.15 - 3.17)
All that eerie mystery finally builds up to something bold, something exciting, something gripping
Track Listing
1. Tea for Three Plus One (1.40)
2. The Woman in Black (1.56)
3. Crossing the Causeway (2.24)
4. Bills Past Due (1.22)
5. Voices in the Mist (2.00)
6. Journey North (2.56)
7. Cellar Eye (2.49)
8. First Death (2.00)
9. The Attic Room (1.56)
10. The Door Opens (1.46)
11. Fireside (2.30)
12. You Could Have Saved Him (2.58)
13. Crazy Writing (2.16)
14. In the Graveyard (2.56)
15. Elisabeth's Vision (3.40)
16. Into the Fire (3.57) Excellent track
17. Jennet's Letters (2.12)
18. Race to the Marsh (2.11)
19. Rising From the Mud (3.13)
20. Summoning the Woman in Black (4.27)
21. Reunion (1.42)
22. Arthur's Theme (2.46)
Total Length: 55.02