Search This Blog

Sunday 15 March 2020

Guest blog: soundtrack spotlight - Ring

This week’s soundtrack spotlight is not only one my favourite horror films but one of my favourite soundtracks out of any genre.  The score is composed by  prolific anime composer Kenji Kawai, who has many titles under his belt including the original Ghost in the Shell and it’s sequels and even the live action remake.
Kawai's score is minimal, discordant and perfect for building tension. The minimalist techniques can be heard from the very onset of the film with the strings on the opening credits.
Good examples of the music building tension are when Yoichi walks upstairs at the funeral and the Crescendo When Reiko spots the tape on the shelf at the hotel, leading into Reiko watching it and we hear the Music on the video itself.
As the film progresses parts of the soundtrack take on a more rhythmic, percussive synth effect, beginning when Reiko and Ryuji are studying the video together, and when they are searching for Sadoko's body.
The highlight of the soundtrack is the scene in which Sadako climbs out of her well and crawls out of Ryuji's TV, the suspense is incredible.
Every horror fan should give this film another watch and give the soundtrack the attention it deserves.

No comments:

Post a Comment