As we edge towards Halloween weekend, we start to hone in on all the great things this spooky season brings with it, one of which the films.

As a self-titled Horror movie buff, I can attest to the fact that one of the big factors of a great horror movie is indeed the soundtrack. From screeching synths, to blood curdling baselines; the soundtrack and score or a horror movie (or lack there of) is what brings 50% or more of the SPOOK.

We caught up with one of the most talented up-and-comers out of Sydney right now, Exhibitonist – Kirsty Tickle – who is something of a scary movie buff herself and dished up her five favourite soundtracks for Halloween.

Dive into the selections below, with Exhitionist’s additional blurbs for each.

Planet Terror
Grindhouse (Main Title) by Robert Rodriguez

Know what I love? A good bit of saxophone. 🎷 Know what I also love? A really great set of opening credits. Combine the two and add in a really strong performance from Rose McGowan and 💥 BAM! 💥

Rosemary’s Baby
Lullaby by Krzysztof Komeda

The moment Mia Farrow’s character realises she’s been raped by Satan and now has his baby is actually horrifying. There’s a great bit of clever dialogue where Ruth Gordon’s character says, “He chose you out of all the world – out of all the women in the whole world, he chose you. He arranged things because he wanted you to be the mother of his only living son.” Fast forward a couple of minutes to Rosemary smiling having come to terms with her new devil spawn, this lullaby starts playing and it’s just about the most unsettling thing ever.

The Shining
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta by Béla Bartók

This whole soundtrack is great, but it doesn’t get much more intense than the tricycle hallway scene soundtracked by Bartók. Yeah, little Danny, we all feel you!🙈

It Follows OST
Disasterpeace

Disasterpeace did such a good job with the score for It Follows. When Jay is in the middle of the pool and this creepy drone starts you start thinking, “hey, that looks like great place to drown Jay, maybe not the best idea…” and then ‘It’ starts to throw appliances at her and the music gets progressively more manic. When the drums start you know she’s really in trouble, and before you know it you’re on your feet screaming, “you’re going to get so f**ked up. Get out of the damn pool, girl!”

Under the Skin OST
Mica Levi

This whole movie is beautifully shot, but super unsettling. Mic Levi is a talented instrumentalist and wrote an excellent score that is equal parts thunderingly scary as it is eerily sensual. The part that sticks out most in my memory is the skin removal scene. Visually it’s enough to make you feel a little queasy, but the high pitched string sound over the swelling cello takes it to a new level of messed up.🎻

–

If you’re digging Exhibitionist’s taste for spooky tunes be sure to catch her live at Red Bull Sound Select’s halloween spectacular in Sydney this Friday night alongside All We Are and Blessed. For more details on that event click right here.