Spooky Soundtracks: Music in TV & Movies This Halloween Season (2023)
Spooky Soundtracks of the Spooky Season. The scary good music in movies and TV! Ahead of Halloween, Tunefind highlights scary soundscapes, hard-rocking horrors, and terror-filled tunes. Check out the list below for the popular Fall content in October 2023.
Released on Netflix on October 12, 2023, The Fall of the House of Usher is the newest project from creator Mike Flanagan. This gothic horror drama is loosely based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and is the darkest entry into Mike Flanagan’s collective works thus far. Flanagan is best known for his work in horror films and television series such as The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass.
Since 2014’s Oculus, Mike Flanagan has worked with composer duo The Newton Brothers on all of his creations. The Newton Brothers, individually known as John Andrew Grush and Taylor Newton Stewart, are known for their hauntingly beautiful horror scores. In addition to the instrumental pieces, The Fall of the House of Usher includes remixes of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ and Nine Inch Nails ‘Closer,’ remixed by The Newton Brothers. Other placements include ‘Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2’ by Pink Floyd, ‘10,000 Emerald Pools’ by Børns, and ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ by Bonnie Tyler. This series’ soundscape is as gothic and grand as the titular Ushers themselves.
Popular Song:
Wicked Game
by The Newton Brothers, Daisy Gray
from The Fall of the House of Usher · Season 1 · Episode 2 · The Masque of the Red Death
[Original song by Chris Isaak] Perry overlooks the party as the lighting turns to red; A woman enters the party, and Perry is transfixed on her; Verna seduces Perry in one of the bedrooms.
The first 5 Goosebumps episodes premiered on Disney+ and Hulu on Oct 13, 2023. This comedic horror series is the most recent adaptation of R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name. For anyone who grew up in the ’90s reading the books, this series is full of nostalgia. It was, however, the showrunners’ mission to make the series relatable to everyone and every generation. The soundtrack is full of both fresh tracks and throwbacks. So far, the series has featured songs such as ‘Today’ by The Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Bad Guy’ by Billie Eilish, ‘Unholy’ by Sam Smith and Kim Petras, and ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by The Proclaimers. Maestros of dread, The Newton Brothers scored this delightfully creepy series.
Popular Song:
Goosebumps – Remix
by Travis Scott, HVME
from Goosebumps · Season 1 · Episode 1 · Say Cheese and Die!
End credits.
Totally Killer dropped on streaming service Amazon Prime Video on October 6, 2023. The film is a black comedy slasher film directed by Nahnatchka Khan and produced by horror heavyweight Jason Blum. With the majority of the film being set in 1987, the soundtrack is splendidly old-school. Totally Killer features music from artists such as Bananarama, Chris De Burgh, and New Order. The movie is scored by Michael Andrews.
Popular Song:
Little Bit ‘o Soul [from the Amazon Original Movie “Totally Killer”]
from Totally Killer
(1:38)
Monster High 2 is a sequel to Monster High: The Movie and was released almost exactly a year after its predecessor, on October 5, 2023. Based on the fashion doll franchise of the same name, this film is a musical theater meets coming-of-age classic. The plot is propelled forward by frequent musical numbers that involve storytelling, dancing, and original music. On September 20, 2023, the film’s soundtrack was discreetly made available on music streaming services. This monster-centric soundtrack is a spooky family treat.
The Exorcist: Believer is the sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise and serves as a sequel to The Exorcist. The story revolves around a photographer who is forced to deal with the depths of evil after his daughter and her best friend become possessed. The soundscape is heavily instrumental and provides multiple reimagined versions of the iconic ‘Tubular Bells’ theme, which became one of the most recognizable movie songs in half a century. Director David Gordon Green brought in composers David Wingo and Amman Abbasi to revamp and revisit the quintessential elements of Mike Oldfield’s original theme song. The Exorcist: Believer is a musical treat for any bona fide horror junkie.
2023 is the year of reimagined horror themes. This sentiment cuts deepest with the release of Saw X on September 29, 2023. Saw X is the tenth installment in the Saw franchise and serves as both a direct sequel to Saw and a prequel to Saw II. The audibly iconic track ‘Hello Zepp’ by composer Charlie Clouser was created for the first Saw and designed to bring a musical flourish to the movie’s proverbial plot twist. The song has since become the defining theme for the entire series. ‘Zepp X’ is Clouser’s most recent spin on his notorious instrumental and harkens back to the very first Saw when the track drops in near the end of Saw X. It’s a testament to the power of a good soundtrack in enhancing the horror movie-watching experience.
Popular Song:
Zepp X
from Saw X
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines was released on Paramount+ October 6, 2023, and is a prequel to Pet Sematary, which in turn was based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The movie takes place in 1969, five decades prior to the events of the earlier movie. The storyline revolves around a young Jud Crandall’s discovery of a nearby graveyard where the deceased can return to life, all while Crandell remains unaware of the impending terror that will profoundly impact his life. Bloodlines’ soundscape offers fans an atmospheric journey through the depths of eerie and suspenseful melodies and includes placements by artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Music Machine, and The Platters. The film’s chilling original score is composed by Emmy Award-winning composer Brandon Roberts.
Bonus-town
Bonus time! It’s the 25th anniversary of the classic Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown. This nostalgic family favorite premiered on October 17, 1998, and has cemented its status as a nostalgic pop culture icon. This enchanting film has stood the test of time and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of viewers with a delightful mix of spookiness and humor that perfectly captures the essence of the holiday. Halloweentown’s enduring legacy was further celebrated this year when Walt Disney Records released the first-ever soundtrack album for the movie. The album features the film’s original score composed by Mark Mothersbaugh and includes the timeless and beloved ‘Halloweentown Theme.’
Coming Soon!
Five Nights at Freddy’s is an upcoming supernatural horror film produced by Jason Blum, based on the video game franchise of the same name. It follows a troubled security guard named Mike Schmidt (played by Josh Hutcherson), who accepts a night-time job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where he discovers its four animatronic mascots move and kill anyone that is still there after midnight. With original music by The Newton Brothers and music supervision by Andrea von Foerster and Aminé Ramer, we’re sure this soundscape will be frighteningly spectacular. Five Nights at Freddy’s is scheduled to be released simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock on October 27, 2023. Check out the official trailer below.
Tunefind is tracking the music in all your favorite spooky content! Explore the music of the season here on Tunefind.
