There are themes that didn’t just accompany horror films - they defined how fear sounds.
Insidious
This one is just unpleasant in a very effective way.
Those screeching strings feel like they’re actively warning you to turn it off, and I remember the first time I heard it properly outside the film and thinking “yeah, that’s not going in my headphones at night again”.
It’s basically just noise and tension, but it works well because it refuses to sound comfortable for even a second.[Listen to Insidious Theme]
The Thing
This one is weirdly restrained for something from that film.
I used to think it was doing almost nothing, but that’s kind of the point, because it just sits there in the background like it doesn’t care if you notice it or not, and then ten minutes later you realize you’re tense and you don’t even know when it happened.
That’s annoying, in a good way.[Listen to The Thing Theme]
Suspiria
This is one of those soundtracks where I honestly can’t separate it from the feeling of the film.
Goblin just went fully unhinged here, where it’s creepy but also kind of catchy, which feels wrong to admit, and there are parts of it that sound almost playful and then it suddenly turns and it’s not fun anymore.
I don’t know how they pulled that off.[Listen to Suspiria Theme]
Saw
You hear this and your brain just goes straight to that franchise, with no thinking required.
It’s not even that complex but it builds this weird sense of pressure that just keeps tightening, and pretty much anyone will recognize it.
Least they should. [Listen to Saw Theme]
Jaws
Two notes.
That’s literally it.
It’s kind of funny how something so simple ended up becoming one of the most famous bits of movie music ever. I don’t even need the film anymore, I just hear it and immediately feel slightly uneasy for no reason.
Still works every time.[Listen to Jaws Theme]
Psycho
The Psycho theme feels like it should be overused by now, but it isn’t.
Those strings are still sharp and uncomfortable no matter how many times you’ve heard them, and it’s basically horror shorthand at this point, where you just end up reacting to the sound. [Listen to Psycho Theme]
Halloween/Halloween II
The original is just perfect, and so simple it almost feels like it shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does.
I’ve got a soft spot for the Halloween II version as well, even though I know people argue about it, as it’s basically the same idea with more synth, and I kind of like both depending on my mood. [Listen to Halloween Theme] - [Listen to Halloween II Theme]
A Nightmare on Elm Street
This isn't just creepy, it almost feels sad in places, which fits the film perfectly, and I have to say that I've listened to this soundtrack outside of the movie more times than I can count.
There’s something almost emotional about it in places too, which you don’t really expect from a slasher theme. [Listen to A Nightmare On Elm Street Theme]
Cannibal Holocaust
It almost feels a bit wrong to include on a list like this, but the music itself is genuinely beautiful, which is a strong contrast to the film, as you’ve got this calm, almost peaceful sound attached to something completely horrific.
It shouldn’t work in my head, but it does..[Listen to Cannibal Holocaust Theme]
Do you have a favorite horror movie theme?
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