HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH – John Carpenter (in association with Alan Howarth)

Original Review by Alan Rogers (First uploaded at maintitles.net)

After the success of the first two Halloween films the third installment of the series left behind the world of Michael Myers, Haddonfield and the “slasher” film format. Halloween III: Season of The Witch is a film of the “mad scientist” format that is centred around the suspicious goings on of the Silver Shamrock Novelties company and its mysterious owner Conal Cochran (played by Dan O’Herlihy). John Carpenter was reluctant to revisit the Halloween franchise unless the third film left behind the tried-and-tested format of the two previous films (Carpenter ended up co-producing and co-composing on the film). In hindsight this was a bad decision as Halloween III: Season of The Witch flopped upon release, ending up as the least successful of the Halloween series of films. Carpenter’s need to separate this third film from what had gone before is so strong that he leaves behind his iconic Halloween theme and relies on a purely electronic score (again working in association with Alan Howarth) that emphasises electronic drones, scaled-back synth motifs and dramatic “stingers” to deliver a score that adds an uneasy feel to the film but which, when heard away from the film, is a decidedly hit-and-miss listening experience.

At the time of the film’s release (1982) a 35-minute album of Carpenter and Howarth’s score was made available. Featuring the main musical highlights in roughly chronological order, the “Main Title” sets the tone for the score as a whole and features a variety of electronic tones and disjointed low, heartbeat-like motifs that are interspersed by a series of electronic rhythms that are synchronised on-screen with the carving out of a Halloween mask in a computer-generated scan line pumpkin.

Status Update

Regular visitors will notice that there has been a drop-off in the frequency of reviews over the last few weeks. Various personal circumstances have meant that I have not been able to do as much listening to the great, little-heard music over the last few weeks. Hopefully this situation will change in the next few weeks and I am encouraging regular visitors to check back here regularly for future posts.

Planned posts for the future include more reviews of new, little-known titles, older “classics” and an overview of my own favourite scores of 2011.

International Film Music Critics Association

As some of you may know I recently became a member of the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) – an association of online, print and radio journalists who specialize in writing about original film, television and video game music. In the coming weeks the group will be voting for our favorite film, TV and video scores of the year – nominations will be announced mid-February.

For more regular information concerning the group (including links to reviews and interviews) please visit and LIKE our Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/ifmca
. Don’t forget to visit our official web site at
http://filmmusiccritics.org/
and check out our member profiles at
http://filmmusiccritics.org/​members/
. The IFMCA also has a presence on Twitter at 
https://twitter.com/#!/IFMCA
 . Following the IFMCA is the best way to keep up to date with all that’s happening in film, TV and video game music.

2011 Score List

All things considered, I think that 2011 has been a good year for film/TV/video game music. Many of the established composers have given us some quality music that has been a pleasure to listen to away from the medium for which it was originally composed. Below is a list (for anyone who is interested) of the titles I have heard that have been released in 2011 (though archival titles have been omitted).

AALTIO, PANU

Body of Water
Dawn of The Dragonslayer
Hella W

ABOULKER, FABRICE

Excalibur: La Légende du Roi Arthur et des Chevaliers de La Table Ronde
Rani

AMAR, ARMAND

La Source des Femmes
Tu Seras Mon Fils

ARMSTRONG, CRAIG

In Time

ARNOLD, DAVID

Paul

ACE PILOT: INFINITY DRIFTER – Brian Sadler

Original Review by Alan Rogers

Ace Pilot: Infinity Drifter is a forthcoming online Flash-based video game that, from the images I have seen and the information I have read, appears to harken back to the days of Saturday morning serials such as Flash Gordon. We have a hero, a villain, a universe in peril and a battle of Good against Evil (where Good will undoubtedly triumph in the end). Co-directors Hans Van Harken and Justin Pruitt have called upon up-and-coming composer Brian Sadler to compose the score to this video game. Interestingly, Sadler currently divides his time between service in the U.S. Navy (where he is a member of the 7th Fleet Band), playing in a variety of bands and building his filmography by writing music for a variety of independent and student films. He also composes for the concert hall. Sadler has channelled his enthusiasm into this project, creating an orchestral score full of action and heroism but which also features hints of romance. The main theme is a simple one – perhaps better described as a motif – that immediately generates a sense of excitement as well as heroism with ascending brass fanfares, glam rock-style electric guitar (echoing Queen’s music for the 1980 version of Flash Gordon?) and driving percussive rhythms. It’s a theme that oozes the enthusiasm and excitement composers such as Michael Giacchino and Ryan Shore managed to instil in their scores for animated films such as The Incredibles and Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher, respectively. In less than a minute, “Ace Pilot Main Theme” defines what the score as a whole is about: an adrenaline-fuelled 30 minutes of action and adventure.

This opening track also highlights how Sadler is able to use the main theme in a variety of different ways to achieve different effects. For example, in the middle portion of the opening track of the album, the composer drops the brass in favour of delicate, almost cheeky, strings and piano to give the theme a more light-hearted feel.

A New Year

Things have been a bit hectic at home over the festive season – hence the fall off in review regularity. Reviews will continue once things get back to normal. Thank you to those who have been checking the blog regularly.

I have been really pleased by the interest in the blog and I am hoping to maintain – and increase – the interest in 2012.

I want to thank everyone for visiting in 2011 and I want to wish everyone a great New Year.

I am hoping that this WordPress android app works out okay for posting comments “on the move”.