The new American supernatural horror film, Hereditary, has been billed
as one of the scariest films not only of the year, but of our time. Alongside
the immersive plot and flawless acting, the music plays a fundamental part in
evoking such unnerving emotion – so we’ve explored just how composers Colin
Stetson’s conjured the fearsome sound track.
Thanks to Jaws and Psycho, we often most associate the horror film with
strings – along with other niche instruments including the waterphone, theremin
and blaster beam designed to strike fear into our hearts. However, what makes
Hereditary so unique, is their subversion of these conventional scores. As
Stetson said:
Known for his intense solo albums and involvement with artists like
Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, the idiosyncratic saxophonist’s use of various instruments
undoubtedly challenges audiences’ typical expectations of an eerie horror film.
This is especially evident in his surprising use of his signature instrument –
a sound most associated with jazz, soul and other upbeat genres. Nevertheless,
it could be this very subversion that strengthens the scare, as the audience
sinks deep into the unknown.
Looking closely at the track created for the haunted teenage character
Charlie, Stetson portrays the girl’s evilness with ‘a searching urgency’. Using
the sound of a thumping heartbeat, one that beats just a little too fast for
comfort, the piece immediately places the listener on edge. In the middle of
“Charlie”, there’s a moment of serenity that’s creatively contrasted with an
overwhelming rumble of terror. This combination of sleek and chilling musical
features sets out to – and undeniably succeeds in – conjuring fear, and
unsettling its listener even in the absence of the visual.
Part of what makes the soundtrack so successful in its mission to scare
is Director Ari Aster’s vision to make the music feel evil, and avoid any
conventional melodic elements. Stetson clearly succeeded in that realm. By not
attracting attention to the music itself, and rather stitching it to the
happenings of the film, it’s kept completely unobtrusive, creating the feeling
that it creeps up on you. In fact, Stetson went as far as personifying the
scores he used, stating:
This unique technique orchestrates a very sinister atmosphere throughout the
film, presenting it as a figure that’s always present, even when there’s
complete silence.
The film is said to have had dramatic impact on the spectator, with audience
reports of shortness of breath, crying in fear, and uncontrollable panic – and
that’s after the mass number of walkouts. It’s clear to see that music has
played such as huge part in this extreme reaction, really showing the extent of
its power on an audience. And when this power is harnessed to showcase the
identity of a business, it has an equally dramatic impact in a far more
positive way.