Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Created a New Version of John Carpenter’s Halloween Theme
Iconic horror and thriller film director John Carpenter is readying himself for the Oct. 20 release of Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998, a collection of 13 classic themes from cinematic classics that include the likes of The Thing, The Fog and Escape From New York. Of course, the most famous of all Carpenter movie themes may be the iconic opening paino and synth motif to 1978’s ur-slasher Halloween, and in anticipation of the Anthology: Movie Themes release, we have a special treat for those Halloween fans: a new version of the theme created by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
“I clearly remember my friends and I at 13 years old conning our parents into letting us see Halloween when it came out in 1978,” said Reznor in a statement. “We left the theater forever changed. We were damaged and scarred, with the shit genuinely scared out of us and that theme stuck firmly in our heads. John Carpenter, it’s your fault that I turned out the way I did.”
The theme turned out by Reznor and Ross is dark and moody, stretching out Carpenter’s theme into a rising and falling stretch of composition both familiar and new. It starts with a long period of silence before launching into some of the classic theme, which builds to a howling midpoint. The theme then rests, gathering strength before building to a pulsing, EDM-like conclusion.
Carpenter also commented on the new theme himself, stating “Moody and dark, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ version of Halloween does amazing justice to the original. I’m impressed.”
Carpenter is joined on the new album by a variety of musicians who have accompanied him on recent musical tours, where he had largely been presenting new, original music, including his son Cody and godson Daniel Davies. You can check out a full tracklist of the album below, and also view his video for the Christine theme, which is Carpenter’s first narrative filmmaking in the last seven years.
And of course, do your duty and re-watch Halloween this October, won’t you? The franchise is scheduled to return for one more sequel in 2018, with actress Jamie Lee Curtis returning to her iconic scream queen role of Laurie Strode, the embattled sister of Michael Myers.
‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’ track list:
1. In the Mouth of Madness
2. Assault on Precinct 13
3. The Fog
4. Prince of Darkness
5. Santiago (Vampires)
6. Escape From New York
7. Halloween
8. Porkchop Express (Big Trouble in Little China)
9. They Live
10. The Thing
11. Starman
12. Dark Star
13. Christine