Ranking the Halloween Themes
4) Halloween 4
More Alan Howarth. He was basically the Harry Manfredini of this franchise. This version was very faithful to the original but added more intensity, with some drum beats and more of a synthesizer twist to it. It didn’t do anything too special, but sometimes it’s best not to mess with perfection.
3) Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007)/ Halloween II (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG7B4rAfrUI
These were essentially the same so I’m listing them together. I actually like Tyler Bates’ take on the original theme. It starts out very similar to the original but becomes distorted and slightly faster, which works perfectly with Rob Zombie’s more dark and twisted version of Michael Myers. This one picks up in intensity really well. I like it.
2) Halloween
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFSDR1iJrZ4
What can you say about this one that hasn’t already been said? Along with Bernard Herrman’s score for Psycho, it’s quite possibly the most recognizable theme song in horror history, and possibly in film history itself. How could I possibly not rank it the best in the series? Let me explain…
1) Halloween II
This is kind of blasphemy and I’ll admit I’m probably trying a bit too hard with this ranking but I actually really do love this version of the theme and in some ways it is actually scarier to me than the original. This one starts off so menacing and Gothic, with its slowed-down version of the theme. The use of a synthesizer rather than a piano allowed for this version to add so much sound, you really notice the lows, and the whole thing builds and builds. Just like the sequel upped the gore, its theme also upped the intensity. Maybe I’m crazy, maybe I’m hopped up on Halloween candy, but right now this is my favorite version of the classic Halloween theme.
