The Movie Soundtrack course has expanded my knowledge thus far in anything film related. Not only has it taught me the correct terms but also the ability to diagnose a film and listen carefully to all the sounds.
I thought horror films in general are very interesting because they always have eerie and fearful music. I always called these specific motifs "theme music". The motifs are great for suspense and fear, as well as creating tension as the many functions of film. I never thought "theme music" of horror films are actually some of the most very popular leitmotifs of our time. Besides Jaws and the Psycho shower scene, there are a few popular examples. "Michael Myers", the serial killer in the Halloween saga has a popular leitmotif and whenever we hear it, it ties to the Michael Myers story of a troubled youth in the mid 1980s all the way up to the recent remakes directed by Rob Zombie. It is a suspenseful leitmotif we always associate with "Halloween" but should be associated with Myers himself (interesting note: the Italian version of "Deal or No Deal" uses the leitmotif in the "opening of briefcase" stages of the show. I learned that leitmotifs are not exactly describing the film, but more importantly the characters. Another example is "the Exorcist" trilogy. We think the music is the theme for the film, but we must think of the character herself who is going through an Exorcism. The same goes for Freddie Kruger of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies. There is a distinct leitmotif that follows this character through out the films. Leitmotifs in my opinion are the most effective in horror films because they are used frequently for suspense and a fearful atmosphere and also are very distinct for their characters.
HALLOWEEN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rA1qc7ZMiA
THE EXORCIST http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZcCxRDtTyM
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg0fRUr_PGQ
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