The Frighteners (soundtrack)

The Frighteners is the soundtrack album to the 1996 film of the same name directed by Peter Jackson. The film's original score composed by Danny Elfman, featured 14 tracks in the album with a cover of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" performed by New Zealand alternative rock band The Mutton Birds, accompanied the soundtrack. It was also played in the film's closing credits. The soundtrack was released by MCA Records and Universal Records on July 16, 1996.

Reception
Jason Ankeny, writing for AllMusic, complimented it as an "imaginative" score rating three stars of out five. Filmtracks.com rated 1-star to the album, saying "With the composer's previous ideas for the genre thrust together as a horror score package, The Frighteners is correctly identified by many mainstream listeners as lacking much cohesion or singular creativity."

Todd McCarthy of Variety commented that Elfman's score is "busily in your face and ears". Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times called the score as "spooky". Edward Guthmann of San Francisco Gate criticised Elfman's score as an "overmixed onslaught". In retrospect, Cody Hamman of JoBlo.com felt that the score was "done to perfection", while Alex Behan of Stuff called the score as "great". Reviewing for the director's cut, Michael Drucker of IGN wrote "the great Danny Elfman music also comes through really well".

Accolades
At the 23rd Saturn Awards, The Frighteners ' score was nominated for Best Music. The score won Best Soundtrack at the 1997 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards

Credits
Credits adapted from CD liner notes.


 * Music composer and producer – Danny Elfman
 * Conductor – Artie Kane
 * Contractor – Patti Zimmitti
 * Orchestrator – Steve Bartek
 * Additional orchestrations – Edgardo Simone, Mark McKenzie
 * Programming – Marc Mann
 * Recording and mixing – Shawn Murphy
 * Mastering – Patricia Sullivan
 * Editing – Ellen Segal
 * Musical assistance – Livia Corona
 * Copyist – Joel Franklin
 * Design – Wilson Design Group
 * Art direction – Vartan
 * Photography – Pierre Vinet
 * Executive in charge of music for Universal Pictures – Harry Garfield