The Best Elfman Soundtracks For Halloween!
It was 1985 and Tim Burton was about to embark on his directorial debut in Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Taking on the project was of immense importance to Burton as it gave him the opportunity to create a piece of art that captured his imagination and launch his unique style into the cinematic stratosphere. Every decision he made in relation to the film was done so carefully and not without deliberation, bar one. Finding someone to craft the score could not have been easier.Burton was a fanatic of the American new-wave band Oingo Boingo, whose lead singer was a certain Danny Elfman. He adored everything about them - their eccentric qualities mirrored Burton's own. Burton called Elfman and set up a meeting, and while Elfman couldn't understand why Burton wanted him on the project, he eventually relented. Since then, Burton's idiosyncratic style has not been curated by the legendary composer on just three occasions. Nowadays, you do not speak about one without mentioning the other. They have worked together on some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema, moulding their masterpieces through the director's unrivalled approach. Burton's dark, gothic and outlandish works mean that they are perfect for Halloween and these are the soundtracks of the various Burton-Elfman collaborations to keep the ghouls at bay.The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)If for some horrific reason you haven't seen this masterpiece, it's set in Halloweentown, hence why it makes this list. In my eyes, this is Burton's best work and the music Elfman incorporates into it while playing the lead role of Jack is sublime. Featuring some of the most famous songs in Disney's history such as "This is Halloween" and "What's This?" the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. You really get to see Elfman shine here both through his impressive vocal range and vibrant yet intimidating score. Beetlejuice (1988)Oh, this film captures the weird and uncanny of Elfman's compositional style in such a clever way. Beetlejuice really showcases just how well Burton and Elfman work together - the director's narrative is accompanied perfectly with the tense and anxiety-inducing combination of organs, strings and pianos along with other unsettling and mysterious tones. It is such a particular soundtrack and made wonderful by the bizarreness of its world. Edward Scissorhands (1990)Scissorhands soon arrived after Beetlejuice and really showcased Burton and Elfman's versatility. It's a soft and thought-provoking film and Edward's many complex moods and feelings are encompassed in the brilliant subtlety of Elfman's instrumentalisation. It's a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and one of Elfman's personal favourites. "Ice Dance" gives me chills.Corpse Bride (2005)This film is based on a 19th-century Russian folklore and it's no surprise that Elfman's soundtrack fits it so well, given that he draws influence from Russian composers and Eastern European classical music. Corpse Bride gave Burton further freedom to explore the macabre and Elfman the opportunity to use the somber elements of the film to maximise the emotional effect.Batman Returns (1992)While it's not seen as your typical Halloween film, Bruce Wayne takes inspiration from a creature of the night befitting the holiday, so who am I to argue? Elfman really captures the eerie tone using an array of orchestral vices, with the pipe organs, harp, and rousing choir giving the film a dark and intimate feel. Each major character has their own theme surrounding their movements, something that fits wonderfully with the pace of Burton's work. You can really see the influence of Bernard Herrmann's music in Psycho throughout Elfman's composition here. Catwoman’s transformation illustrates Elfman's ability to make the viewer develop a creeping sense of intrigue while making them intensely uncomfortable. It's perfect for a chilling Halloween watch!Disclaimer: I’m not responsible for any nightmares about Danny DeVito’s Penguin.