Soundtrack Review: The Wolfman (2010)

The Wolfman Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the motion picture score The Wolfman by Danny Elfman.

"Haslinger's score might have been good, but I really wanted Elfman's grand gothic score and I got my wish."

The Wolfman has been a mess from day one, change of direction seems to be fun for the guys and gals in charge. The movie is about the legendary Wolfman and is directed by Joe Johnston and starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins. The movie trailers looked decent and it ultimately turned into a decent movie. It could have been a lot worse. There was a lot of confusion who were going to write and compose the score for this movie, but the final choice was Danny Elfman and that turned out to be a pretty good choice, more on that later. The stage is set for a very orchestral, gothic and grand score and all eyes (and ears) are on Elfman.

Track List

1. Wolf Suite, Part 1	*****
2. Wolf Suite, Part 2	****
3. Prologue	****
4. Dear Mr. Talbot	****
5. Bad Moon Rising	*****
6. Gypsy Massacre	****
7. Wake Up, Lawrence	****
8. The Funeral	*****
9. The Healing Montage	*****
10. First Transformation	*****
11. You Must Go	****
12. The Antique Shop	****
13. Country Carnage	*****
14. Be Strong	****
15. The Madhouse	*****
16. Reflection - 2nd Transformation	*****
17. The Traveling Montage	*****
18. The Finale	*****
19. Wolf Wild #2	*****

Elfman, Kilar, Pope and Haslinger

Early on it was announced that Danny Elfman was set to be the composer on this movie. Fans were salivating with the idea of Elfman and The Wolfman. Rumors had it that it was going to be a very gothic and grand score. Then something shocking happened. Elfman was no longer the composer attached to this movie. Due to conflicts with Elfman's schedule, he could no longer score this movie. Instead they bring on Paul Haslinger to replace him. That made a big splash in the film scoring community and people wanted to know the real reason. Before you know it, Elfman is back and who knows why? Director Joe Johnston is a very close friend of Elfman and perhaps he was integral in the plot to get Elfman back. It would have been very wrong not to use Elfman's score that had already been recorded. Additional music was to be scored by Conrad Pope, but the official release is all about Danny Elfman.

So what about the gothic and grandness that we were promised? Is it there? Remember Wojciech Kilar's excellent score to Bram Stoker's Dracula? The similarities are many, and especially the main theme is pretty much a more fast paced copy of Kilar's main theme for Dracula. Elfman's version is just as excellent if not better. It's called "Wolf Suite, Part 1" and is a thundering opening theme with the illusion of The Wolfman's lethal knife-like claws as an integral instrument. It's a wonderful start to what is about to be almost everything it was promised to be. I can just imagine what kind of score it would have been with Haslinger at the helm. I would guess a much more contemporary and modern sounding score with rock as it's driving force. Might have been good, but I really wanted Elfman's grand gothic score and I got my wish.

Main Theme Excellence

I love Elfman's little main theme motif. The 4 tones which he does a lot more hastily than Kilar did back in his day is really perfect for the movie. It's intimidating and sounds very monster-like, very Wolfman-like. Danny doesn't spare the gun powder either and he is not afraid to use it and go all over board with his vision of the movie. There are over 1 hour of music that plays like symphony of mayhem. I love that it's orchestral and both feel and sound so well-produced. The great cues come along quite quickly here with the short, but intense 'Bad Moon Rising'. Then there are more quiet, but not less brilliant cues like 'The Funeral' who does a very skilful rendition of the main theme in full orchestral glory from around the 1:50 mark.

The use of Violins are put to great use in cues like 'The Healing Montage', almost like a gypsy play with all the trimmings. Yes, this is truly a grand and gothic score like promised. In 'The Healing Montage' there are even some choirs which Kilar used a lot in Dracula, but this is definitely more refined and less often used. Percussion is rarely the instrument of choice, but it does get a good showing in 'Country Carnage' which is deliciously evil and frantic. If you want truly scary, Elfman has a cure for that too. 'The Madhouse' is a very dark and scary cue that includes a creepy horror-movie voice.

Conclusion

Yes, The Wolfman has been a mess, but at least they cleaned up after themselves. Getting Elfman's score to go with the movie was the best possible move. I love this score, easily one of the best horror scores to have been released in recent years and I think that this will be high on my top scores list of 2010. I can't believe they almost threw out this thrilling score that is pretty much great from start to finish. Right now I am just happy to have it in my hand and head and it is an incredibly addictive score to listen to. I have listened to it so many times I have lost count and I'm sure I will bring it out on a weekly basis. Well done Elfman, Johnston and everyone involved. Top marks for me!

CUE RATING: 91.5

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