Soundtrack Review: Frankenweenie (2012)

Frankenweenie Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the film score Frankenweenie by Danny Elfman.

“The score is gothic, dark and delicious, exactly what I wanted.”

Frankenweenie is an animated family comedy about young Victor who conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.The film is directed by Tim Burton and starring Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short. The score is composed by Danny Elfman.

Track List

1. Frankenweenie Disney Logo	100
2. Main Titles	80
3. Mr. Burgermeister/Noses Meet	80
4. Game of Death	100
5. The Funeral	100
6. Electricity	100
7. Re-Animation	100
8. Sparky’s Day Out	100
9. Dad’s Talk	80
10. The Bride/Edgar Knows	80
11. Invisible Fish/Search for Sparky	80
12. A Premonition	80
13. The Speech	80
14. Mom’s Discovery/Farewell	80
15. Getting Ready	100
16. Making Monsters	100
17. Pool Monsters Attack	100
18. Mad Monster Party	100
19. Final Confrontation	100
20. Happy Ending	100
21. Alternate Main Titles	80
22. Over the Fence	60

You know that you are in for something special when the Disney intro becomes awesome. They included it as the first cue of the album and the way it transforms into Elman-esque deliciousness is just great. Yep, Frankenweenie proves that Elfman still has it and then some. It’s been a pretty good year for him so far.

What I like about the score is gothic darkness like in the last half of ‘Game Of Death’ and the menacing ‘Re-Animation’ with it’s glorious sci-fi feel to it. It meshes beautifully with more quiet themes such as the sad cue ‘The Funeral’. ‘Making Monsters’ is a cue I would like to talk about as well with it’s almost Godzilla-like beginning. It is fearsome and awesome all the way.

Conclusion

Frankenweenie deserves success and in the November edition of Top Scores 2012: Critic’s Choice it is at the time of writing number two. I don’t think it will stay there, but it shows its immediate impact. The score is gothic, dark and delicious, exactly what I wanted.

GEEK SCORE: 90