Search - Ed Shearmur :: Species II

Finally, a Horror Score With Some Coherency!

Robert Pollock | Durham, NC USA | 04/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there's one things that horror scores lack it's either thematic material or coherency. Edward Shearmur's dark horror score for Species 2 is not a case. Instead of using strange percussion and out-of-this-world synthesizers like in Alien 3, he goes towards a more coherent but dark orchestral score. The two main themes, one for the film and the other for Eve are good. The main theme, which almost sounds like the theme for Batman but less heroic and darker, immediately sets up the movie for the action that will come. Eve's theme, played mostly on piano, is sad and melancholy and fits in with her loneliness and ackwardness. On track 3, the score begins with the lonely sound of space and the main theme played mysteriously which then builds up with an exciting snare drum sendoff. Track 4 is a definate favorite and is highly original, utilizing high strings and barren orchestrations to describe the lonely desolate landscape of Mars and ends with a cue of threatening danger. Here, Edward seems to use an original alternation of James Horner celestial two-note alternation from the exploration scenes on Aliens without copying it. Track 6 is the first action cue and has a chaotic dark sound like from Batman Forever. The last four tracks also deserve special listening. Track 8 is a chase montage racing strings, not as thrilling as the pod racing battle on the original Phantom Menace OST but sufficient. The final confrontation on trackd 10 and 11 are tense and building until the end of track 10 where the orchestra has a panicing upbeat cue for the fight with the monster itself. Eve is another rendition of her theme and ends the score with a dark close. This score is very original and sets itself apart from the other horror scores which take the traditional scare-you-out-of-your-seat-with-brute-force technique which isn't always scary, and instead uses the orchestra to bring out the horror in a dark suspenseful way. If you like the music of Danny Elfman or Elliot Goldenthal then this score will make an excellent addition."