Halloween is here and we’ve got a deliciously spooky set from Boy Harsher to soundtrack the occasion.
The Massachusetts-based duo, otherwise known as Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller, first met at film school. In the years since, they’ve built a fervent cult following with their gripping spin on darkwave. This year, however, they returned to the medium that brought them together in the first place. First for The Runner – a short horror film and accompanying album written, produced and directed by the pair – and later Halloween Ends, with Boy Harsher featuring on the John Carpenter-helmed soundtrack.
With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that the pair approached this specialist set with the kind of care and dedication possessed by devoted fans. But enough from us, though, we’ll let Matthews tell you more – in her own words.
“FOR THIS MIX WE WANTED TO PULL TOGETHER PULSING HORROR SCORES WITH BESPOKE SOUNDTRACK SONGS AND CLIPS FROM HALLOWEENISH MOVIES THAT GET A LOT OF REPLAY IN THE BH HOUSE. THE ONLY TRAGEDY RLY IS THAT GUS MADE ME CUT ROB ZOMBIE’S LIVING DEAD GIRL (BRIDE OF CHUCKY, 1998).
I WANNA MENTION THAT I’VE INCLUDED CLIPS FROM CHARLES LAUGHTON READING (PERFORMING, REALLY) NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, WHICH INCLUDES PIECES FROM THE MOVIE INCLUDING ROBERT MITCHUM AND LILLIAN GISH SINGING. IT’S A V SPECIAL RECORDING + A HIGH RECOMMENDED LISTEN. THE FILM, ALSO, IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE.
ADDITIONALLY, I’VE FEATURED TWO MADE FOR FILM “BALLADS”, INCLUDING DAVID HESS’ NOW YOU’RE ALL ALONE FROM WES CRAVEN’S LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. CRAVEN WANTED TO FEATURE MUSIC OF A MORE ‘FOLK INFLUENCE’ – A COMMENT PERHAPS ON THE HIPPIE CULTURE OF THE DAY. BUT MORE INTERESTINGLY, HESS STARS AS ONE OF THE FILM’S VILLAINS: KRUG; A SERIAL KILLER RAPIST RECENTLY ESCAPED FROM JAIL. APPARENTLY, HE WAS SOMEWHAT METHOD AND SCARED HIS ACTOR COUNTERPARTS BY CARRYING AROUND AND KNIFE / BEING THREATENING. LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT WAS CRAVEN’S FIRST FILM + ALMOST RUINED HIS CAREER. TWENTY YEARS LATER HE WOULD GO ON TO DIRECT SCREAM (1996) THE START TO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL HORROR FRANCHISE IN THE WORLD.
CARPENTER IS THE MAESTRO – IT WAS DIFFICULT DECIDING WHICH SCORE TO CHOOSE FROM FOR OUR CARPENTER TRACK, HENCE WE WENT WITH HIS LOST THEMES RELEASE. A FUN RELEASE, IT’S LIKE A BROODING, OPEN ANSWER QUESTION … NOT ATTACHED TO A FILM. NOW SEVERAL RELEASES IN, THESE ALBUMS REALLY SERVE CAR RIDES AT NIGHT AND STRANGE WEATHER.ULTIMATE INSPO FOR COMING UP WITH YR OWN SLASHER PREMISE…”
Watch Flick or Treat: Halloween Horror, a hand-picked selection of horror films, on MUBI with 30 days free at mubi.com/crackmagazine
Horror scores and soundtracks: Mixed by Boy Harsher
Horror scores and soundtracks: Mixed by Boy Harsher
Halloween is here and we’ve got a deliciously spooky set from Boy Harsher to soundtrack the occasion.
The Massachusetts-based duo, otherwise known as Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller, first met at film school. In the years since, they’ve built a fervent cult following with their gripping spin on darkwave. This year, however, they returned to the medium that brought them together in the first place. First for The Runner – a short horror film and accompanying album written, produced and directed by the pair – and later Halloween Ends, with Boy Harsher featuring on the John Carpenter-helmed soundtrack.
With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that the pair approached this specialist set with the kind of care and dedication possessed by devoted fans. But enough from us, though, we’ll let Matthews tell you more – in her own words.
“FOR THIS MIX WE WANTED TO PULL TOGETHER PULSING HORROR SCORES WITH BESPOKE SOUNDTRACK SONGS AND CLIPS FROM HALLOWEENISH MOVIES THAT GET A LOT OF REPLAY IN THE BH HOUSE. THE ONLY TRAGEDY RLY IS THAT GUS MADE ME CUT ROB ZOMBIE’S LIVING DEAD GIRL (BRIDE OF CHUCKY, 1998).
I WANNA MENTION THAT I’VE INCLUDED CLIPS FROM CHARLES LAUGHTON READING (PERFORMING, REALLY) NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, WHICH INCLUDES PIECES FROM THE MOVIE INCLUDING ROBERT MITCHUM AND LILLIAN GISH SINGING. IT’S A V SPECIAL RECORDING + A HIGH RECOMMENDED LISTEN. THE FILM, ALSO, IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE.
ADDITIONALLY, I’VE FEATURED TWO MADE FOR FILM “BALLADS”, INCLUDING DAVID HESS’ NOW YOU’RE ALL ALONE FROM WES CRAVEN’S LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. CRAVEN WANTED TO FEATURE MUSIC OF A MORE ‘FOLK INFLUENCE’ – A COMMENT PERHAPS ON THE HIPPIE CULTURE OF THE DAY. BUT MORE INTERESTINGLY, HESS STARS AS ONE OF THE FILM’S VILLAINS: KRUG; A SERIAL KILLER RAPIST RECENTLY ESCAPED FROM JAIL. APPARENTLY, HE WAS SOMEWHAT METHOD AND SCARED HIS ACTOR COUNTERPARTS BY CARRYING AROUND AND KNIFE / BEING THREATENING. LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT WAS CRAVEN’S FIRST FILM + ALMOST RUINED HIS CAREER. TWENTY YEARS LATER HE WOULD GO ON TO DIRECT SCREAM (1996) THE START TO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL HORROR FRANCHISE IN THE WORLD.
CARPENTER IS THE MAESTRO – IT WAS DIFFICULT DECIDING WHICH SCORE TO CHOOSE FROM FOR OUR CARPENTER TRACK, HENCE WE WENT WITH HIS LOST THEMES RELEASE. A FUN RELEASE, IT’S LIKE A BROODING, OPEN ANSWER QUESTION … NOT ATTACHED TO A FILM. NOW SEVERAL RELEASES IN, THESE ALBUMS REALLY SERVE CAR RIDES AT NIGHT AND STRANGE WEATHER.ULTIMATE INSPO FOR COMING UP WITH YR OWN SLASHER PREMISE…”
Watch Flick or Treat: Halloween Horror, a hand-picked selection of horror films, on MUBI with 30 days free at mubi.com/crackmagazine
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