CD REVIEW - THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT


The Last House on the left
Music by John Murphy
La-La Land Records LLLCD 1092 (US)
18 Tracks 46:42 mins

Liverpool born composer John Murphy got his start in modest budgeted, but very successful British films of the '90s, such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch and has, since his move to the States, worked steadily films produced on both sides of the pond, including 28 Days and Weeks Later, Miami Vice and Sunshine. His latest offering is for Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham's remake of The Last House on the Left.
Murphy utilises both orchestra and electronics in his score, the former often underlining the more poignant moments, as in "After the Rape" and ""Dead in the Water;" the latter positively menacing, either solo, or combining with the orchestra, in the likes of "In the Woods," "Are you Ready to be a Man?" "Saving Mari," the unbearably tense "Going to the Guest House" and "Looking for Krug."
Rare moments of light, such as the sunny "The House" receive nice string-based scoring, though the subsequent "The Boathouse," while continuing in that vein, goes on to develop a harder edge, which continues in the base-driven "Getting Stoned," and re-emerges in the final showdown "John v Krug."
The penultimate track on the album, "The End," finds a return to Murphy's poignant, piano-lead music, though a sustained unease closes the cue; with the final track being a more threatening alternate version of the originally flowing "Opening Titles."
The accompanying booklet features plenty of colour stills from the film, a brief synopsis, and notes from the composer, director and producer Craven.
Order the album from www.lalalandrecords.com/LastHouse.html, where you can first preview tracks, and if you're quick enough, you may be lucky enough to secure an autographed copy.