CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD REVIEW - VAMPIRES SUCK


Vampires Suck
Music by Christopher Lennertz
Lakeshore Records LKS341892 (US)
24 Tracks 52:45 mins

Christopher Lennertz has been a busy man. I recently brought you reviews of two of three recent scores he has written for comedies, Cats & Dogs 2 and Marmaduke. Now Vampires Suck is to hand, which reunites Lennertz with writer/directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, with whom he last collaborated on Meet the Spartans.
The 20th Century Fox release opens in US theatres on August 18th, and is of course a comedic reaction to the glut of Vampire movies and series that are so prevalent at the moment, but Lennertz quite rightly played against the comedy for the most part, saying: "I wanted to take everything that makes the vampire genre so seductive...tragic melodies, dark romance, and scary textures...and turn it up to eleven." He certainly succeeds in that, enlisting huge forces of orchestra, voices, guitars and percussion.
Wildly swirling strings, brass and voices propel you into things at the opening of "What Would You Do?" before the track develops into the first of a number of exciting action cues, many with modern elements that include guitars and thunderous percussion, as the composer indicates above, that include "Attack on the Dock;" the opening of "Edward Saves Becka;" "Driving and Chasing;" "Becca Meets the Family;" "Killing Jack;" "Testing Edward," which gives the love theme (more of which below) an uptempo workout; "The Pack Arrives;" "Antoine Torn to Shreds;" "Race to Prom;" "Edward Exposed;" and "Becca Must Become a Vampire," with its eerie ending.
On the softer side, we have tracks like the pianistic "Something Strange..." and "Welcome to Sporks" - all mysterious and romantic. And then there's "Meet the Sullens," which has a propulsive, modern vibe to it, before picking up dreamy female vocals along the way, these elements becoming increasingly romantic in "Chemistry in Class," before emerging as the score's love theme in the second part of "Edward Saves Becca." "First Kiss" continues the romance, with delicate piano taking the lead, giving way to passionate strings, before concluding the track; and there's more passion to be found in "The Breakup," with some truly heartbreaking string writing. More understated and somewhat bittersweet are "Frank Comforts Becca" and the second half of "Becca's Confrontation;" whilst the female vocal returns for a brief lament in "Becca is Dead?"
"Sleepwalking" mixes almost waltz-like Gothic string writing with romance and even a brief touch of comedy; and the powerful and intense opening of "I'm a Killer" is a standout too.
"The Final Bite" concludes the score on a passionate and satisfying note, with the strings and brass soaring Heavenwards.
Lakeshore Records release the score for Vampires Suck, digitally on the 17th of this month, with the CD following on the 31st. Whatever your choice, you're sure to enjoy!