HANGMAN BY FREDERICK WIEDMANN

The Snake like violins and noir feel of the title track drew me in pretty quickly but then Wiedmann rarely disappoints. This continues through track 2 with The First Victim, an added ghostly swirl telling you that all is not well which given the film’s title you don’t expect that it ever will. This is a gruesome story of a serial killer who’s playing the children’s Hangman game with real people! Only Blood Left Behind is constructed over a chilling, sonic like vibration. Suicide Attack at only 1 minute long is voice led by soloist Ayana Haviv and leaves you wanting it to be longer.

Whilst listed as a Crime thriller this could be a fully fledged and accomplished horror soundtrack as you would expect from the composer of The Hills Run Red and Hellraiser: Revelation to name but two.

It’s the ‘quiet’ tracks enhanced with selected noises which scare the most such as the aptly named Slaughter House with strings sounding like a hord of flies. Together with the depiction of several murders, this score has continuous drive, time is running out and most noticeable in the cue The Replica. The character cue Archer, played by Al Pacino, is haunting. The much decorated cop is forced out of retirement for this case. it’s a heavy track full of remorse symbolised by a fleeting cello and the return of Haviv’s superb vocals.

Reviews of the film are not glowing and I rather fear that Wiedmann’s score will be overlooked which would be a shame. 

PLAYLIST

1.  The Hangman
2. The First Victim
3. Only Blood Left Behind
4. Joey
5. Suicide Attempt
6. Underneath The Cross
7. An Old Case
8. 11PM Murder
9. Slaughter House
10. The Letter B
11. The Replica
12. No Rest
13. Inches Away
14. Seven More People
15. My Own Reasons
16. The Girl In The Alley
17. Th Apartment
18. One Scar Is Enough
19. Failed You
20. Archer
21. The Letter

LABEL: Varese Sarabande