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entertainment11h ago
How ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Composer Used a Broken Harmonium to Create a Feeling of Dread
- Johnson used a half broken harmonium and slow textures to build a creeping, inevitable dread in the Wake Up Dead Man score.
- The score does not assign a single motif to each character; instead, Johnson uses conceptual motifs to reflect dramatic tension.
- The soundtrack was recorded at Abbey Road, with additional textures captured in a London cathedral for texture and rhythm.
- Rian Johnson directed the film and encouraged a gothic, darker score aligned with Edgar Allan Poe influences.
- The score seeks a balance between dramatic fullness and intimate quietness through a delicate violin voice.
- The film’s release plans include a limited theatrical run before Netflix streaming on December 12.
- Johnson aims to evoke a leviathan-like undercurrent in the score, aligning sonic cues with the narrative menace.
- Johnson’s approach draws on previous Knives Out scores, applying consistent tonal ideas to new material.
- Variety emphasizes the film’s confluence of music, atmosphere and narrative to heighten suspense.
- The article includes stills and credits for cast members connected to the thriller, including Josh Brolin and Glenn Close, as context for the score's mood.
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