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Posted: |
Oct 10, 2016 - 1:22 PM
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By: |
Dalboz17
(Member)
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Thanks for the info, as I was just starting to poke around for where to pick this up at a reasonable price. I just saw the film for the first time this weekend and was impressed by the music, particularly during the climax with a nice use of choir.
It's a shame that composer/writer/director Frank Laloggia didn't direct anything after this, as the film has some really striking imagery and great ideas, but feels like he's still finding his footing a bit. That said, the showing I went to (in Rochester, NY) is the director's hometown, so we saw a 35mm print, had several people who were in or participated in the film in attendance, and had a live Skype Q&A with Laloggia (who lives in Italy now). He spoke a bit about how important music is to his creative process, and about how he composed the music and wrote the script simultaneously.
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Posted: |
Oct 10, 2016 - 3:10 PM
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By: |
bobbengan
(Member)
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I've been meaning to check out the film for a while now (only seen the main title sequence on TV way back), as I've heard mostly good things about it and have owned the score for a number of years, as well as this composer/director's FEAR NO EVIL. I do have to say the brief choral interpolation of 'Ave Maria' as the kids ride past a nun during the opening scene was *incredibly* corny and eye-rolling.
The funny thing about both scores is that they are (as others have said) thematic, orchestral, character-focused and sensitive, exactly how I prefer my horror scores, but they're also clunky in some weird and undefinable way... The action/thriller/horror scoring especially is notably lacking in gravitas and any sense of real danger. I imagine the significantly reduces any tension in the film proper.
For a long time I noticed these scores inexplicably had a very Elmer Bernstein-esque quality to the writing and orchestrations, especially the early whimsical music in 'Lady', and I later learned that 'Fear' was co-composed and orchestrated by David Spear - A longtime Bernstein collaborator, of course. Clearly LaLoggia is a fan of that 'sound'.
I have to assume that LaLoggia is a novice or hobbyist composer and not a "trained" one - Not a criticism, just an observation. With that in mind, these scores are about as good as one could possibly expect. Interesting to note that KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE composer John Massari is credited as the conductor and music supervisor on 'Lady'.
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Posted: |
Oct 10, 2016 - 11:02 PM
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By: |
Dalboz17
(Member)
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I loved the Varese LP and I have the CD, which has extra music, but is in a less (fewer?*) user-friendly 'big suites' format.
I opted to pick up the CD; as much as I think I'd like the Varese LP presentation better, I'm more likely to spin the CD for a score I barely know.
He clearly had a small budget.
If I'm remembering the Q&A correctly, it was around $4 million, but all self-raised / self-financed -- so that he could stay away from studio influence -- which made it challenging as they weren't sure if they'd have the money to finish the film, all the way until the end.
they're also clunky in some weird and undefinable way
There are whole scenes in the film that felt this way to me: not just in score, but in their entirety. I couldn't put my finger on if it was just the time in which it was made, or my own opinions on "tone", or simply the director's stylistic choices. But yeah, it occasionally bounces between beautiful moody ghost story, and then weird slapstick, and then a bit of surprising political-drama. None of it was enough to ruin my enjoyment of the film overall; I just occasionally raised an eyebrow.
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Saw this film in a theatre in San Francisco, was impressed by its ability to mix family humor, adolescent angst, and outright horror, with a believable script and skillful direction. Not to mention a great score. Got the CD at the time, and still have it. Too bad La Loggia never really did much of anything else. (He must have achieved something, though, if he can now afford live in Italy.)
There have been several video releases, with the Blu-Ray the most recent. I seem to remember an interview with La Loggia, in which he recounted how he was told to enjoy the experience, because it was unlikely he'd get many more chances to make films again. Kind of eerie compliment, but apparently prophetic.
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