Last night I was surprised to discover that a widescreen copy of FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC is available on Netflix Streaming. I watched it on a whim - the last time I saw it was in a theatre in 1987.
The film's virtues are mostly technical. The production design is quite good, and the cinematography has a grey, ghostly quality (interesting side note: there are two DPs credited, and the second one's work is very obvious, especially at the ending). And, of course, there is Christopher Young's wonderful score.
It was nice to see the score in context, and just how well it works within the film. Christopher Young makes that old house foreboding, yet darkly magical. He infuses the film with a real feeling of tragedy and lost innocence. He almost gets you around Louise Fletcher's silly performance.
The audio on this clip is too low, but it shows how well Young supported the film's atmosphere and intentions.
I always thought Intrada release had a great sound and I don't remember any significant cue missing from it... so a re-issue could wait... I d rather get more unreleased scores from Young like "Urban Legend"!
Wonderful score. I have the older one, but I would LOVE to have it reissued so many of you could finally own it. This might be my favorite Chris Young score, this and Sweet November and An Unfinished Life. Yah yah he's known for his horror and scary music, but the softer side of him is a side we don't get to hear enough from. I think Chris excels at these softer scores and I'd love to see him get more projects like that.
And I'm sure if Intrada would re-release it, I'd buy it cause I'm a sucker for this score!
I always thought Intrada release had a great sound and I don't remember any significant cue missing from it... so a re-issue could wait... I d rather get more unreleased scores from Young like "Urban Legend"!
I don't think one precludes the other. I'd happily buy both! It's more about getting a great score back in print again.
I only noticed two cues that didn't make the old Intrada CD - the "VCA Waltz" cue segues into a different piece, and there's a very good cue when the brother finally accepts that the mother wants them dead. Otherwise, the old CD seems complete.
Wonderful score. I have the older one, but I would LOVE to have it reissued so many of you could finally own it. This might be my favorite Chris Young score, this and Sweet November and An Unfinished Life. Yah yah he's known for his horror and scary music, but the softer side of him is a side we don't get to hear enough from. I think Chris excels at these softer scores and I'd love to see him get more projects like that.
And I'm sure if Intrada would re-release it, I'd buy it cause I'm a sucker for this score!
I'm right there with ya, DmD - couldn't have said it better myself.
You don't need good hair to appreciate this score (although it probably doesn't hurt). I would buy a reissue for sure!
CALLING INTRADA. Doug, any chance i 2018??
I second this. Young has always been known for his horror scores but this score and Murder in the First are two beautiful, lyrical works that deserve as much attention and recognition. I wish he'd get more assignments like these..
This was a gateway score for me. When I was a kid the movie was on a constant loop in my house because one of my older sisters was usually watching it at any given moment. I was told I wasn't allowed to watch it which of course only piqued my curiosity. I'd stand outside the double doors to the living room and peek in to catch any glimpse I could. I saw very little of course but I heard everything. Even then the mesmeric score had gotten a hold of me. I could sit on the floor outside those doors and spend the entire movie just listening.
I have the Intrada edition - which is a remarkably generous album for a release from that time - but I'd welcome basically any version of these coming back to market.
I remember seeing this film on TV when one of my parents was watching it and taking an interest in the music more than anything else. At that time I didn't have any idea who Christopher Young was.
To be honest, I didn't know the name Christopher Young until I saw Hellraiser for the first time, and by that point the film was pushing its 15th Anniversary.
The scores I've heard by Young are thus follows:
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2 Hellraiser Flowers in the Attic Hellraiser II The Fly II Species Hard Rain The Grudge Spider-Man 3 Drag Me To Hell
Roger has just chimed in on on whether or not a re-issue is coming...
No. We discussed that and his largely unreleased score to TORMENT with the licensor but they wanted SO much money it just wasn't practical.
So they’d rather just sit on them and not make ANY money at all. I don’t understand license holders sometimes. I can see if there was a huge demand and they could commandeer tons of money, but this is a small market. Same thing with the Canadian orchestra unions. Instead of lowering their rates, they’d rather make no money at all. Strange world we live in.
That's too bad about the licensing issue on re-releasing this score, but at least it is already out there in a generous, artfully-arranged (and perfectly fine-sounding) iteration for the world to enjoy.
I've said it before and I'll said it again - this score is a genuine, bona fide masterpiece in basically every regard; I know of few works that emotionally devastate in quite the same way FLOWERS does. It's a very special, unique brand of melancholy that Young tapped into here.
The tone he creates through the choice of chord progressions, instrumental timbers, careful orchestration (strings, solo voice, flute, harp, prepared percussion & piano)... It all just perfectly conveys a sense of broken childhood, pained nostalgic memories, and a fairy tale-like reverence for things lost & irreparably broken.
Perfect music that perfectly understood what the (unfortunately unsuccessful) movie wanted to accomplish but couldn't. Along with MURDER IN THE FIRST, it's Young's emotional masterpiece in my opinion.
Totally agree with you bobb. That sad, melancholy loneliness he tapped into for FITA is also among such beauties as BAT 21, HAUNTED SUMMER, MAX & HELEN and THE FLY II.
Totally agree with you bobb. That sad, melancholy loneliness he tapped into for FITA is also among such beauties as BAT 21, HAUNTED SUMMER, MAX & HELEN and THE FLY II.
All quality scores Kev, and HAUNTED SUMMER is one of the few synth scores ever that I can legitimately say I love - it's imaginative, original, utterly hypnotic. Plays almost like a concept album instead of a film score. Inspired work!
Terrific to see this score getting some love. Sad to hear it can't be reissued.
For those who might be interested, Arrow Video just put out a new Blu-Ray of the film with several special features, including "Shattered Innocence: Composing Flowers in the Attic, a new interview with composer Christopher Young"
I remember seeing this film on TV when one of my parents was watching it and taking an interest in the music more than anything else. At that time I didn't have any idea who Christopher Young was.
To be honest, I didn't know the name Christopher Young until I saw Hellraiser for the first time, and by that point the film was pushing its 15th Anniversary.
The scores I've heard by Young are thus follows:
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2 Hellraiser Flowers in the Attic Hellraiser II The Fly II Species Hard Rain The Grudge Spider-Man 3 Drag Me To Hell
That's a good list you like horror then, I recommend you listen to "The Vagrant" a creepy score that's most unusual listening, its an electronic score with lots of varied percussions, heavy eerie breathing/chanting, weaved with thee odd instrument/moody, great score, I like it.
