Welcoming the Spooky Season with Press!
- ejorigin
- Nov 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Written by: Anushka (25-E2), Amelia (25-E3), Liyana (25-I3), Kaitlyn (25-U1), Lynette (25-U1)
Designed by: Lynette (25-U1)
01. The music that haunts us
Horror is not a theme commonly explored in the music scene. Unless an artist is going for a spooky vibe or is trying to attempt a haunting scene, most artists are unlikely to tap into the genre of horror when producing music. Off the top of my head, the only song I can recall that has somewhat of a haunting and mysterious vibe would be “Who Laughs Last” by Lord Huron and Kristen Stewart, but even then, themes of horror are absent from the lyrics or track.
However, music still plays a huge role in the horror scene, specifically in horror films. A good film is always backed by an amazing soundtrack and in horror films, music plays a larger role than just making scenes more interesting and engaging. The soundtrack is responsible for evoking emotions of fear and dread and for creating a creepy atmosphere. It is also needed to create effective jump scares and to really generate a true shock factor. Frankly, a horror movie without a soundtrack would be boring and lack all of the thrill and fear that normal horror films have. Even The Quiet Place, a film whose premise lies on individuals keeping quiet to avoid monsters, uses a soundtrack to ensure that the tension does not plateau throughout the whole film.
There are plenty films which make clever and purposeful use of music. One prime example is the Classic Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg with the soundtrack composed by John Williams. The main theme of the song mainly uses a tuba, playing alternating notes. The beat starts slow, increasing its speed as time goes on. It instills a clear sense of impending doom and really resembles the approach of the shark. As John Williams himself had described it, the music is “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do. Instinctual, relentless, unstoppable…”
Another classic horror film that makes notable use of music is Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, with its music composed by Bernard Herrmann.
This soundtrack pioneered the way that music is used in modern horror films. Unlike Jaws, the main theme of Psycho is fast paced from the get-go. It makes use of violin stabs, that strike fear at unexpected moments and keep the viewer alert. Additionally, the soundtrack has been carefully aligned to match the on-screen stabs, making the action more impactful. If you take a listen to the main theme now, it will sound familiar as it has really become synonymous with film horror and scares.
Every aspect of a film serves a purpose, and its soundtrack is no different. Horror film soundtracks consist of pieces that have been carefully composed to create tension, fear and an eerie atmosphere. If used properly, music can help certain scenes stand out, leaving a lasting impression on our minds. However, soundtracks need to be purposeful and simply putting loud music whenever a scene is intense could break the tension rather than enforcing it. Ultimately, music plays a large part in making horror films truly chilling and memorable.
02. Trick or Treat?
Halloween: the one day a year when junk food goes from one man’s trash to everyone’s treasure. Parsing through trick or treat offerings may seem simple at first glance. But take a closer look and you’ll realise there’s a large variety of ‘junk’ food, overwhelming in their abundance. KitKats, Snickers, chocolate coins. And when you’re only given a split second to decide on your choice of candy, everything begins to boil down to this one moment: will you return home with trash, or treasure?
Sour Patch Kids give you exactly what’s on the tin: a tart taste that gradually becomes sweet as the sour powder melts off your tongue. While I’m not the biggest fan of sour candy, these won me over thanks to their fruity flavour and lovely texture – the right amount of soft and chewy necessary for any good gummy. Those partial to very sour flavours, however, may not enjoy this to the same degree if the sour/sweet combination proves to be too moderate.
Arguably the most luxurious Halloween chocolate, Toblerone will come in three basic flavours (milk, dark, white), all glazed with honey and filled with almond nougat. The honey sets the already rich chocolate apart with an interesting depth of flavour, while the almond nougat contrasts the smooth chocolate well and provides a sharp, chewy texture. Always a reliable choice!
Once popular with primary schoolers, Nerds usually come in two flavours: both of which are, of course, artificial. The strawberry/grape candy come not in the form of gummies or sweets but sugar crystals, tumbled in flavoured syrup to give a sweet yet sour taste. Texture-wise, the candy leaves little to be desired: its hard surface and interior gives it a nice, bite size crunch. The flavours, however, come out slightly too cloying, and the sheer amount of candy provided in one pack certainly doesn’t do it any favours.
Possibly the most popular chocolate brand to exist, Kitkats are chocolate without the flourishes and embellishes of modern brands – nuts, nougats, toffee. It, however, gives us a simple twist. Thin layers of biscuit wafers filled and encased in milk chocolate, easy to break off and even easier to eat. Its quality is understandably poorest with its smallest, singular bars, but begins to improve with its chunkier variations (Kitkat Chunky) that allow for a fuller, heartier bite. These remain the basic standard for chocolate bars, even outside of Halloween.
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