1 minute read
SCORES FROM THE SCREEN
Advertisement
The original motion picture soundtrack for the epic whodunnit 'Knives Out' crosses boundaries between the genres of classical and jazz. By the composer Nathan Johnson (known for his innovative and unorthodox approaches to his �lm scores), the soundtrack perfectly captures the breakdown of a dysfunctional family as they begin to realise what happened to their beloved Harlan Thrombey. Arguably one of the most powerful pieces of the soundtrack is 'Knives Out! (String Quartet in G Minor)'. A string quartet consists of two violinists, a violist, and a cellist (contrary to popular belief that it has a double bassist). This is a traditional ensemble that many 18th century composers used, but in 'Knives Out' it is used in less of a traditional way. There is heavy use of accented and staccato notes for impact, and there is a sinister quality to the music (emphasised by the minor tonality). The repetitive 'stabs' of short notes can even be compared to the music from the famous shower scene in 'Psycho'. Whether this was intentional or not I cannot say, however it is de�nitely a �tting parallel. I �rmly believe that this is a fantastic opening piece as it sets the atmosphere up for the rest of the �lm.
Finally, 'The Thrombey Family Theme' is played both near the beginning of the �lm, and at the end. However, it is not entirely the same the second time through. The �rst version is a piano solo - sounding sophisticated and relaxed. Then, the second version adds drums. This subtle but important difference changes the feel entirely, as it adds a random and jazzy element that reflects the dysfunctional family and draws the �lm to a satisfying conclusion.
