Sound design and music can be huge elements in creating suspense, tension, and fear in a horror movie. As demonstrated in films like The Shining, Insidious, and even something as early as Alfred Hitchcock's work, all clearly demonstrate how the right sounds or music can up the ante in the scare department.
In some certain horror movies, this concept is taken to a whole new level by having a theme not associated with a scene or an effect, but with an entire character. There are plenty of gruesome and great horror characters that come equipped with their own theme songs or music, some even managing to inspire fear and dread with as little as four notes.
Norman Bates (Psycho)
If there's one thing viewers remember from Alfred Hitchcock's murderous masterpiece, Psycho, it's the infamous shower scene where "Mother" makes her first appearance. Dubbed "Screaming Strings," no title could be more appropriate as the curtain of Marion Crane's shower is ripped back to reveal a murderous Mrs. Bates brandishing a butcher knife.
It's one of the most iconic horror scenes in film history, and nearly anyone can recognize the staccato squeal of the stabbing strings as Marion is slashed to ribbons. Parodied and referenced a million times over, the scene wouldn't be nearly as effective without the score.
Damien (The Omen)
While it might seem a little heavy-handed nowadays, the Latin choir that accompanies Damien in 1976's The Omen was an excellent and effective decision. Of course, when the film's lead is the spawn of Satan himself, it helps to be direct with depictions of pure evil.
Any music made to follow the literal Antichrist can't afford to be soft, and Jerry Goldsmith's "Ave Satani" truly hits the nail on the head by creating a chant fit for any black mass. It certainly makes many want to grab the nearest Crucifix.
The Thing (The Thing)
Simple yet effective, the arrangement that backs John Carpenter's shapeshifting terror in the claustrophobic classic, might sound like a simple bass line, but it provides a theme as chilling as the Arctic tundra where the creature lands. After all, sometimes less is more.
Its otherworldly nature is what truly sells the alien motif, even before the creature is ever shown on screen. It practically heightens the anticipation of the carnage to come, but its most effective use is during the film's closing as MacReady and Childs rest as the station burns behind them, leaving a horrifyingly ambiguous ending.
Candyman (Candyman)
Although "Music Box" from the 2021 remake is certainly a haunting theme for the hook-handed slasher, the original theme by Philip Glass in the first Candyman film did a marvelous job of granting the character a strange and supernatural motif to accompany his ghostly presence. Of course, Tony Todd's performance certainly helped.
The pairing of the eerie piano tune accompanied by the ghostly choir truly helps give both the movie and its titular star a foreboding atmosphere. Candyman has often been described as a modern gothic horror movie, but this score truly cements that idea into the film's lifeblood.
Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice)
The ghost with the most might already have a musical on Broadway, but he already had a recognizable theme before the play was even conceived. When it comes to ghoulishly great film scores, directors need look no further than Danny Elfman.
Even though Harry Bellafonte's "Banana Boat Song" is more known, Elfman's low-registered piano score that backs Beetlejuice's antics perfectly matches the character. Whether it's from the composer's own gift for creepy music or his relationship with Tim Burton's creative process, there's no denying that he knew exactly what he was doing.
The Headless Horseman (The Adventures of Ichabod And Mr. Toad)
An honorable mention has to go to a character with a snappy theme song about how creepy he is, and that honor goes to Disney's rendition of the galloping ghost. Leave it to the house of mouse to give one of literature's most famous ghosts a jazzy musical number that's equal parts creepy and catchy.
A song about the Headless Horseman's desire to decapitate his victims might sound absolutely morbid on paper, but it's practically the best song in the film. It's certainly one of Bing Crosby's best performances and nearly guaranteed to be in many viewers' heads long after the credits roll.
The Shark (Jaws)
Any horror character that can be identified with two notes on repeat definitely comes with a deadly reputation. Of course, nothing less could be expected from a composition by the great John Williams. The theme from Jaws has made many movie-goers uneasy, and it's amazing how such a simple arrangement can bring to mind images of a predator in open water.
The tune is practically composed to mirror a shark attack, starting out slow before building into a frenzy. Nothing could fit a giant great white better than this simple yet scary score.
Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare On Elm Street)
"One, two, Freddy's coming for you..." Freddy Krueger's synthesized background music is a sound that anyone who's ever been to Elm Street will recognize. Similar to how a harp or string section can be used to trigger a dream sequence or a flashback, so does Freddy's theme pull his victims into their own personal nightmare.
The composition has since been used in nearly every sequel and even the Freddy's Nightmares TV series. While it doesn't follow him nonstop, it's certainly a very recognizable piece.
Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th)
While the defining element of Jason's creepy backing track is the "ki-ki-ki ma-ma-ma," the fully-orchestrated chase music has been with Jason as far back as Part II, and it's followed him ever since. Reminiscent of the screaming strings in Psycho, Jason's score adds a little more slash to his atmosphere.
It's also worth noting that Jason's music is one of the few horror themes that can claim a disco cover version in their canon, as Part III In 3-D opened with a synthed-out rendition of the theme. Seeing as how the franchise and Jason changed with each new rendition, it's highly appropriate.
Michael Myers (Halloween)
Not only is John Carpenter absolute dynamite in the director's chair, but he's also a gifted composer as well. Few horror themes come equipped with as much suspense, dread, and atmosphere as the theme from Halloween. Michale Myers's yearly massacres just wouldn't be the same without his iconic theme song.
Carpenter's piano/synth score has followed Michael since the '70s and hasn't stopped since. Even the modern remakes and reboots relied on it to solidify their scares. As they say, a true classic never goes out of style.