(2009)
John Murphy
La-La Land
As his score for 28 Days Later proved, John Murphy knows how to nail the sound of isolation and emotional devastation. He does the same, with both class and gravitas, for the remake of The Last House on the Left. He's frightfully adept at writing sad little themes that can be spun into every kind of guise, whether it's the tender opening track, the devastating "After the Assault" or the mournful "Dead in the Water." Every cue has some connection to the main theme, and he never loses sight of the film's tragic characters, nor whatever conflicts are still at play. Even ethereal cuts such as "Candles" offer a fine combination of melancholy and eerie atmospherics, amply preparing the listener for the grimy electronica in the album's final act. Unquestionably, what Murphy delivers here is an impressionistic, gripping little gem. - MRH
Originally posted in Rue-Morgue
