[FalkirkBairn01]

Leonard Rosenman: THE CAR (1977)
Dissonant, aggressive, and that great “Dies Irae” tune… from the “Main Title” forward the music announces: “Here comes Evil”. Of course, it’s ludicrously silly, because “Evil” in this movie comes in form of a murder-shark… I mean murder-car, but it’s a lot of fun. Indeed, JAWS in the desert with a car instead of a shark. Yes, it sounds as bonkers as it is, the car doesn’t just kill people, it kills sound reason. But who cares when you get such a terrific piece of horror scoring that is composed through by Hollywood’s most forward looking composer? Rosenman has written more famous works, but this is one of his best.

I saw this movie at the cinema when it came out. I loved it. And I remember the score being quite memorable – probably because of hearing the familiar DIES IRAE being used.

It is a score I had wanted for years and was so glad when it was finally released.

THE CAR was showing with THE DAY OF THE ANIMALS. A great double-header!