What You Need to Know: Simon Hunter was recently interviewed by ScoreNotes and in the discussion, he referenced the score for the
Mutant Chronicles as having a traditional approach to it. He stated that the two choices at hand was to either go out and create a somewhat unusual electronic score for the film or to approach it with more of a classical, orchestral direction. I am glad he chose the latter. And I am doubly glad he hired on Richard Wells to deliver the goods.
One might easily mistake the music from Mutant Chronicles as that of some epic, sci-fi Hollywood blockbuster and not that of a smaller, battle hardened British product. For sure, Richard Wells' score for this film is simply marvelous and will no doubt become a pleasant surprise for any lucky listener who chances upon it. While I recognized the music as being above par when I saw the film, I simply had no idea how much better the soundtrack on its own would be. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised even after I was already impressed to begin with!
The make up of the soundtrack is rich with color, touched with peril, and extremely effective in the emotional space of the characters. This material crosses genres of science fiction and horror in a seamless and smooth fashion, transitioning from one aspect to the other with great precision. I was greatly impressed with how evenly balanced the writing came across. Such excellent craftsmanship is not often heard these days, so it's something to take note of as you listen to the score.
One of the many highlights from this album is the Mutant Chronicles "march," a military inspired theme that progresses in a brisk and confident manner. The tempo of it helps make it a very catchy tune. This theme served as a highly adaptable motif but is not once overplayed during the running time of the soundtrack. The timing was spot on...and as we know in film music, poor timing can render even the most memorable of themes to weakened states. There were no instances of that here.
Another bright spot is the use of string instruments in the score, which should also be heralded. There's something exciting and original in how the violins lead you in Mutants, especially when touching the higher notes. In short, there was a sort of galactic vibe that was given off by these instances, a sense of the unknown that would soon be met by the film's (anti) heroes. This sense of mystery is further strengthened in sections where the choir is used, too. Indeed, the choral aspects of this score should not be overlooked as it lends further weight to humanity's struggle in the story with it's stirring, emotional passages. While this "last hope" storyline was not effectively driven home in the movie, the score conveys it quite well.
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack, which in turn, means I am a fan of newcomer Richard Wells. I'm pleased to say that his Mutant Chronicles score is one that has uncommon depth for a movie such as this and is a must listen for anyone who is reading this review. Stack it up against any of the commercial titles from the early summer movie season and you'll see first hand just how intoxicating this soundtrack is.
