UMPG’s Phil Canning on how to build tension in a horror film soundtrack

WHAT MAKES MUSIC FEEL LIKE SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN A HORROR FILM SOUNDTRACK? Phil: In horror, music often cues the audience, building an eerie or intense score until the viewer is on the edge of their seat, waiting for the scare. But I love it just as much when the music comes out of nowhere. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE MUSIC THAT SUPPORTS A SCENE WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY? Subtlety matters. When music spells out what the audience already understands, it can feel heavy-handed or distract from the story. Each cue should earn its place within the film’s wider musical landscape. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHEN A SCENE NEEDS MUSIC AND WHEN IT DOESN’T? Music is a powerful part of storytelling. We often begin by letting the performances, dialogue and images set the tone, then use music to heighten the emotion, deepen the atmosphere and give key moments even greater impact. WHAT’S SCARIER IN A HORROR MOVIE: MUSIC OR SILENCE? Sometimes, silence is the most powerful sound of all, leaving us alone with the unknown. But music is just as vital: it can shape that uncertainty into tension and build dread in all kinds of ways. HOW CAN AN UNEXPECTED SONG MAKE A SCENE MORE DISTURBING? The distraction of an unexpected song can lull the viewer into a false sense of security before we hit them with the jump. WHAT DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES FEEL WHEN THEY HEAR THE MUSIC IN OBSESSION? I hope that the audience discovers new brilliant artists. The film proves that using original IP, with unknown faces, and brand new music, artists can break through to a massive audience.