Spooky season has officially begun, and 2024 is shaping up to be a thrilling year for horror fans. We’ve rounded up some of the year’s most chilling films, showcasing the gripping soundtracks that elevated the terror.

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024)

This prequel to A Quiet Place plunges audiences back into a world where silence is the key to survival. Set during the early days of the alien invasion, the film relies heavily on its sound design, just like its predecessors. Alexis Grapsas masterfully creates tension by blending unsettling ambient soundscapes with quiet, creeping motifs.

The soundtrack uses minimalism and sporadic, sharp crescendos that make viewers feel every rustle, breath, and footstep, amplifying the stakes in a world where noise equals death. The music shifts between eerie calm and sudden terror, drawing attention to the characters’ vulnerability, especially in city scenes where chaos erupts. Grapsas’ score plays a vital role in pacing the film, transitioning seamlessly between tension and dread.

“Longlegs” (2024)

Starring Nicolas Cage as a cryptic serial killer, Longlegs is both a mystery and a slasher that keeps audiences on edge. Zilgi creates an atmosphere that thrives on ominous undertones and a hauntingly melodic score. Sound is used sparingly but effectively, with unsettling strings and percussion that mimic the pulse of an ever-present threat. The music captures the duality of horror and mystery as the FBI agent pieces together cryptic clues, heightening tension without overwhelming the story’s core psychological elements.

“Trap” (2024)

Night Shyamalan’s Trap is a psychological thriller that unfolds during a high-profile concert headlined by pop star Lady Raven (played by Saleka Shyamalan). The film showcases a unique collaboration between Shyamalan and his daughter, Saleka Shyamalan, who composed and performed the film’s soundtrack. The music plays an integral role in the film, with Saleka taking on the persona of Lady Raven, a pop star whose concert serves as the backdrop for the intense events of the story.

Saleka envisioned a narrative where the music is deeply tied to the plot, crafting 14 original songs that blend diegetic elements that sync with the onscreen action. Influenced by Taylor Swift’s pop culture impact, her compositions fuse pop sensibilities with cinematic storytelling, creating a soundtrack that supports both the character of Lady Raven and the emotional tone of the movie.

“The Substance” (2024)

The 2024 horror film The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, stands out not only for its visually grotesque and satirical narrative but also for its evocative soundtrack, composed by British electronic musician Raffertie. Known for his experimental blend of haunting soundscapes and atmospheric beats, Raffertie’s score enhances the film’s unsettling exploration of identity, beauty, and obsession.

The soundtrack, released by Waxwork Records, accompanies a story about Elizabeth Sparkle, a fading Hollywood star who injects a mysterious substance that creates a younger, more glamorous version of herself. This transformation, and the eerie body horror that follows, is punctuated by Raffertie’s music, which shifts from ominous synths to more tender, melancholic notes, reflecting the film’s mix of horror and deep introspection.

Raffertie’s use of electronic manipulation, minimalist piano, and ambient textures perfectly complements The Substance’s themes of vanity, identity, and Hollywood’s obsession with youth.

“Alien: Romulus” (2024)

Alien: Romulus (2024), directed by Fede Álvarez, returns to the stripped-down, survivalist horror of Ridley Scott’s original Alien. The film follows Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), a blue-collar worker on a sunless mining planet. She becomes entangled in a deadly escape plan when her crew raids a mysterious space station and soon discovers they are not alone. They must face off against Xenomorphs in a tension-filled fight for survival. Álvarez brings an immersive, claustrophobic atmosphere to the space station setting, reminiscent of the original Alien, while introducing a few modern twists.

The score, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, complements the film’s dark, tense atmosphere. Wallfisch draws on eerie, ambient soundscapes and haunting orchestral motifs, echoing the isolation and dread felt by the characters. His composition reflects the film’s return to its horror roots, with pulsating synths and spine-tingling crescendos amplifying the suspense of each encounter with the alien menace.

Want to sleep with one eye open? Check out our new Thriller collection for anxiety-inducing tracks with spine-tingling motifs.