Can You Score 20/20? The Ultimate Horror Soundtrack Trivia Quiz: Identify These Creepy Scores!

Answers Below – No Peeking!

Are you a true horror aficionado who shivers at the sound of iconic scores? Dive into this 20-question quiz on creepy horror soundtracks, from shrieking strings to synthesiser dread, with questions ranging from easy warm-ups to nightmare-level challenges!

20 Trivia Questions on Horror Soundtracks

Question 1: Who composed the iconic minimalist piano score for John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978)?

A. Bernard Herrmann
B. Ennio Morricone
C. Jerry Goldsmith
D. John Carpenter

Question 2: Which track famously opens William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973)?

A. O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
B. Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell
C. Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
D. In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg

Question 3: The prog-rock score for Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977) was by which band?

A. Fabio Frizzi
B. Claudio Simonetti
C. Ennio Morricone
D. Goblin

Question 4: Who crafted the relentless two-note motif for Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975)?

A. John Carpenter
B. Jerry Goldsmith
C. Bernard Herrmann
D. John Williams

Question 5: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) features a score by which composer, famous for its all-string orchestra?

A. Danny Elfman
B. John Williams
C. Hans Zimmer
D. Bernard Herrmann

Question 6: Who composed the haunting lullaby-like score for Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968)?

A. John Barry
B. Henry Mancini
C. Roman Polanski
D. Krzysztof Komeda

Question 7: The Latin choral piece “Ave Satani” from The Omen (1976) was composed by?

A. Jerry Goldsmith
B. Lalo Schifrin
C. Ennio Morricone
D. Maurice Jarre

Question 8: Which composer created the score for Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th (1980), including the “ki ki ki, ma ma ma” motif?

A. Charles Bernstein
B. Brad Fiedel
C. John Carpenter
D. Harry Manfredini

Question 9: Who scored Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)?

A. Harry Manfredini
B. John Carpenter
C. Alan Howarth
D. Charles Bernstein

Question 10: The Moog synthesiser-heavy score for Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) was by?

A. Tangerine Dream
B. Vangelis
C. John Carpenter
D. Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind

Question 11: George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead (1978) features an original score by which Italian prog band?

A. John Carpenter
B. Library tracks only
C. Ennio Morricone
D. Goblin

Question 12: The dreamy, eerie score for Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm (1979) was composed by?

A. Harry Manfredini
B. John Harrison
C. Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave
D. Don Davis

Question 13: Ennio Morricone provided the chilling, minimalist score for John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). True or which composer?

A. John Carpenter
B. Alan Howarth
C. Jerry Goldsmith
D. Ennio Morricone

Question 14: Clive Barker’s Hellraiser (1987) score was by?

A. Coil
B. Marco Beltrami
C. Simon Boswell
D. Christopher Young

Question 15: Bernard Rose’s Candyman (1992) features a distinctive score incorporating music by?

A. Elliot Goldenthal
B. John Corigliano
C. Philip Glass
D. Tan Dun

Question 16: Who composed the tense, string-driven score for Wes Craven’s Scream (1996)?

A. Harry Manfredini
B. James Horner
C. Randy Edelman
D. Marco Beltrami

Question 17: Which seminal horror film has no traditional musical score, relying entirely on diegetic sound design?

A. Halloween (1978)
B. Psycho (1960)
C. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
D. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Question 18: The end credits of Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) prominently feature an arrangement of which classical work by Howard Hanson?

A. Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber
B. Symphony No. 2 “Romantic”
C. Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss
D. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven

Question 19: Ari Aster’s Hereditary (2018) features an avant-garde score by?

A. Max Richter
B. Jóhann Jóhannsson
C. The Haxan Cloak
D. Colin Stetson

Question 20: The folk-infused, dissonant score for Ari Aster’s Midsommar (2019) was composed by?

A. Colin Stetson
B. Cliff Martinez
C. Robin Coudert
D. Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak)

Answers

  1. D. John Carpenter – He wrote, performed, and produced the simple yet terrifying piano theme for his own film Halloween; the others scored different classics like Psycho, The Thing, and The Omen.
  2. C. Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield – This prog-rock track kicks off the possession sequence and became synonymous with the film; the others are from unrelated horror or thriller moments.
  3. D. Goblin – The Italian band delivered the film’s hypnotic, synth-heavy soundtrack at Argento’s request; Simonetti was a member, but Goblin is the credited group.
  4. D. John Williams – The E-F motif builds unbearable tension; Herrmann did Psycho, Goldsmith Alien, Carpenter his own films.
  5. D. Bernard Herrmann – His innovative all-strings score, with infamous violin stabs, defined horror music; the others are later composers.
  6. D. Krzysztof Komeda – The Polish jazz musician’s eerie, nursery-rhyme motifs perfectly suit the film’s paranoia; Polanski directed but didn’t score.
  7. A. Jerry Goldsmith – The Oscar-winning “Ave Satani” chant evokes demonic ritual; Morricone did The Thing.
  8. D. Harry Manfredini – He created the voice-distorted killer motif and much of the synth score; Bernstein did Elm Street.
  9. D. Charles Bernstein – His industrial, nightmare-fuel score introduced Freddy’s world; Manfredini did Friday the 13th.
  10. D. Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind – They crafted the electronic adaptations of classical pieces for Kubrick; Tangerine Dream scored a later cut.
  11. D. Goblin – Romero commissioned the band’s eclectic rock score; no Morricone involvement here.
  12. C. Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave – Their psychedelic jazz score fits the film’s surreal spheres; others scored later sequels or unrelated films.
  13. D. Ennio Morricone – His sparse, ambient work heightens the isolation; Carpenter directed and co-wrote the theme song.
  14. D. Christopher Young – His orchestral horror score defined the Cenobites; Coil contributed songs only.
  15. C. Philip Glass – His repetitive motifs underscore the urban legend’s otherworldliness; others scored different horrors.
  16. D. Marco Beltrami – His dynamic strings amp up the meta-slasher tension; Manfredini is earlier slashers.
  17. D. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) – Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell used chainsaw sounds and diegetic noise instead of composed music; the others have famous scores.
  18. B. Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” – Goldsmith adapted Hanson’s piece for the credits; the others are iconic but from different films.
  19. D. Colin Stetson – His woodwind drones create unrelenting unease; Richter and others scored non-Aster horrors.
  20. D. Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak) – His ritualistic sound design evokes pagan dread; Stetson did Hereditary.

How many did you get right? Drop your score in the comments below and challenge your horror-loving mates to top it – no cheating with Spotify!