Recently, I watched the sci-fi thriller The Machine and I was blown away. Stellar visuals, interesting storyline with some nice character development, and some damn fine CGI and practical effects, especially for an independent film with a less than £1 million budget. While not without its flaws, there was enough going on to keep my full attention.
But what really stood out for me during the film was the stellar retro score by composer Tom Raybould. The music mixed elements of John Carpenter (such as The Fog), Tangerine Dream (Legend), and Vangelis (Blade Runner), while still sounding unique. Several times during the film, I commented on how the score was just fantastic.
That’s why I wanted to take a few minutes to discuss my thoughts on this particular score. If you’ve seen the movie, make sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments!
The whole movie is about the distinction between man and machine and how that line can become blurred, making us ask, “What defines humanity?” With the score, it sounds like machines themselves are talking and singing, their voices the instruments, their cries the piercing shrieks and their triumph the soaring pads.
I also felt as though the music evoked the longing that is constantly present throughout the film: a father longing to save his daughter, a scientist wishing he could find the answer, a machine desperate to be more human.
However, at the same time the music conveys the horror of the situation. This machine is meant to be a weapon and that is known by all parties except for the machine itself. The machine has to learn the horror of its ultimate purpose, its intended design.
The use of retro synth sounds may have been done because this film falls under the science fiction genre. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the instruments and tones were perfectly suited for everything that was happening on the screen. This may very well be one of my favorite modern film scores.
Make sure to support Raybould and pick up a copy of the soundtrack via iTunes.
