YouTube channel House by the Video Store does a really fascinating series called “Soundtrack Swaps”, whereby they take two movies, usually from different eras, and then swap the music from each film to see how it will have an effect. As they themselves write, “…the intent of these video experiments has always been to see how music affects a scene and can change the tone of a film.”
However, today’s “experiment” is a little different in that there isn’t a second film. Rather, the channel has taken the classic John Carpenter film The Thing and swapped out Ennio Morricone’s score with the director’s own original music in the form of tracks from his 2015 album Lost Themes. It’s yet another fascinating test of what happens to visuals when audio is dramatically changed.
In this case, what makes it all the more intriguing is that the new music comes from the film’s own composer, someone whose music is almost always in his films. The Thing happened to be different with Morricone being the man behind the music but adding Carpenter’s music to his visuals feels…familiar. I’m so used to hearing that man’s tones with his visuals that this feels kinda right, even though I know it’s not. I don’t think it’s better, mind you. Rather, I simply think it’s comfortable, which is interesting.
Anyways, what do you think? Does this work or am I going crazy on a Monday morning?