Review
I was intrigued by Werewolf by Night as soon as I heard it was directed AND scored by Michael Giacchino. I’ve been a fan of his since LOST, and I was excited to see how he did in the dual role of director/composer. The main title track (punnily named “Mane Title” in true Giacchino fashion) starts off with the Marvel Studios Fanfare motif but quickly turns into a more complex theme with vocals, some violin and piano that sounds like an homage to classic monster movies. “Ulysses’s Rant” features plucked strings and subtle vocals that let you know something is afoot, and “There is No Peace Without Tuba” adds some faster violins and brass hits (which correspond to a flaming tuba played in the TV special itself) to build tension. The later tracks highlight some eerie horror elements (as in “A Farewell to Arm”) and a couple moments that might make you jump, so take care if you have this on in the background. The main theme returns in the middle of “Where’s Wolf” along with some epic choir and fast-paced orchestration reminiscent of classic movies. However, the last two tracks on the soundtrack are quite peaceful; “End Shredits” is a calm track with the themes played gently on what sounds like a Spanish Guitar, and the main theme sounds lovely on solo piano in “Mane Title - Piano Arrangement.” All in all, this score was a fun listen and, I might note, a breath of fresh air for Marvel scores with its change in genre.
Review by Stephen.