In Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, architect Alex Hurst (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) are hard at work restoring the Gothic Blackwood Manor to its original splendour. Alex’s young daughter Sally (Bailee Madison) - neglected by her real mother and brushed aside by the careerist father - is left to investigate the macabre history and dark corners of the estate. Spurring Sally's investigation are the voices - rasping whispers who call out to her from the basement, who promise her understanding and friendship, who are so very hungry and would like to be set free...

Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders soundtrack to Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is an impressive score that has equal elements of beauty and creepiness woven throughout the tracks.

There's plenty of Beltrami's telltale music style, and there's more than a few instances where I was reminded of his previous score for Knowing.

The album kicks with the beautiful theme that is at the core of 'Gramophone Lullaby' - a theme that is echoed throughout this album.

'Garden Music' has this album's most beautiful theme - and reminded me of Danny Elfman's more - most notably Batman: Returns - and Mychael & Jeff Danna's work on Tideland.

'Gardener Gets Snipped' - throws a lovely, subtle, nod to the music of Bernard Herrmann, (most notably Pyscho) into the mix.

Over the course of this albums 21 tracks, with a running time of 54 min, 50 sec, there's an impressive collection of themes and styles. This is certainly an album that soundtrack fans should look out for.

8

Darren Rea