Composer Lance Warlock (A Landscape of Lies) delivers an atmospheric and tense score for Paul Knight's 24 Little Hours. In the movie, a vengeful ex con goes on a 24 hours killing spree, never saying a word. The discredited detective investigating the case is convinced there is more to it than the evidence suggests...

Soundtracks like this are always a nightmare to review. On a technical level this kind of score comes in, does its job and gets out... It's never supposed to be centre stage. It's designed to stay in the background and add much needed atmosphere and tension to the onscreen action.

When listened to without the setting of the movie... well, it just sounds a little weak when taken out of context. Yes, there are some interesting, subtle, segments. But there's nothing to really grab your attention.

Talking about the project, Warlock said: "The score was created from sparse orchestral instruments mixed with soundscape underscore. There is humour intertwined with suspense and tension throughout. I was asked to created an environment for the police interrogation scenes that would slightly change with each character that was on screen. Each bringing their own identity to the scene. Percussion and rhythm are increased as the film progresses to the unexpected ending."

And it's that attention to detail that should be rewarded. Onscreen this no doubt works, in isolation it just sounds a little flat.

6

Darren Rea