Alex G's Score for Schoenbrun's Horror-Comedy Marks a Composerly Leap
Alex G's soundtrack for Jane Schoenbrun's horror-romance-comedy serves as a rhapsodic complement to the film, blending seamlessly with its tone. The score hints at ambitious new territory for the musician as a composer, building on his long collaboration with the director. His cues often go unnoticed, a testament to how deeply they're woven into the movie's fabric.
The score, released on Waxwork Records, marks Alex G's continued partnership with Schoenbrun, having composed for all of their films. His cues are deliberately subtle, designed to blend into the film's atmosphere rather than draw attention. Notable tracks include "DVD Rack," "Dipping," "Meeting Billy," and "Kris's Fantasy," with "Sex Talk" showcasing a late-Romantic orchestral style reminiscent of Samuel Barber and Arvo Pärt—a departure from his typical lo-fi rock approach. The film itself is an homage to 1980s slasher franchises, and the score reflects that era's sonic textures while pushing into new compositional territory for the musician.
This collaboration may signal a growing trend of indie musicians transitioning into film scoring, potentially expanding opportunities for artists outside traditional composition backgrounds. As streaming platforms continue elevating genre-blending films, Alex G's work could inspire other rock musicians to pursue cinematic work, broadening the sonic palette of horror and comedy soundtracks. Audiences may develop greater appreciation for subtle, integrated scoring over bombastic orchestral cues, shifting expectations for how music serves narrative tone.