Music Composed by John Ottman
Rating: ***

John Ottman scored two little-loved thrillers in 2004, first was Cellular and Hide and Seek, which was released in theaters in 2005. Both efforts see the composer doing his best to inject what’s needed to make these pictures work: vigor and thrills. Ottmas as a composer has always delivered servicable scores that work well on album, but has yet to win over the film music fandom completely. His score for X2 was his biggest hit, but has failed to attain classic status yet. It’s unclear whether a January sacrificial theatrical release like Hide and Seek will do much to bolster the composer’s status, but on CD it proves to be a solid thriller score that never offends for it’s forty-minute plus run time.

Hide and Seek finds the composer firmly planted in Christopher Young Zone, where the orchestra suavely lays down a sense of sophisticated dread with long melodic lines alongside cutting stingers and darkly romantic string textures (”Exploring”, “Toy Shrine”). It’s Ottman’s use of solo piano and strings particularly that recalls many classy Young thrillers like Jennifer 8 (”The Playground”) and Copycat. The composer gives the score some much needed character to start with “Leaving The City

John Ottman

(Main Titles)”, featuring the vocalise (which will no doubt have you thinking Rosemary’s Baby) of fellow composer Deborah Lurie (not actress Dakota Fanning, as previously reported on label Kirtland Records’ website!). Strangely enough, Ottman never reprises the vocals until the final track, “Hide & Seek (Emily’s Theme”), instead using the theme within the orchestra. This opening track does a lot to establish the delicate nature of the score which is sensitively orchestrated for full orchestra, which alternates between uneased beauty (”Playing With Charlie”, “Beyond Therapy”) and sickly dissonant sliding string effects. The Hollywood Studio Symphony goes through the paces of several crackling action cues (”What Did You Do?”, “Getting Away!”, “Kitty Bath” and the grand finale, “The Cave”).

The disc’s presentation includes fine sound, although a few of the tracks suffer from too much reverb to perhaps hide the number of the performers.

This sort of score really has a limited audience. Most filmmusic fanboys would rather buy the latest action score than one from a psycho thriller. In the broad scheme of things, Hide and Seek is not going to fold your laundry or change the oil in your car. It’s not going to make your life easier, or better. It’s not even as much fun as a lot of the best horror/suspenser scores of the past few years, but it is a solid thriller score that is urgent, and creepy in all the right places.

Music Composed and Produced by John Ottman; Conducted by Damon Intrabartolo; Orchestrated by John Ottman and Damon Intrabartolo; Recorded by Casey Stone / Mixed by Bobby Fernandez; Availability: In print; Label (Catalogue): Kirtland Records, (KR-25); Release Date: February 22, 2005

01. Leaving The City (Main Title) (2′07)
02. Exploring (2′26)
03. What Did You Do? (4′15)
04. Can You See Now? (2′31)
05. Toy Shrine (1′48)
06. The Playground (1′47) audio clip
07. Getting Away! (2′46)
08. Doll Head (2′46)
09. Playing With Charlie (3′36)
10. Beyond Therapy (1′46)
11. Snooping (2′08)
12. Kitty Bath (2′03)
13. Marco Polo (2′07)
14. The Cave (2′13)
15. Hide & Seek (Emily’s Theme) (4′40)
Vocals by Deborah Lurie
Lyrics by Robert Kraft
Music by John Ottman & Lior Rosner
16. Hide & Seek (4′01)
Vocals by Sharlotte Gibson
Lyrics by Robert Kraft
Music by John Ottman & Lior Rosner

Total Playing Time: 43′00