Top 10 Scariest Video Game Music Tracks

Hello guys, it's time for something a little different. Today we are looking at the world of video games. Not just video games but the music. Not just the music but the tracks that just creep you the Hell out. I will say these songs don't all genuinely scare me but some have stories and just have a meaning to me. You may laugh at some of the choices. You may yawn at the choices. This list isn't in any particular order because there are so many songs that I have forgotten over the years, plus I'm terrible at compiling lists. I have tried to vary it up and try and look at a whole variety of games. Oh and by the way, I blatantly stole this idea from a Bloody Disgusting post recently so you can check it out by checking out link at the bottom of this post.

1. Laughing Octopus- Metal Gear Solid 4- PS3

Nobuko Toda, Shuichi Kobori, Kazuma Jinnouchi

Okay to start this list off we are looking at a game from one of the greatest franchises of all time. I love Metal Gear Solid. Ever since I kind of forced my cousin into buying Metal Gear Solid: Sons Of Liberty I have been hooked. OK, I missed MGS the first time round but I have loved it ever since that day. This track is more fast paced than scary but just the whole situation in the game mixed with this really had me on edge. The whole series is full of genuinely creepy moments and the scene where Laughing Octopus goes into her manic laughing fit after the battle and this track is one of those moments.

2. Save Theme- Resident Evil 4- Gamecube
Misao Senbongi, Shusaku Uch

The Resident Evil game franchise is fantastic. Even the modern Resident Evils are fun. As a lover of zombies, Capcom could bring out a pile of shit of a Resi game and I would still enjoy it. Resident Evil 4 although not my favourite, is a damn good game and welcome change in direction to the series plus it has one of the most hauntingly creepy yet somewhat beautiful pieces of music from the series. The save rooms in the games give you a chance to catch your breath and prepare but with this track playing in the background, it dawns on you that you have got to get back out there and kick some zombie arse!

3. Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time- Shadow Temple- N64
Koji Kondo

The N64 is hands down my favourite console of all time. I have so much love for that cartridge based piece of love! Some of my greatest video game experiences and memories belong to this console. Nintendo may not be the company they used to be but they still have the imagination and the talent they always had. I remember the excitement I felt when waiting for this game. The sheer wonder of the universe I was in whilst playing it and the amazement at playing through this for the millionth time finding secrets and just having fun. This game seriously had its creepy moments (Jesus Christ those zombies where just terrifying!). This track sums it up perfectly, the strange atmosphere of some of the places you visit. Koji Kondo is one of the greatest video game composers ever and this just showcases it.

4. Silent Hill 2- Red Pyramids- PS2
Akira Yamaoka

This is probably hands down the scariest franchise in video game history. This is also the first of 3 songs taken from Silent Hill games. I could have a list filled purely with Silent Hill songs. Silent Hill 2 is one of the deepest gaming experiences I have ever had. Dreading every corner and every door left unopened... even on your billionth playthrough. The chases with Pyramid Head and probably the most compelling thing is reading up about what the different situations and enemies represent to the different characters in the game. You have one of the most interesting and sexually repulsive pieces of gaming in history. Filled with symbolism and metaphor, genuinely fascinating stuff. This track is from the final fight with the 2 Pyramid Heads and holy crap what a climax. I was terrified during that battle. I was terrified all the way through the game.

5. Super Mario Kart- Ghost Valley- SNES
Soyo Oka

This is the part where you laugh. This track back in the day? Yeah, it kinda creeped me out when I was a nipper. The sheer minimalism and the high pitched drones. Nowadays, I could play this circuit and just be angry at how horrible I take the corners that don't have barriers but every now and then, the small smile on my face will appear when I think of the times as a child playing this and being creeped out.

6. Silent Hill -Blood Tears- PS1
Akira Yamaoka

The second Silent Hill song to appear on this list and for good reason. I still remember the day I bought this piece of gaming history. I was at Toys R Us spending my birthday money. I picked up a copy of the fantastic Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon on the N64 and this. What a nasty shock I got when I played this the first time and crapping myself when I was about to die in what turns out to be a dream. Yeah, aspects like the voice acting (Radio. What's going on with that radio?) do age this game a bit and take that edge off but this is still a damn creepy game. Am I the only one who took an extended break when I received the "Got to the school" note? This song stands out to me because of teh whole situation that's happening. If you have yet to play the game I won't spoil it but this is probably one of the saddest and cruelest moments in gaming history and with this track playing over the top, what an experience, especially first time round.

7. Legend Of Zelda: Windmill Hut- N64
Koji Kondo

Back to some Ocarina Of Time goodness and this is probably the strangest entry to the list and also one of the strangest and surreal moments in the game. It's a simple tune that loops and loops and loops. Why does this still kind of creep me out to this day? It's just so damned strange to me! The guy just playing this song all day on his own in the windmill. It just doesn't sit right with me. I adore this song and it is probably one of my favourites from the incredible Koji Kondo score. If you haven't played this game, you guys are really missing out.

8. Manhunt- View Of Innocence- PS2
Craig Connor

Rockstar Games, how I love you. You brought us the GTA franchise, Max Payne, L.A Noire, Red Dead Redemption and one of my all time favourite games, Manhunt. I remember buying this with my silver PS2 back in the day (it was an early Christmas present and apparently the silver PS2 was a quieter console than the standard one, thanks for the BS Sony!). I also picked up Sandinista! by The Clash but that's another story. Playing this for the first time and witnessing something so brutal was fantastic. This game got hated on but I say well done Rockstar for bringing gaming to a new level. Craig Connors fantastic ambient yet violent score just made this game perfection. I am picking this song not just as a single track but as a symbol of the whole soundtrack which just throws you right in the atmosphere. Hiding behind corners waiting for a masked scumbag waiting to try out the crowbar... what a thrill. I adore this game. So much in fact that I am actually writing a film adaptation that will probably never happen. Maybe there's a Let's Play for my Youtube channel in the future?

9. Super Mario World- Ghost House- SNESKoji Kondo

I know, another Super Mario song! What is wrong with me? Fuck me right? Guys, don't deny this track didn't at least creep you out a tiny little bit when you where a kid! Don't deny this track made you want to just get the hell out of the ghost house and find Yoshi again (why did Mario just leave Yoshi outside all the time? Is he not house trained?). When this track speeds up because you are running out of time, again, don't deny you where pumped just a little. Maybe it's me? Oh well, let's move on!

10. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis- Nemesis Fight Songs- PS1
Masami Ueda, Saori Maeda

To finish the list we aren't really ending on the scariest track or anything like that but we are talking about the best Resident Evil game which has probably one of the greatest bad guys in video game history. He scared the shit out of us (when he jumps through the window in the police station, I actually paused the game, ran downstairs and had a time out) but he also amazed the hell out of us. He even, if you where trying to kill him on every encounter probably annoyed the hell out of us. A persistent bastard that was so overpowered at the start but just got raped in later fights because of ice rounds. Yeah, on the surface he's a flawed soul but zombies and mutated creations aren't perfect, look what happened to Michael Jackson (HA! Say too soon to that bitches!) right? This track terrified me the first time and still makes me dread moving on to a new screen when I revisit this classic. What a track for such a guy! STARS!

There it is guys, my list of 10 songs that I think are some of the scariest pieces of video game music of all time. They don't all have the same affect on me now as they did back then but they will always be in the back of my mind. Be sure to check out the Bloody Disgusting post below guys and try this for yourself! It's fun to revisit those cherished gaming moments.

ORIGINAL BLOODYDISGUSTING ARTICLE

PDx

She's Dead- A Real Time Horror Movie Completed

UPDATE (03/09/2012)I am too lazy to completely edit this post (yeah, professional I know) but over the past couple of days Nik has released a trailer which I will be putting at the end of the post for you guys to watch. Thanks guys.

 For those who are not aware of the work of Nik Box or his production company Dead Good Films Like, you definitely should. Not only is Nik a nice guy and good friend of Mondo Squallido but he's a bloody talented director. Look out for future posts where I talk about some of his films, you can click links down below to all sorts of goodness including the website where you can purchase his films. Recently, Nik wrapped up on his latest production, She's Dead which is a real time horror short and is a more serious horror film than his usual tongue in cheek cheese fests that friends and fans love, myself included. I am yet to see the film as it is still in it's editing stages so this is not a review, you can expect one as soon as I get to see this gem.

The film is essentially about a guy who wakes up after a one night stand and finds a dead woman next to him. What follows is the guy and his friends trying to figure out what the hell happened and what the hell to do. That's as much as I will say about the synopsis but from the sounds of it, it's going to be a genuinely interesting experience from the guy who gave us no budget future classics such as Brutal Jesus and Wrath Of The Violent Vicar. A very different direction indeed.

 Nik had more of a budget at his disposal for this one and actually started a Kickstarter page to raise awareness and funds for the film. Unfortunately, he didn't reach his full goal but with help of friends, Youtubers and brothers in cheese he managed to raise a good portion of the budget, enough to get the ball rolling. I have followed the progress of the film and I can say that it sounds like it was a fun and successful shoot, it's what you expect from the King of cheese and cult childhood films. Nik is definitely a guy I would love to work with in the future but that's another story. As you can see from the stills in this post, you have blood, eye candy and a man with an awesome beard... what more can you ask for?

 So that's the film update out of the way, now to some more exciting news. To celebrate the release of the film there will of course be a premier. The world premier of he's Dead will take place on October 25th at the Central Cinema in Torquay at 9 pm. The venue holds 200 people and there aren't tickets as such, the way you can get yourself a place is by donating, yes that's right. To get your place to watch what promises to be a nice little flick all you have to do is donate what you think is a reasonable price. The reason for this is to cover the costs for the premier which is roughly costing about half of what the film actually cost. So be a good sport, get in touch with Nik by checking out the links below and be part of what promises to be a special evening.

So there you have it guys, just a little post for a good friend of mine and a very talented director. If the poster above or the screenshots don't tempt you then you don't have a functioning brain. If you are interested and want to know more about the film you should check out the official Facebook page for updates and exclusive content. If you want to know more about Dead Good Films like or wnat to get your hands on some of the films then the links to the shop and to the Youtube page for trailers and of course go sub to Nik's personal page on Youtube for some great content, updates and all round good times.

PDx

She's Dead Facebook
She's Dead Premier Info
Nik's Youtube
Dead Good Films Like Youtube
Dead Good Films Like Store

Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter, Rapid Eye Movies Release

STRAY CAT ROCK: SEX HUNTER
(dir. Yasuharu Hasebe, 1970)
Rapid Eye Movies, Germany

Today we conclude our in depth looks at the trio of films Rapid Eye Movies kindly sent me. I would like to start by saying a massive thank you to all you guys at Rapid Eye Movies who not only produce high quality products but also provide lovers of film and fellow collectors with some great titles. Today's title is no exception. One of the films from the infamous Pinky Violence name, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter. Again, we won't be looking at the film itself in terms of review as you will find countless reviews elsewhere. So without further a do, let's get this review started for all you Meiko Kaji fans out there.

 Again, we have the slipcase housing a slim digipack. And once again, what a fantastic job has been the done. The slipcase is brilliantly designed with a section of poster artwork on the front with some gorgeous, stylish typography. On the back, really nice and simple design that compliments the front. The digipack itself is nice and simple and contains some high quality photos of the film that are just awesome (especially the front, I think you may agree) Inside, unlike the previous editions we have looked at, you don't get much in terms of artwork. You get a nice and simple orange backdrop that just really goes well with the design itself. As usual we get the postcards and flyer which are just a really nice touch. The poster is a full version of the front cover and I personally think if they would have used the complete poster artwork on the front of the slip, it would have been a lot better. The only real flaw I can see with the poster is just the lack of imagery on the back but that is just a minor flaw.

Once again, the transfer and sound for this release is top notch. Again, Japanese audio with optional German subs means that if you are outside Germany, you will pick this up more as a collectors piece and boy is it a nice one for the shelf. Special features wise, you get the trailer and various other trailers. Overall, Rapid Eye have done well with the transfer. The only other version of this film I would suggest you could get that could be better is the Pinky Violence box set which is region 1 and hard to find for a decent price.

Well guys that is it for this little trilogy of posts and videos. Hope you guys have enjoyed these posts and most of all I hope I have turned you on to a potential new addition to the collection. Rapid Eye Movies are a fantastic company that puts the film lover and collectors in mind. Being a guy who's German is still rusty, I can truly appreciate the time and effort put in to this and the other releases I have had the pleasure of checking out. I shall definitely be picking up some more titles. So guys, check out those links down below and go check out what Rapid Eye Movies are all about!

RAPID EYE MOVIES SITE
RAPID EYE MOVIES YOUTUBE

PDx

A Woman Called Abe Sada Rapid Eye Movies Release

A Woman Called Abe Sada

(dir. Noboru Tanga, 1975)

Rapid Eye Movies, Germany

Today we look at the second of three releases sent to me from the German company that where generous enough to send me some DVDs to look at. Today we are looking at a film based on a true story from the 30's. Again, I won't be talking about the film itself, maybe at a later date. We are looking at the release itself, just like the Hanzo release. So without further a do… let's look at the release!

As you can see, this release is of the same quality of the Hanzo release we looked at first. You get the fantastically designed slipcase containing a gorgeous and simple cover design. Unlike the Hanzo release, this isn't a piece of poster artwork but a new design. As you take off the slip we get some gorgeous photography on the digipack, especially inside. As usual you get the wonderful array of postcards and flyer showcasing various films from the Rapid Eye Movies films catalogue. Not sure wether you will get the exact same cards in each edition as it seems a bit random which is awesome because you can potentially use doubles. The poster again showcases what seems to be an original Japanese design which is gorgeous and again would look lovely in a frame. Well that's the presentation and supplementary material, let's have a look at how the film actually looks!

Again, this release looks really gorgeous, especially for a DVD release. The sound is just as great but like the previous review, I cannot stress enough that this being a German release for a German audience so you only get Japanese audio and German subtitles. Again, these releases are for the people who know the language or for collectors. In terms of extras you get various info about the film and of course trailers for the film and catalogue. Again, finding other features on other releases will be tricky so you really cannot complain. Overall, the film itself looks and sounds good and is a full uncut print from what I gather.

If you are a fan of this film or Asian cinema in general, this could be a potentially a nice release for the collection as long as you have a cheaper copy of a different edition in case you don't know Japanese or German. Overall, Rapid Eye Movies have done yet another fantastic job with this film for the Nippon Classics. Click those links down below and check out Rapid Eye Movies!

RAPID EYE MOVIES SITE

RAPID EYE MOVIES YOUTUBE

PDx

Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice From Rapid Eye Movies

Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice

(dir. Kenji Misumi, 1972, 90 minutes)
Rapid Eye Movies, Germany

Hello guys and girls. Today we are looking at the first of 3 films from the Nippon Classics sent to me by a German company called Rapid Eye Movies. Now first of all, these will not be reviews of the films themselves as this trilogy of posts is showcasing these releases to people who are collectors and who already know about the film. If you want a review of the films, let me know. Like I said I will just be going through the releases themselves. We will be looking at the packaging, presentation, transfer and special features. So let's get straight to it with the first in depth look, Hanzo The Razor, Sword Of Justice. Below are some snaps of this gorgeous release.

As you can see, you get a gorgeously presented edition of this film. A beautifully designed slipcover showcasing the fantastic Japanese poster for the film which houses a fantastic digipack which boasts some stills from the film. The inside showcases one of the infamous images from the film. The digipack is slim but not too slim and makes it a fantastic size for the shelf and the collection. With the addition of the slipcover, these editions will look fantastic on the shelf. When you open up the digipack you will also find a flyer showcasing other titles from the Nippon Classics selection as well as an assortment of postcards with iconic stills from various Asian cult classics, the postcards are of high quality and are a welcomed addition. Probably the best extra you get is the double sided poster which again has the original Japanes poster design on the front and a original design on the back talking about the film itself. Overall, these are really nice additions and this will please the collectors out there wether or not you decide to actually use the poster and postcards. All in all, these editions are put together brilliantly with collectors in mind. So no we have looked at the packaging and presentation, let's look at the film itself.

 As you can tell by the stills, the transfer is fantastic. The audio is great too. Now, this being a German release, this intended to be watched by either someone who knows or is Japanese or German as the only audio option you have is the original Japanese an the subtitles are only in German. This really isn't a big deal for me personally as the edition itself is what I find most exciting and you can always pick up a cheap DVD. Just remember to bare that in mind if you are going to buy this title. Special features wise, you get the trailer for the film, some information on the film and also some trailers for other releases from Rapid Eye Movies. To some, that might not be a lot but I always welcome at least a trailer on any release and from what I have gathered not many other releases have anything more than a trailer. Overall, if you know Japanese or German (I should know a lot more by now) then  this release is perfect for you.

Overall, I am really impressed with this release. All the supplementary materials you get and the presentation alone make this a welcomed addition to the collection. I cannot stress enough that this release is of course aimed for a German audience so only collectors or lovers of Hanzo should really pick this up. Rapid Eye Movies have done a fantastic job with this release and have given the German public and us collectors  a great release of a film that is deserving of this treatment. You should definitely check out Rapid Eye Movies by clicking the links below and see what they have to offer and to potentially get your hands on this film. There really is nothing negative I can say about this release. Fantastic presentation and has a gorgeous DVD transfer.

RAPID EYE MOVIES SITE
RAPID EYE MOVIES YOUTUBE

PDx

My Day At The Munich Film Festival 2012

Recently, I spent the day in Munich for the Munich Film Festival 2012. The festival ran from the 29th June up until the 7th July. I went on the Thursday with my better half. It was thanks to her that i had this opportunity because she studies Film Criticism and students where able to get passes at a great discounted price. We ventured out with the intention of catching an early afternoon screening of a film called Le Cochon De Gaza ( English title not translated but under the name of When Pigs Have Wings) which was a German dubbed only version of a film about a man who lives between Israel and Palestine. He goes fishing and catches a pig.  Of course being between Palestine and Israel… Pigs aren't exactly the most "desirable" creatures, if you know what I mean. The film basically follows the guy becoming friends with the pig. Now, although that sounds hilarious, our tiredness took over so we slept for another hour. Yeah, shoot me. When we finally decided to set off, we took the train, enjoyed the scenery and finally made it to Munich which is a gorgeous city. Full of pretentious people but gorgeous all the same. After winning the battle with probably the most confusing train systems ever we finally made it to the building where we got our passes and to our joy, a nice big bag of swag.

Ooo... lovely bags o' swag!

My "Woody Allen" photo.

The cute handmade book showcasing Italian cinema.

The awesome chunky program.

 As you can see there was a hell of a lot of nice swag for Jeanny and I. Cosmetics that we could easily sell for €40+, some awesome 3D glasses from Sky, A hefty coffee table book version of the festival program, a cute little hand made notebook showcasing the Italian cinema at the festival and the mints and sweets. Not bad at all huh? That put a smile on our faces before we had even began to watch films. After marvelling at our swag for a while, we decided to work out what we wanted to watch so we could get tickets. Our main intention was to watch Killer Joe (William Friedkin) and 360 (Fernando Meirelles) as Jeanny needed to watch and critique these films for her course. Unfortunately, tickets where sold out so we had to look through the program and find some other films to watch. We found ourselves some nice little films.

WELCOME TO PINE HILL
(2012, dir: Keith Miller)

Now when you mention docudrama to me… I usually slap my face and sigh. Don't get me wrong, there are some fantastic examples out there but most of the time they are pretentious and dull. Welcome To Pine Hill however, did not fall under that description. The story follows a recently reformed drug dealer and gang member called Shannon Harper (actually played by himself) who has a somewhat steady job for an insurance company. Down the line he finds out some devastating news that makes him want to make peace with his past and the people he used to know and hang with. To tell you more about the story would do this film a real injustice. A powerful piece of film making that not only tells the devastating story of Shannon and the people in his life but also has an equally powerful message. From a technical point of view, this is a fantastically shot film, the handheld camera actually does what it intends to do and makes the audience feel (sometimes painfully and awkwardly" connected to Shannon's world. Minor complaints are some of the shots linger on too much which I understand symbolises the pain of our main character but it jet made the film run a little too long. Don't get me wrong, this film had me invested all the way through, especially with the fantastic, improvised performances from all the cast involved. Overall, this is one of the most genuinely touching and devastating films that I have seen in a long time and made me think a lot about some of the things in my life. You can't enjoy a film like this of course because the subject matter isn't enjoyable but this is a damn fine film that will have you hooked from start to finish. As far as I know, there is no information with regards to who owns the distribution rights for this film here in the UK for home release but all i can say is, there needs to be a deal done as soon as possible because people need to see this film. Thanks to this film I have also become aware of the Brooklyn Film Makers Collective. What more can I say about this film? It's not perfect by any means but it's a triumph all the same.

After being blown away by the screening we booked our tickets for the next film we wanted to watch but the screening was in a few hours so we decided to go for something to eat. Jeanny suggested a nice steakhouse called Maredo which is a chain in Germany. Being the hopeless, old fashioned romantic that I am, I thought it would be nice if we ate outside and absorbed the sunshine and the gorgeous architecture of Munich. That went well until we where struck by one of the most epic thunderstorms I have seen for a while. We fought the weather and finished our meal (which for me was a marinaded chicken steak with fries and a side dish of garlic bread… oh wait this isn't a food post!) like two mad people. So after defying a storm, we quickly made our way to our next screening which was a blast from the past.

The New Town Hall building and Orlando owned by the chef, Alfons Schubeck.

The "thunderous" view from Maredo.

 STORMY MONDAY
(1988, dir: Mike Figges)

As part of the film festival, one of the main events was honouring the work and career of Melanie Griffith. Aside from this film there where a few other titles being screened. Films such as Something Wild as Working Girl to name just a couple. Now, why pick a film like this to watch at a festival? Well let me put it this way. You have a cast that mainly consists of Sting, Tommy Lee Jones, Sean Bean and Melanie Griffith and it's set in Newcastle! How could we not spend the night watching a film from the 80's that stars Sting and is set in Newcastle? I won't go into much detail regarding the story as this is a fairly old film that's been reviewed time and time again by better reviewers than I. All I will say is that is a great little story about corruption, betrayal, death and jazz! You have got Sting playing as a cool, foul mouthed owner of a jazz club (yes, there is a scene with Sting playing the double bass). Sean Bean who plays as your average Joe who gets a job cleaning at Sting's club… but becomes his right hand man. Tommy Lee Jones plays as a witty, sharp Texan businessman who wants Sting's club and you have Mlelanie Griffith who plays as call girl who sleeps with people for Tommy Lee Jones but falls in love with Sean Bean. Yeah, I'm sure you can see what happens. What you have is a funny, smart drama that is worth a watch if you haven't done so already. Has that classic, late 80's English film that you all know and love. Not bad at all…. did I mention it stars Sting?

Arty shot of the lights on the screen before watching Stormy Monday.

Well, those where the films that I caught at the Munich Filmfest. Yeah, I could have gone to other days but Jeanny was away for the first few days and could you imagine me trying to navigate Germany's  rail system? I could have joined Jeanny for the Friday but let's just say my stomach decided to be a mean son of a bitch so I had to stay at home… thank goodness I have a cute cat to keep me company. Overall, I enjoyed my day there and looking through the program, I have so much inspiration for films to watch.

Please click the links below regarding the films mentioned and website for the film festival itself. Hopefully, next time I will go for more than just a day and fingers crossed I will find some more awesome festivals to go to.

Thanks,
PDx

Munich Filmfest Site
Teaser For Welcome To Pine Hill
Stormy Monday Trailer