The Dorm That Dripped Blood [Original Soundtrack Recording] (1982)
Composed by Chris Young
Tracklisting:
1. [00:00] Main Title
2. [01:12] Someone's in the Kitchen
3. [03:33] Trapped
4. [04:15] Nightwalk
5. [06:05] Who's on the Roof
6. [08:47] Surprise
7. [10:40] The Phone's Dead
8. [11:58] The Sacrifice
9. [15:02] The Last Chance
10. [17:06] Farewell to Brian
11. [19:22] Moonchill
12. [20:02] No Escape
13. [21:46] Her Man Awaits
14. [22:47] Bill's Piece of Mind
15. [24:22] A Little Prank. Kiss and Kill
16. [26:02] Search for the Hermit
17. [27:00] End Title
Directed and written by Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow (with Stacey Giachino), this American slasher film (alternately released as 'Pranks and originally titled 'Death Dorm) stars David Snow, Daphne Zuniga (in her film debut), Laura Lapinski, Pamela Holland, Stephen Sachs, and Richard Cowgill (1930-2005). Writer/directors Carpenter and Obrow (along with partner Stacey Giachino) were still college students when they made this film, and conceived the story while living in the co-op dorm where they set and shot it. The film is notable for two reasons; first, it was the debut of Matthew Mungle, an effects artist who eventually won an Oscar for his work on Bram Stoker's Dracula, and secondly, it featured future blockbuster composer Christopher Young pounding on the high keys of the piano and layering in screechy violins. Like 'My Bloody Valentine (1981), the original copy of this film is definitely an essential title for any '80's gore fan who has always wanted to see how brutal this film was before the heavy blow of censorship struck it down.
Seventy-five-year-old Morgan Meadows Hall is one college dormitory that won't be housing any more wisecracking students. Slated for renovation and future apartment living, Morgan Meadows is in the process of being completely inventoried, emptied and boarded up. Level-headed Joanne Murray (Laurie Lipinski) is in charge of the massive shutdown. Eschewing time with her boyfriend Tim (Robert Frederick), Joanne has recruited a handful of students to stay behind over the Christmas holidays to pitch in: Brian (David Snow), Patti (Pamela Holland), Debbie (Daphne Zuniga) and Craig (Stephen Sachs). In the course of their work, they are stalked by a psychopathic killer who uses various industrial tools to dispatch his victims. But who is responsible for these brutal murders? Infamous in its day, 'The Dorm That Dripped Blood is unquestionably disgusting at times and fast paced, rarely slowing down for character development or love interest. Actually, most characters don't live long enough for any of that!
As stated above, the film is significant as the first film score by Christopher Young, an underrated talent at the time who went on to score for films such as 'Hellraiser (1987), 'Species (1995), 'Urban Legend (1998), 'The Grudge (2004), and 'Drag Me to Hell (2009). Oddly enough, the soundtrack has been easier to find than the actual film itself. Young demonstrates why he is one of Hollywood's most sought-after composers with this score. It opens with a Bernard Herrmann-style of slashing strings, then scored almost exclusively for string orchestra, with a large array of percussion and a pair of pianos. The soundtrack as a whole becomes an extraordinarily bleak work completely devoid of any warmth, following nothing but its own pulse which suits the film perfectly.
This video is for promotional use only. I do not own the rights to the music. All rights belong to the artist / band.
