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'Simpsons' Horror Episode Scores Monstrous Tunes and Demonic Delights
20 Oct
Summary
- "Jaws" score inspired the music for the monster Fatberg
- Composer Kara Talve used dissonant, over-the-top brass to create a "disgusting" sound
- Musician Pedro Eustache contributed custom-made woodwind instruments for the dystopian "Plastic World" segment
In the latest "Treehouse of Horror" episode of "The Simpsons", which aired last month, the show's composers drew inspiration from classic horror and dystopian themes to craft a chilling musical landscape. Kara Talve, who has scored several previous "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, confirms that the iconic "Jaws" score was the primary reference for the first segment, "The Last Days of Crisco", which features a monster named Fatberg who feeds on the fat of his victims.
Talve and her co-composer Russell Emanuel used heavy, dissonant brass to create a "delightfully distasteful and disgusting" sound that amplified the grotesque nature of Fatberg. In the second segment, "Clown Night with the Devil", the music veered away from the orchestral approach, instead leaning into synth-heavy tones to match the demonic chaos unleashed by Krusty the Clown's special guest, the Devil, voiced by Idris Elba.
For the final segment, "Plastic World", which depicts a dystopian future where Springfield is covered in Buzz Cola bottles, the composers brought in renowned woodwind player Pedro Eustache and his custom-made instruments, including a unique pipe creation, to craft a distinctive soundscape for the post-apocalyptic setting.
