April 4, 2018
David Shire’s score for George A. Romero film given well-deserved expanded soundtrack treatment from Music Box Records
Music Box Records presents an extended soundtrack release of MONKEY SHINES: AN EXPERIMENT IN FEAR, George A. Romero’s vivid 1988 psychological horror thriller about a young man paralyzed from the neck down after an accident. In the story, the man is given a specially-trained capuchin monkey to help him with his day-to-day cares, unaware that the little monkey is actually the ongoing subject of a secret genetic experiment to increase animal intelligence. As a result, man and monkey develop a dangerous psychotic link that fuels homicidal rages that are shared and accentuated between them both.
The music was composed by David Shire, in one of only a few excursions into horror territory made by the composer. Best known for scoring edgy thrillers like THE CONVERSATION (1974), THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974), ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976), and ZODIAC (2007), as well as science fiction/fantasy adventure dramas such as 2010 (1984), RETURN TO OZ (1985), and SHORT CIRCUIT (1986).
Based on the book by Michael Stewart, wherein the behaviorally advanced monkey becomes Mr. Hyde to the hero’s Dr. Jekyll, the story is an engrossing tale that ramps up to a horrific climax in which the paralyzed hero must outsmart the capuchin’s boosted-intelligence to save his girlfriend and himself from the monkey’s savage and calculated attacks.
Shire’s skillful music is an engaging mix of sweeping lyrical melodies and jungle drum timbres and tempos that augment Romero’s visualized moments of fear and suspense. Shire delineates the thought-world of the capuchin with a growing interaction of sonic discord and shocking stingers that electrify Romero’s carefully choreographed scares. In following the contours of Romero’s scary story line Shire also composes some tremendous action music which intensifies the film’s excitement, suspense, and roaring action, all of which makes for a tense and thrilling listening experience.
This expanded soundtrack release album contains 40 tracks and 65 minutes of music. The package features a 12-page illustrated booklet featuring exclusive liner notes by Randall D. Larson that includes a new interview with the composer about his score. The release is limited to 1,000 units.
Pre-order now at www.musicbox-records.com
