The Killer (2024 soundtrack)
| The Killer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Film score by | ||||
| Released | August 23, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | May 2024 | |||
| Studios | ||||
| Genre | Film score | |||
| Length | 59:25 | |||
| Label | Back Lot Music | |||
| Producer | Buck Sanders | |||
| Marco Beltrami chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Killer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2024 film The Killer directed by John Woo, a remake of his own 1989 Hong Kong film with Nathalie Emmanuel and Omar Sy in the lead roles. The film score is composed by Marco Beltrami and released through Lakeshore Records on August 23, 2024.
Development
[edit]Marco Beltrami renewed his collaboration with John Woo after scoring the director's previous Silent Night (2023).[1] Describing it an "inspired" collaboration, he considered the film as "an unusually romantic and fun way" to score action sequences similar to a ballet.[1] The hospital shootout scene was the first to be scored that demanded an extensive collaboration between Beltrami and editor Zach Staenberg. The sequence utilizes jazz elements. Beltrami composed a whistling theme for the protagonist and instead of working on a huge orchestra, Beltrami went ahead with a smaller orchestra, representing strings and drum kits, for a raw and energetic feel. The score often emphasizes Spaghetti Western influences. It was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in May 2024.[1][2]
Release
[edit]The score was released through Back Lot Music on August 23, 2024.[3]
Reception
[edit]David Ehrlich of IndieWire wrote "the horny saxophone that Marco Beltrami's score uses to inject actual jazz into the middle of an exuberantly staged hospital shootout [...] celebrate the fun of playing".[4] Matthew Donato of Collider wrote "Marco Beltrami's highpoint score tries to add some zip with jazzy woodwind rhythms, but visuals lag behind musical peppiness".[5] Nick Rogers of Midwest Film Journal called it a "shrewdly peppy score".[6] Maxance Vincent of FilmSpeak wrote "Marco Beltrami's Ennio Morricone-inspired score, [gives] the remake the Western quality Woo always enjoys tipping the hat to."[7] However, Alex Maidy of JoBlo.com called it a "generic score".[8]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Zee Awakens" | 3:01 | |
| 2. | "Candles for the Dead" | 2:08 | |
| 3. | "Chasing Coco" | 1:32 | |
| 4. | "Serge's Last Dance" | 2:01 | |
| 5. | "Bar Fight" | 2:13 | |
| 6. | "Tessier's Shop" | 0:29 | |
| 7. | "Poison IV" | 1:08 | |
| 8. | "After Noone" | 1:50 | |
| 9. | "Not a Plain Heist" | 1:38 | |
| 10. | "No One's Whore" | 1:11 | |
| 11. | "Paris By E-Bike" | 1:57 | |
| 12. | "Hospital Treatment" | 2:58 | |
| 13. | "Morgue Shootout" | 1:38 | |
| 14. | "Zee's Apartment" | 2:01 | |
| 15. | "Fork You" | 1:12 | |
| 16. | "Takeout Stakeout" | 1:28 | |
| 17. | "Queen of the Dead" | 1:21 | |
| 18. | "Martini Murder" | 1:23 | |
| 19. | "Finn's Ratchet" | 3:36 | |
| 20. | "Flower Mart" | 3:40 | |
| 21. | "How's That for a Chip" | 2:17 | |
| 22. | "Candles for the Deserved" | 0:52 | |
| 23. | "Graveyard Shootout" | 1:16 | |
| 24. | "The Church" | 1:14 | |
| 25. | "Kick Ass Mass" | 3:10 | |
| 26. | "Zee's Reckoning" | 3:32 | |
| 27. | "Vision Regained" | 1:25 | |
| 28. | "Sey Goodbye" | 0:54 | |
| 29. | "Killer Reborn" | 1:12 | |
| 30. | "Introuvable" | Jorane | 2:38 |
| 31. | "Let's Live for Today" | Diana Silvers | 2:30 |
| Total length: | 59:25 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Beltrami's official website and liner notes:[9][10]
- Music composer: Marco Beltrami
- Music producer: Buck Sanders
- Music editor: Joe E. Rand
- Orchestrator: Mark Graham, Pete Anthony, Jon Kull
- Conductor: Marco Beltrami
- Music preparation: JoAnn Kane Music Service
- Librarian: Dakota Music Service
- Recording engineer: John Barrett
- Recording studio: Abbey Road Studios
- Mixing engineer: Tyson Lozensky
- Mixing studio: Pianella Studios
- Additional engineer: Lewis Jones
- Score recordist: Chris Parker
- Assistant engineers: Neil Dawes, Martin Riley
- Orchestra and vocal contractor: Isobel Griffiths Ltd.
- Orchestra leader: Thomas Bowes
- Vocal contractor: Ben Parry
- Piano: Andy Massey
- Solo saxophone: Martin Williams
- Solo trumpet: Tom Rees-Roberts
- Solo jazz bass: Rory Dempsey
- Solo cello: Tim Gill
- Solo soprano: Grace Davidson
- Drums: Hayden Beltrami
- Whistler: Matthew Paris
Accolades
[edit]| Awards | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 20, 2024 | Original Score – TV/Streamed Movie | Marco Beltrami | Nominated | [11] [12] [13] |
| International Film Music Critics Association | February 27, 2025 | Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film | Nominated | [14] [15] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "The Killer". The Marco Beltrami Universe. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Film Music Live with MARCO BELTRAMI & ZACH STAENBERG (live). Film Music Institute. September 17, 2024. Archived from the original on March 29, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "The Killer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Ehrlich, David (August 23, 2024). "'The Killer' Review: John Woo's Straight-to-Peacock Remake of His Own Action Classic Is Shockingly Good". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Donato, Matthew (August 23, 2024). "'The Killer' Review - John Woo's Remake of His Own Action Classic Could Use Some Harder Punches". Collider. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Rogers, Nick (August 24, 2024). "The Killer (2024)". Midwest Film Journal. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Vincent, Maxance (August 23, 2024). "'The Killer' (2024) Review: John Woo's Poetic Tale of Resurrection". FilmSpeak. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Maidy, Alex (August 23, 2024). "The Killer Review". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ "The Killer". Marco Beltrami. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Marco Beltrami. The Killer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Media notes). Back Lot Music.
- ↑ Pedersen, Erik (November 7, 2024). "'Emilia Pérez' & 'Blitz' Top Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (November 7, 2024). "'Emilia Pérez' Leads 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (November 21, 2024). "'Emilia Pérez' and Hans Zimmer Are Top Winners at 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ↑ IFMCA (February 13, 2025). "IFMCA Award Winners 2024". IFMCA. IFMCA. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ↑ IFMCA (February 27, 2025). "IFMCA Award Winners 204". IFMCA. IFMCA. Archived from the original on February 28, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.