Hard Rain

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Christopher Young isn't known for his action style, more for the gothic horror music of classics like Hellraiser, Species and Urban Legend. The man is obviously talented but I always wondered if he had different things up his sleeve then just the spooky horror style. Was he merely typecast as a horror composer or did he not have the perks for composing in a different genre? Of course he is merely typecast and as soon as people hear the sublime Murder in the First, all things will change of your supposed recollection of Young's musical style. Hard Rain, while being not brilliantly exciting is another example that he can also write one mean action score. The movie is probably one of the finest in the original category of action story telling and especially it presented Christopher Young with a task to let the score sound as big as the water of volume size alone. For about 7 minutes this score sounds refreshing but then it sadly drowns into the deep of water that the movie exhibits more then ever.

Especially fans of Christopher Young will find Hard Rain pleasing and interesting, and most importantly containing the right orchestral blast to underscore the countless action sequences. It is nothing but perfect for the movie but after a while this score starts to sound merely the same. I feel there is too much orchestral volume heading your way that it becomes a bit too much. The overbearing quality of the score is definitely one of its downfalls. On the other hand the good main theme, heard most fully at the begin 'Hard Rain (Main Title)' and briefly in several tracks is interesting. The dominant urgent mood of the theme most likely gives it pace and style while the sudden harmonica sound of Toots Thielemans adds more country feeling to the entire scope. The harmonica isn't heard much but when it appears it is welcome and well chosen. Finally you guys will hear what some Belgian veterans can accomplish in this world of music, ha. In the end it becomes the better part of the score because 75 to 80% gives us action and suspense all the way. For some this will be good, others like me it is too much to handle and mostly it makes sure the interest fades away. Sad then for the good parts that still float by on occasions.

While the track titles aren't very original (Young didn't went kooky with this one, mainly because he wasn't allowed to), it at least offers a welcome help of which music was heard during what scene. With the many action moments and continuing chases it is important to know what goes where. Of all the action music track 2, 'The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1)' comes highly recommended, mainly because it is the first action piece of the score but also because it consist of some excellent suspension moves. But is Hard Rain worth the money, the attention or the applause? Yes, but in small ways and not the grotesque way it was received by some as one of the finest in the action league. I like the good stuff as much as you do but diversity could have made the score better or a change in tone would have been nice. Hard Rain is a good and solid action score by Christopher Young and it deserves the attention, but the own lack of fresh material after a while can not hold the score afloat.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Hard Rain (Main Title) (3.19)

2. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1) (4.26)

3. The Jail Cell (Part 1) (4.31)

4. Wayne Kidnaps Karen (1.51)

5. The Jail Cell (Part 2) (4.35)

6. The Church Attack (3.11)

7. The Truck Heist (2.10)

8. The Cemetery (2.26)

9. The Cow (1.53)

10. Kenny Dies (2.35)

11. The Rain (2.30)

12. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 2) (2.00)

13. Karen (0.56)

14. The Church Chase (Part 1) (3.29)

15. Locked Up (2.07)

16. The Roof (1.00)

17. The Church Chase (Part 2) (1.25)

18. Jim Saves The Day (1.10)

19. Over The Rooftop (1.54)

Total Length: 48.12

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Christopher Young ===