6 of the Most Underrated Film Scores of the 2010s

The 2010s were quite an era for film. A number of incredible films were released during this decade, from the 2010 thriller Black Swan to the terrifying 2018 horror film Hereditary. Along with all of the stellar films that graced our screens during the 2010s, some very underrated film scores also made their debut. Let’s take a look at just six of the most underrated movie scores of the 2010s!

1. ‘Black Swan’ (2010)

Black Swan is loaded with incredible music that combines classic ballet songs with simmering, passionate, and spooky horror tones. Clint Mansell’s score for the film does not get talked about enough. His compositions linked together Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with something notably original and unnerving.

2. ‘Prisoners’ (2013)

This dark and haunting 2013 film is one of Denis Villeneuve’s very best, and the actors that made the film so memorable gave some of their best performances. However, the late great composer Jóhann Jóhannsson rarely gets brought up in conversations about the film. His compositions are smart and deeply chilling, and they really pull the film together.

3. ‘Assassin’s Creed’ (2015)

Movie adaptations of video games can be pretty hit or miss. Unfortunately, the 2015 adaptation of Assassin’s Creed is widely considered to be a critical and financial flop. That being said, the film deserves more credit for its energetic score. Jed Kurzel mastered the art of creating a soundtrack that instantly transports the listener to another time and place.

4. ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017)

Jed Kurzel makes our list again for his contributions to the soundtrack of Alien: Covenant from 2017. The movie is a bit divisive among fans, to say the least. But few would argue that Kurzel’s compositions for the film are anything less than stellar and perfect for the science fiction film. 

5. ‘Hereditary’ (2018)

The 2018 horror movie Hereditary is known for a lot of things, from its extremely shocking scenes to Tony Collette and Alex Wolff’s incredible performances. The film is also very well-known for its otherworldly and haunting score by Colin Stetson. From the slow, simmering songs that make up the bulk of the film to that iconic closing song against that shocking closing scene, Stetson managed to mirror the anxiety and brewing horror of the film with his music.

6. ‘Elysium’ (2013)

This 2013 film has been somewhat forgotten to time, but the compositions by then-first-time composer Ryan Amon are worth talking about. Director Neil Blomkamp’s choice to have Amon score the film was the smartest choice for the film. Each song has a dose of the melancholic, emotional, and dramatic.

Photo by Paul Buck/EPA/Shutterstock

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