The Music of Resident Evil with Hays and Ryan Holladay
How do you create a horror score that defies expectations? For Resident Evil, composers Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay take an unconventional approach, blending manipulated brass, experimental electronics, and unexpected musical influences to create a distinctive sonic identity for director Zach Cregger’s film.In this conversation with SoundWorks Collection, the Holladay brothers discuss their long-standing creative partnership with Cregger, dating back to their years making music together in a band. They explore how that shared history has shaped their collaborative process, allowing them to experiment freely while remaining focused on the director’s vision.The brothers also reveal how jazz albums by Miles Davis, including Bitches Brew and Dark Magus, helped inform the score’s musical DNA, why they initially sought to avoid synthesizers, and how recorded trumpet and trombone performances were transformed into sounds that blur the line between acoustic instruments and electronic textures.From developing musical ideas before production begins to experimenting alongside the film’s edit, Hays and Ryan explain how an evolving, highly collaborative workflow allows them to discover the right sound for each scene. They also discuss the importance of restraint in horror scoring, avoiding genre clichés, and knowing when the most effective musical choice is to do less.Discover how the composers behind Resident Evil combine experimentation, shared musical instincts, and a deep creative connection with Zach Cregger to build a score that serves the film’s unsettling atmosphere and relentless action.Moderated by Charles Steinberg