In a world where sci-fi tech is becoming science “faction,” it’s eerie how close to home some films and stories are starting to hit. New this week from Amazon MGM Studios is Mercy, which stars Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. While they have star-power, it is the film’s composer that’s really got us excited. As such, we get to premiere the title track taken from Mercy-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with an original score by two-time Emmy award-winning and three-time Grammy-nominated composer Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, Pacific Rim, Iron Man, Fallout). Ramin’s intense score conjures a dark and unrelenting backdrop to the futuristic thriller starring Pratt and Ferguson. The film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov,…
-
-
Interview…Composer Simon Franglen Goes Back to Pandora (Again) to Craft Lush Soundscapes for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
For most things, they say that the third time is the charm. While the latest installment of the Avatar series seems to be trailing the two previous installments by just a bit at the box office, one thing is clear: the music and emotions in this franchise have never run higher. And to that we’re giving hat tips, golf claps, and jumping high-fives to composer Simon Franklin. He’s a pillar in James Cameron’s acoustic armory and has been carrying the musical torch/thematic through-lines established by James Horner for that little blue mega blockbuster way back in 2009. We had the incredible opportunity to speak with Simon about his work on…
-
Exclusive First Listen: Jung Jaeil’s Synth-tastic Main Theme to ‘Ponies’
Hey, score fans, have we got something special for you! This week is the premiere of a brand new series on Peacock, and the project secured once of the most unique voices in music to compose the soundtrack. Ponies sports an original score by Jung Jaeil (Parasite, Squid Game) whose exhilarating synth-based soundscape captures the tension of ‘70s Cold War espionage as well as the bond created by the main characters. The new show (headlined by Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson) gives the rising composer a lot of running room. The South Korean composer, music director, and multi-instrumentalist is recognized for his genre-crossing film scores and work across cinema, theater, and orchestral projects.…
-
Interview…Composer Nicholas Pike on Finding the Fountain of Youth Through Music at Casa Verdi
Here we are with the first interview of 2026 and it already set the bar super high for the rest of the year. Our exceptionally insightful and entertaining session with multi-hyphenate Nicholas Pike has yielded stunning stories from his time in the music business. From playing flute and piano to writing and composing, Nicholas shared tales and takeaways about music direction, orchestration, working with the likes of Bill Frisell, Michael Jackson and Stan Winston. Those are just a few of the stops on the highway of his career. Like most musicians, Nicholas got his start at an early age, and his focus on jazz and unique playing styles helped him…
-
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s Two-Volume Soundtrack for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
Everything that has a beginning has an end, and for all you Stranger Things fans, it all comes down to this. Tonight is the series finale (both at home and in the theaters), so grab your friends and gear up for one last adventure. To help ease the anticipation (and pain) of saying goodbye to the Hawking crew, we’re here to let you know about the ultra rad plan for the Lakeshore Records release of Stranger Things 5—Original Score from the Netflix Series digitally today featuring music by two-time Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The 92-track collection includes the score to Season 5 Volume 1 and…
-
Interview…Scott Bomar Helps Bring the Magic of Lighting and Thunder Through the Speakers and Screen in ‘Song Sung Blue’
There’s a saying that not all heroes wear capes. By that token, you can say that not all superstars get to the big time. Such is the case for the highly enjoyable, rousing and emotional story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a married musical duo called Lightning & Thunder. The couple are true “everyman” entertainers whose dreams and talent were never limited by their resources or their place in the world. Written and directed by Craig Brewer, Song Sung Blue gives the beloved Wisconsin-based act their big screen treatment. While they are far from the Hollywood Bowl, the very fact that this film exists is a testament to the perseverance…
-
Exclusive First Listen: Theodore Shapiro’s Striking Soundscapes in ‘The Housemaid’
We’re just eight days from Christmas, so whaddya say we open a couple presents early? Yeah, we thought you’d like that. And if you’re a fan of film scores, then this is just for you. Today, we are exclusively premiering two tracks taken from The Housemaid—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Volume 1 & Volume 2 . The music is composed by 2-time Emmy Award winner Theodore Shapiro and the scores are enhanced with the multifaceted talents of composer Caroline Shaw. Whether the story is about pirates, puzzles or paranoia, criminal capers or corporate chaos, Shapiro can drive in just about any lane he chooses, and wear an insanely diverse collection of hats. We’re…
-
Interview…Kangding Ray on the Raw and Explosive Power of Music in Oliver Laxe’s ‘Sirât’
If you’ve been on the festival circuit this year, it’s likely you’ve heard about Sirât. The bold, tragic and unforgettable film by Spanish director Oliver Laxe was the winner of the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. And while it was collecting praise and laurels, composer Kangding Ray (aka David Lettelier) received the award for Best Original Score. People will, fairly, relate this to Mad Max: Fury Road, but it’s more apt to say this walks among other dour narratives like Wake In Fright, Valhalla Rising, and The Mosquito Coast. A two-hour visual and auditory trance, Sirât is incredible. Laxe gives us a world full of grit and…
-
[Fantastic Fest Interview]…High Kicks and Furious Fists with Nik Pelekai & Jacob Stauff
The year is winding down quickly, and as we look back through the entertainment cornucopia of 2025, it was all pretty awesome. We had a slew of sensational experience in theaters, at home, and with creatives on multiple press junkets. And the best part about getting to interview people who make the things we love is when the conversation is as fun as the film. So enter director/writer Nik Pelekai and co-writer Jacob Stauff who brought their film to Fantastic Fest in September – if you’re gonna share something wild and hard-hitting with the world, this is the place to do it. Penance starts off with a bang, and even…
-
Interview…Thomas Jane on Wide Open Spaces Acting in ‘Frontier Crucible’
When it comes to film, “character actors” and “leading men” are usually two very distinct and disparate roles. It is only the scant few thespians who can consistently work in both worlds and dance between them seamlessly. To that end, you might call Thomas Jane unique or, better, a unicorn. Actually, he’s so good at diving into a character that when he’s on, it’s like watching a unicorn run through a field of four-leaf clovers heading for a pot of gold under a rainbow. Part of what adds to TJ’s charisma and career longevity is that he has plenty of interests outside of acting. One of them is comics and…
