Decoding the 'Obsession' Soundtrack: the Creative Secrets Behind Burwell’s Score
A successful horror soundtrack requires an assertive music supervisor. In Obsession, the needle drops serve as psychological contrast. When the protagonist convinces himself that his fixation is reciprocal, the film breaks into saccharine 1960s pop ballads. These licensed tracks sound sweet on the surface, but when paired with Barker's chilling visual compositions, they transform into pure nightmare fuel.
The peak of this contrast arrives with the end credits song, "Hold Me Until Morning." Co-written specifically for the film’s conclusion, the track begins like a lost Brill Building torch song before dissolving into analog tape hum and out-of-tune guitar arpeggios. Scott Mendelson remarked in his review on The Outside Scoop that the film's refusal to offer easy emotional release extends straight into the credits roll. As the text ascends the screen, the song's vocals are gradually filtered until they sound like they are broadcasting from the bottom of an abandoned well. Theater lights turn on, but the feeling of safety never returns.
