missingchicagomarshall

Captive (1986)

soundtrack comment

This film is a moderately chilling suspense film. It is also an apt illustration of the psychology behind kidnapping and yet the thing that sticks out for me still to this day is the haunting soundtrack.This was provided by U2's Dave Evans ( The Edge) and a brief appearance on one track by yet unknown in the states Sinead O'Conner. Very nice work by Evans at complimenting the various mood swings of a psychological thriller.The filmmaker takes time to carefully light this film and the music follows as a synchronized back-drop. In true minimalist fashion Evans accompanies moments of poignancy with stripped, warm guitar tones and builds tension with true late 80's keyboard and tribal drum infusion.U2 was still freshly blazing their trail across the American consciousness and this side-bar by the Edge was intriguingly welcomed by close fans. Much like Tangerine Dream's colorful sound-scape for Risky Business and the Chicago Loop's El trains, this soundtrack seems in touch with the over-all mood of the piece and not to personally connected to character. This is as it should be. The movie musical may devote a theme song to every character but the score, the sonic back-drop, should simply over- and under-shadow the flow of moments. The musician who scores a film has this concern, even to the point of deciding when not to include music at all. This soundtrack is available and worth revisiting.