Coinciding with the film’s French premiere, ScreamWorks Records/Kronos Records releases the score for Aux Yeux des Vivants (Among the Living) by French composer Raphaël Gesqua. Written and directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the film follows the adventures of three kids (Victor, Tom and Dan) who decide to skip the last day of the school year. When they stumble upon an abandoned studio, the kids witness a far more serious crime as a masked man is dragging the body of a young woman from his car and into the building. Thinking that the punishment they receive is bad enough, Victor, Tom and Dan are completely unprepared for the horrors that await them when the masked man tracks them down to do away with the uncomfortable witnesses...

Raphaël Gesqua's score for Aux Yeux des Vivants (Among the Living) contains 33 tracks (1 hr, 15 min, 04 sec). At times, Gesqua appeared to be channeling the spirit of Jerry Goldsmith.

'Among the Living', which is a wonderful, eerie main theme, reminded me of Goldsmith's work on The Twilight Zone Movie (in particular the Nightmare at 20,000 Feet segment), whilst 'Shooter's Lair / Escape' brought to mind 'The Gift' from Goldsmith's score for Gremlins (right down to the spooky animal howling in the background).

Whilst there are quite a few background atmospheric tracks, the majority of the album contains interesting themes. Personal favourites include the two previously mentioned tracks, as well as 'Time To Go'; 'Miss You Guys'; and 'Among The Living: End Credits (Full Version)'.

On balance this is an impressively beautiful score that is well work checking out.

8

Darren Rea