Good evening, Mr. Hunt. Your mission, should you choose to accept it…
Following Lalo Schifrin’s iconic theme and score to the 1960s TV show, there have been a series of great orchestral scores (and lesser so “inspired by” rock and pop soundtracks) over the years. Almost 2 years ago to the day, I reviewed them all here with photos of the actual CDs. Remember them? They don’t self-destruct if your online subscription has problems.
The composers have been Alan Silvestri (albeit his unused score to the original film), Danny Elfman (M:I) who captured the military drama and tension needed to kick start the franchise, Hans Zimmer (M:I 2) Spanish, romantic, melancholy and dramatic in his normal epic style, Michael Giacchino’s great score to M:I III and Ghost Protocol featured the beautiful theme for Ethan’s wife Julia. In Rogue Nation, Joe Kraemer captured the heart of Nessun Dorma as the leitmotif for MI6 spy Ilsa Faust, inspired by the Vienna opera scene but this was sadly unused for Fallout and Dead Reckoning, expertly composed by Lorne Balfe. The main three-note theme was re-harmonised using heavy brass chords, cleverly taking the first three notes of the descending tune (Eb C G) then skipping to the ascending tune (Eb C B) but without the following groups of three notes.
Shortly after posting the reviews in 2023, my limited edition 2CD of the Dead Reckoning soundtrack arrived safely from La La Land Records in Los Angeles, which is THE place for extended and rare soundtrack releases. The package is impressive with a reversible cover on the booklet and the imposing circular eye of the Entity underneath the CD. More impressive is the sound of the orchestras that recorded it, especially the main London orchestra with its 36 guest bongo players!! including the composer and his family, the director, soundtrack producer and the team of percussionists including friends Rob Farrer and Joby Burgess. Other performers included former Essex Youth Orchestra members. What a small musical world!
The CD booklet and a making-of featurette revealed the many players from around the world who performed on the specific scenes relating directly to the location in which the scenes were set: England (London), Switzerland, Italy, Vienna and Budapest.
It was planned to release the final film then called “Dead Reckoning Part 2” in summer 2024 but this was not to be. It was released in May 2025 and the limited 2000-run 2CD edition arrived this week but did not threaten to self-destruct in 5 seconds…
Without spoiling it for anyone, the new film is a love letter to the entire franchise with references to the previous films (but not their soundtracks). I will let you discover that as it is released on DVD & Blu-Ray (and streaming services) on October 13th 2025. I still recommend seeing these action films on the big screen with decent surround sound and if you like it, 4DX movement and effects!
It was expected for Lorne Balfe to compose the final instalment but that duty fell to Max Aruj (who served as additional composer for Dead Reckoning and technical score assistant on Fallout) along with Alfie Godfrey (another team member from previous projects). However, on closer inspection, there are clear parallels between Aruj and Godfrey’s score and that of their former boss.
Notably missing from the new soundtrack are (according the the CD booklet) any live percussionists (apart from one, Lou Wiss doubling on Balalaika), yet it still packs a percussive punch. They rely heavily on the full main theme with its descending and ascending phrases – this is very rewarding to hear orchestrated variations (and occasional use of Balfe’s 2-chord re-harmonisation) and the development of the tense secondary theme called The Plot, by Lalo Schifrin, originally performed by a mystical alto flute. It’s pleasing to see the same London orchestral players and similar production team on the credits (apart from the aforementioned percussion section). The London Voices under Ben Parry have added another dramatic and ethereal contribute to their lengthy discography, along with featured instrumental soloists: violin, cello, flute, trumpet, French horn and an Inuit throat singer, Tanya Tagaq, providing deep bass notes for more drama.
The 2 hour+ soundtrack also samples Shakra #1, #3 and #5 written and performed by the late Constance Demby. According to her album, Sonic Immersion, she was a Master Music Healer, attuning the Chakras by bowing the harmonics of the metal “Sonic Steel Space Bass. #1 has a fundamental on a very low B, #3 on D and #5 on G. This gives the ominous sonic identity for the Entity. (Now say that two times fast!).
CD1 contains 21 tracks ranging from epic orchestral drama, action and the ominous Entity themes and CD2 follows suit with the 16 remaining tracks in order plus 5 bonus tracks (which also feature on the Amazon Music streamed edition).
This film is a lot darker than previous installments and so the music has to support and convey that. The tribute to Schifrin’s score written in the sleeve notes pays homage to the musical legacy but I have to settle on the scores by Kraemer and Giacchino as my musical favourites for their diverse musical themes and leitmotifs for Ilsa and Julia respectively.
And it all began with the Morse code for M & I – Dash Dash, Dot Dot _ _ . . (and I can hear you singing it in 5/4 in your head!)
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