Incase you weren't already voting away, the nominees for the 2026 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards have been announced, celebrating the best of the best in horror. As any horror fan worth their chops knows, a movie lives or dies by the strength of its score, with the horror genre birthing some of the most iconic musical moments in all of cinema history, hence, our category for Best Score.
Last year's award in this category went to Ludwig Göransson's sweaty, southern soundtrack for Sinners, a tough act to follow. But who will take home the crown this year? Before you vote, check out all the nominees (and maybe give them a listen as you do so) for Best Score here.
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Gavin Brivik, Faces of Death
Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei's Faces of Death took a notorious cult title and span it into something far more sinister for the modern social media age. Gavin Brivik's score, one of the most idiosyncratic on this list of nominees, paid homage to the video nasty vibes of the original by incorporating VHS foley sounds into the mix, as well as inspiration from hyperpop musicians like the late SOPHIE and Charli xcx, who herself has a cameo in the film.
Alexandre Desplat, Frankenstein
The Gothic grandeur of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein provides a feast for all the senses, and the score is no different. From Academy Award winning composer Alexandre Desplat, the Frankenstein OST fused modern and classical elements, as well as influences from French and Mexican music, to create a sweeping, majestic musical moment that perfectly captures the emotional beats of the tale and the evolution of the characters, especially Jacob Elordi's Creature.
Hildur Guðnadóttir, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
While 28 Years Later paid homage to director Danny Boyle's punk roots with a spiky soundtrack from Young Fathers, Nia DaCosta's The Bone Temple took a more classic angle with a sweeping score from prolific Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. Grand orchestral musical moments were used to perfect effect when capturing the spiritual heart of the titular centerpiece, while the brutal scenes centering on the murderous Jimmy gang feature a more raw, aggressive sound, the perfect background for flaying.
Daniel Hart, Mother Mary
As Smile 2 proved, if you're making a genre movie about a troubled pop star, you better make sure the soundtrack is on point. Thankfully, Daniel Hart's score for David Lowery's psychological thriller Mother Mary is fit for any diva. With vocal tracks sang by star Anne Hathaway inspired by Madonna, Lady Gaga and St Vincent, and tunes written by pop juggernauts Jack Antonoff, Charli xcx, and FKA Twigs, Hart's Mother Mary OST is as trendy as it is often terrifying.
Kane Parsons, Edo Van Breemen, Backrooms
Cinematic wunderkind Kane Parsons is not only a director, writer and VFX artist, he's also a composer, crafting the score for his liminal horror hit Backrooms alongside Canadian musician Edo Van Breeman. Citing British sci-fi series Utopia and electronic artists like Aphex Twin as inspiration, Backrooms‘ soundtrack is minimal but hugely effective, providing the perfect ambient backdrop to the eeriness that unfolds onscreen. In tracking with Backrooms‘ creepy pasta roots, the soundtrack also features a previously lost pop song called ‘Ulterior Motives' by Christopher and Philip Booth, which was the subject of many a forum post.
