Intriguing Soundscapes of "Wake Up Dead Man": An Insight into Nathan Johnson's Scoring Process

Renowned writer and director, Rian Johnson, gave his composer cousin, Nathan Johnson, a daunting brief for scoring the new murder mystery flick, "Wake Up Dead Man" - make it gothic, darker and reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's works. With an ensemble of diverse characters filled with suspicion and intrigue, the film sees the return of Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, tasked with solving the mystery of Monsignor Wicks' murder, played by Josh Brolin.

Scheduled for a limited theatrical run from November 26, before being released on Netflix on December 12, the film's soundtrack, scored by Nathan Johnson, will also be released on the same day.

Diverging from his approach in previous films, Johnson treated "Wake Up Dead Man's" score as a unique project, infusing it with sense of creeping dread. This was reflectively audibly with the use of the string section, creating a disconcerting sound comparable to that of nails on a chalkboard.

Instead of giving individual characters distinct motifs, Johnson chose to employ conceptual motifs. He likened the tonal transition of the score to the allegorical apple in the Eden narrative, being traced throughout the movie.

Highlights of the score include "The Confession (Violin Concerto in G Minor)", composed to present a delicate, singular voice capable of conveying dramatic, quiet, and persuasive elements. Inspired by the character of Captain Ahab from Moby Dick, Johnson used the sounds of a half-broken harmonium slowed down to create a menacing undertone for Brolin's character, Monsignor Wicks.

Recording took place at the legendary Abbey Road studios in London, but not before Johnson created textural recordings with a quartet in an old stone cathedral, using the unique acoustics of six bass clarinets. Such attentiveness to detail is what gives "Wake Up Dead Man" its haunting and atmospheric score, accurately reflecting the dread-filled journey of the film's narrative.