Hide and Seek is one of those films I would likely have avoided just based on the premise (the imaginary friend of a little girl, traumatised by her mother's suicide, starts doing nasty things), but since it's been generally panned too, it's another crap-fest to strike off my list. My feelings towards films of this nature generally extend to the music and unless you're Bernard Herrmann or latterly, James Newton Howard working with M Night Thingybloke, there is rarely anything in the scoring to get too excited about. Having said that, while John Ottman's score won't leave you wanting to hit repeat, it's certainly a distinct cut above average for the genre.

The album is largely one of two halves; one genuinely haunting and one rather more skittish. Leaving the City is a strong start, introducing the fine main theme which, while not breaking any new ground, is memorable and sadly beautiful. Rather unfortunately, it remains absent for a larger proportion of the score and while this is a disappointment, there is some strong material elsewhere. Can You See Now? is suitably threatening without descending into ugly chaos and there is even a little action in Getting Away. These more tense episodes are well tempered by the gentler material of The Playground and everything seems to be on track for a great score. Unfortunately, the tone seemingly strays from thriller to horror toward the end and the score converts into the kind of sub-Beltrami (with a hint of Elfman) material that leads to the interest flagging somewhat.

Fortunately, Ottman has a coup de grāce for the finale and a resurgence of quality in two vocal versions of the main theme. The first, performed by Deborah Lurie, affirms the melody's considerable quality and fits in well with the general tone of the score. The arrangement for Sharlotte Gibson's performance verges towards the over-produced, but remains surprisingly listenable. Hide and Seek seems to be the kind of flick for which Ottman is better suited (unlike, say, X-Men movies) and there are plenty of fine moments, even if it doesn't quite escape the confines of the current scoring sensibilities for the genre. After such a strong start, the lapse into stock horror in the latter half is a disappointment, but still worth checking out for the more inspired passages and the beautifully chilling main theme.

Rating ~

1. Leaving the City (Main Title) (2:07)
2. Exploring (2:26)
3. What Did You Do? (4:15)
4. Can You See Now? (2:31)
5. Toy Shrine (1:48)
6. The Playground (1:47)
7. Getting Away! (2:46)
8. Doll Head (2:46)
9. Playing with Charlie (3:36)
10. Beyond Therapy (1:46)
11. Snooping (2:08)
12. Kitty Bath (2:03)
13. Marco Polo (2:06)
14. The Cave (2:13)
15. Hide & Seek (Emily's Theme) (4:40)
    Performed by Deborah Lurie
16. Hide & Seek (4:01)
    Performed by Sharlotte Gibson

Total Time ~ 42:59