Canter Bridge

You only have to listen through John Williams’ intensely spooky score a few times to realize that it is the emotional potency of film music in the Williams style that makes Tom Cruise and his colleagues on this Spielberg sci-fi flick seem as edgy as they do. The acting without the music would be another matter, good but not great, tense but not heartstopping.

Williams has proven himself over and over again to be the ranking genius of the trade. This relatively unsung soundtrack is simply another feather in his cap.

In signature style, the power of Williams’ music kicks in—ironically—when he has finished a romp through the minefields of spook and then hits you with a lushly harmonic resolution (for example, track four). At moments like this, one is listening to very fine music independently of its connection to the movie.

This being Williams, however, he doesn’t let you revel in that. No sooner are you starting to really enjoy the disinterested beauty of a track than he rips you back into a chase scene that makes you forget what tranquility felt like.

Creepy. Eery. Deeply emotional. Films wouldn’t be films without John Williams. Someone would have to invent him.