Danny Elfman Reveals the Film That Terrified Him as a Kid…And It’s Not What You’d Expect [Exclusive]
Composer Danny Elfman has created some of the most iconic scores in film history. The ghoulish melody of Beetlejuice, the Gothic romanticism of Nightbreed, and notes from A Nightmare Before Christmas play endlessly in my mind every winter. And who could forget Batman? The man’s influence on movie music cannot be overstated.
That goes for chilling filmgoers with the ominous notes of the many horror films he has worked on. Aside from the above, that includes genre outings such as The Frighteners, Sleepy Hollow, and Red Dragon, to name a few.
Like you and I, Elfman also grew up with movies that terrified him…including one that may surprise you.
Danny Elfman recently sat down with Anastasia Elfman for Dread Central, where they discussed his various influences. During the conversation, the legendary composer revealed what scared him as a kid. “I also had very specific fears: amputations, broken dolls. The ad for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? terrified me — just that cracked doll head. I’d flip two pages at once in Famous Monsters to avoid seeing something too scary. My brother figured out what I couldn’t look at.”
Added Elfman, “Once he cut out a photo of a severed head from a magazine and taped it to the wall next to where I was talking on the phone. I turned and saw it and freaked out. He was laughing from the other room. But I remember thinking, “I’m going to beat this.”
And beat those fears, he did. “I took the picture, taped it to my own wall facing my bed, and forced myself to look at it every night. Eventually, the fear drained out — like pulling the juju from it. That was a defining moment. I learned I could face a fear until it had no power over me.“
Well done, Danny. I think I may go tape a photo of lawn gnomes to the wall across from my bed. What? They’re creepy!
What makes this revelation so surprising (and inspiring) is when you look back at Elfman’s work. Not only did he make a career out of composing for various horror films, but a few even deal with amputation in some way, such as the Sally character from A Nightmare Before Christmas.
For those unaware, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? follows icons Bette Davis (Jane) and Joan Crawford (Blanche) as two former actresses living in their decaying mansion and hoping for another chance at stardom. What results is psychological horror at its finest.
Read our full interview with Danny Elfman. And if you’re curious, you can currently stream What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? for free on Tubi.
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