Daily Debate: Which Track From the Zelda Series Would Make the Best Horror Movie Theme?
Posted on October 25 2023 by Alexis S. Anderson
The Zelda series is no stranger to spooky and borderline disturbing moments, many of which are accompanied by equally as hair-raising music. Picking which creepy tune would make the best horror movie theme is no easy task, but after careful consideration it turns out a lesser known track from the series was the perfect fit.
The best song is going to depend on which style of horror movie it’s being matched to, as there are many out there to consider, each with unique theme song attributes. There are apocalypse movies, slashers, elevated/pensive thrillers, monster or vampire flicks, paranormal horror, and so on. My personal favorite is the 80s slasher, so I was focused on finding a song with a chilling but catchy synthesized hook (think: the Halloween theme song) rather than a more atmospheric theme. That said, I came across some great candidates that didn’t nail it for me personally, but could certainly work in the right kind of horror movie:
Great for a Monster/Vampire/Occult Flick:
- Kotake & Koume’s Theme – Ocarina of Time
- Potion Shop – Ocarina of Time
- Hyrule Castle – The Wind Waker
- Sanctuary – A Link to the Past
- Village of the Blue Maiden (Before Defeating Shadow Link) – Four Swords Adventures
- Dungeon Theme – The Legend of Zelda
- (or better yet, the Royal Crypt rendition from The Minish Cap)
Great for a Paranormal/Alien Flick:
- House of Skulltula – Ocarina of Time
- Gloom Hands Theme – Tears of the Kingdom
- Majora’s Incarnate Battle – Majora’s Mask
- Farore’s Silent Realm – Skyward Sword
Great for a Pensive Thriller:
- Theme from Link’s Nightmare – Twilight Princess
- Deku Tree – Ocarina of Time
- Last Day – Majora’s Mask
- Descending Into Gloom’s Lair – Tears of the Kingdom
Great for a Horror Movie Score, Rather Than Theme:
- Sacred Grove – Twilight Princess
- Ganon’s Castle Underground – Ocarina of Time
- Ganon’s Theme – Ocarina of Time
- Shadow Temple – Ocarina of Time
- Ikana Valley – Majora’s Mask
As for the ones that scratched my itch for a tune that John Carpenter would be proud of, I ended up with the following shortlist:
- Cave Theme – A Link to the Past
- Rosa Sisters – Majora’s Mask
- Elegy of Emptiness – Majora’s Mask
- Keaton’s Quiz Theme – Majora’s Mask
- Ghost Attack – Majora’s Mask
For me, it all came down to the Rosa Sisters, Ghost Attack, and the Keaton’s Quiz. Ghost Attack sits at third for me, because while it has a killer beat that reminds me of the Halloween theme song, it also has more of a paranormal Stephen King movie feel. As for the Rosa Sisters, their song was one of the first that came to mind because it is burned into my brain as one of the most off-putting, out-of-place songs in Zelda history. The Keaton’s Quiz Theme, on the other hand, I don’t think I had heard since I played Majora’s Mask years ago but I knew it would be a front runner the second I re-listened to it.
Both of these tracks have the same spine-chilling, shrill synth sound that shoots straight through your nervous system. The Rosa Sisters has a somewhat wavy, almost hypnotic flow to it which reduces its spooky impact somewhat. And that’s all it took for the Keaton’s Quiz theme to take the top spot– it features a jarring start-and-stop pacing and a dissonant harmony that would put it right at home on any “Iconic Horror Movie Themes” playlist.
I tried to think of songs without looking at any “creepiest Zelda song” lists out there, so I’m sure there are some real gems I missed.
That said, which Zelda track would be the best theme for your ideal horror movie? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Alexis S. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon who joined the writing team in November, 2014. She has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is pursuing a career in Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. She grew up in the New Jersey suburbs with her parents, twin brother, and family shih-tzu.
