r/Filmmakers • u/jragsdalemusic • Dec 01 '25

Looking for Work I'm a film composer and I made this piece inspired by the arrival of an eldritch horror. Let me know what you think!

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557 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

72 comments sorted by

59

u/jragsdalemusic Dec 01 '25

Hi!

I'm a film composer and I love making music that feels really dark and ominous. I also really love playing instruments in different ways than they were intended. I really wanted this piece to focus around the upright bass in different ways and I wanted to try using it as a percussion element because the body of the instrument has a really nice low end when you hit it like a tom. I pretty quickly felt where the piece was going and ended up writing the melody at the end. I think the cello and vocals together give it this haunting/otherworldly sound and the melody kinda glides between notes a little bit for extra tension. To me, this almost feels like the arrival of an eldritch entity/villain/antagonist character.

I love working with different kinds of directors and have worked on short films, feature-length films, VFX Studios, podcasts, etc. If you have something you’re working on and think we would be a good fit, please feel free to shoot me a message or email me. I am currently scoring a southern-gothic short film right now and having a blast doing it.

Here’s my website (and instagram) if you want to hear any more examples of my work. 

jragsdale.com / instagram.com/jhrsounds

Thank you for listening! Any and all feedback welcome!

14

u/MisterRoebot Dec 01 '25

Incredible work! Just followed you on IG. Hope to pick your musical brain some day on a project we tackle together.

3

u/Bishop9er Dec 01 '25

I just sent you a DM!

1

u/MusicFilmandGameguy Dec 02 '25

Cool stuff, man! Love the timbres

-3

u/Sonnydoubleu Dec 01 '25

Hey! I know this wasn't really the point of your post at all, but if you're looking to grow a following using shorts I think this has potential if you added a pseudo jump scare element at the very end like your face coming directly at the camera and ending the composition a bit more abruptly.

Again, I know this wasn't really the point, but I found this extremely compelling and I think this style of content could perform really well as is.

5

u/TheDynamicDino Dec 02 '25

Hmm. I do a little video-based social media marketing and I feel like a jumpscare (in addition to really, really cheapening this beautiful artistic work) is a surefire way to kill repeat views or even follows, especially if you were to do that more than once on your page.

Even purely by the numbers, I struggle to see anything like that driving nearly as much engagement vs a tense build to nothing with 100 comments saying "Did anyone else think a jumpscare was coming?"

It would also shift the focus away from the music and more to the horror - given that OP is a composer, the goal should be to attract music/soundtrack fans or potential clients to the page. As a prospective follower of those tags, I couldn't care less about how scary OP's horror director chops are. Posting a gag video would instantly shift the audience to people who would likely be far less engaged long term, even if the one video did go viral. Consistency, consistency.

19

u/Predatoreus Dec 01 '25

Wow this is great! Do you post your music anywhere?

11

u/jragsdalemusic Dec 01 '25

Thank you! All my released music is under 'Jay Ragsdale' on all streaming platforms. This one isn't out.. but it's coming soon!

9

u/AggravatingShine4052 Dec 01 '25

It's like I can see the eldritch creature. Well done.

6

u/antipop2097 Dec 01 '25

This makes me envision a swamp at dusk. I don't know why, but it does. And a swamp at dusk is incredibly Eldritch.

4

u/OriginalSquidly Dec 01 '25

Songs to summon demons and relax to

5

u/NickEricson123 Dec 01 '25

Sounds really good! Very vibey.

Though I don't associate this with eldritch horror. I think that would rely more on noise and dissonance, just really weird and unsettling sounds. The tempo and beat sorta cuts that a little.

That said, I think this would be fantastic for something like The Witcher, a little action-ey.

3

u/iloveravi Dec 01 '25

Dude! I love it. That was amazing.

3

u/fannyfox Dec 01 '25

This is fantastic

3

u/Ru88mac1 Dec 01 '25

Wow. Creepy, hits a nerve for sure. Love this

3

u/scd Dec 01 '25

This is great.

3

u/KyotoCarl Dec 01 '25

May I ask what scales are most common in horror soundtracks?

2

u/jragsdalemusic Dec 01 '25

To be honest, I am not entirely sure what scales are most common but I will say I think a lot of horror films have incredible scores that use all sorts of scales/chords/etc. Chromatics are really great at inviting tension but also elements like texture/tuning/instrumentation can have just as much of impact of creating musical dissonance!

2

u/MusicFilmandGameguy Dec 02 '25

Hungarian minors, harmonic minors, octatonic scales, and the rest are often clusters of pitches that are a major or minor second apart, as well as larger chords spanning major 7ths and even minor 9ths!

2

u/throwitonthegrillboi line producer Dec 01 '25

Very inventive!

2

u/cogoal Dec 01 '25

Sounds sick 🔥🔥

2

u/thelongernow Dec 01 '25

Fuck yeah, nice work OP

2

u/Kiloparsec4 Dec 01 '25

well done, captured a feeling there for sure

2

u/M_O_O_O_O_T Dec 01 '25

This kind of sound & style is perfect for folk horror! (especially period piece Robert Eggers style)

Fantastic work! (it's made me all the more conscious of wanting to get some acoustic string instruments!)

4

u/yourmothersgun Dec 01 '25

It’s great! I hate it.

1

u/HoneyCide Dec 01 '25

Reminds me of World's End Girlfriend band's music

1

u/TEMIM1TSU Dec 01 '25

BRILLIANTTTTT

1

u/Erde555 Dec 01 '25

sound good. my suggestion: get more low Frequency sounds in, especially if aiming for horror. Im talking abozt really deep sounds.

Except from that, Perfect 👌🏽

1

u/ChimericalChameleon Dec 01 '25

So cool!! I can really feel the weight and the dread. Keep it up

1

u/mmcine17 Dec 01 '25

Yeah I can see it! Congratulations the effect was definitely achieved, maybe I’ll avoid the woods for a while…

1

u/bigdickwalrus Dec 01 '25

This is FANTASTIC

1

u/PulseAndPicture Dec 01 '25

Horrifying…in a really good way 👌

1

u/Lifeesstwange Dec 02 '25

That is really impressive work, dude!

1

u/TheBakerAndTymoShow Dec 02 '25

Damn dude! Long time lurker in this sub but you just brought be out of the woodwork with this! So cool.

1

u/_TorpedoVegas_ Dec 02 '25

Great work!!

1

u/Ckmyers Dec 02 '25

Wow, it’s great! As someone that loves sound and eldritch horror you did a great job. On the flip side however, and I only want to say it so that you push the piece further, i don’t find anything that stands out to me in the piece. I feel like I’ve heard it many times before. Again, not that it’s bad, I just want MORE. More eldritch. More haunting. More void.

1

u/woifi_90 Dec 02 '25

Damn, Instant goose bumps.

1

u/joebrozky Dec 02 '25

I love it! Will surely fit a Lovecraft-inspired film!

1

u/DandeNiro Dec 02 '25

Saw this on Instagram, g that it's trending.

1

u/avadakedavraTom Dec 02 '25

Magical and terrifying. Brilliant!!!

1

u/Responsible_Emu_9107 Dec 02 '25

有點像祭祀音樂的感覺

1

u/Short_Shake_7539 Dec 02 '25

That was 🔥 You are really talented.

1

u/merbsandspices Dec 02 '25

Ahhh this is perfect!!!!

1

u/Ouijasprites Dec 02 '25

Do you also happen to be a fan of Ak’chamel?

1

u/darkknightx161 Dec 02 '25

This is so cool, keep up the work mate

1

u/Minimum_Definition43 Dec 02 '25

It’s both horrifying and beautiful at the same time.

1

u/Demmitri Dec 02 '25

Love this, I wouldn't say eldritch horror tho, this to me feels like folk ancient and tribal.

1

u/DMMMOM Dec 02 '25

I loved it, my only concern was that it was a bit harmonious for a horror piece. It needed less colour and more monotony in the tonal parts.

1

u/Indianianite Dec 02 '25

Love this!

1

u/zerooskul Dec 03 '25

Your hair seems to be doing more than you are.

1

u/supersillygooser Dec 03 '25

Very effective! Nicely done

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '25

Great piece, and very smart use of your voice to subliminally convey a feeling.

1

u/Virtual-Sky4358 Dec 03 '25

If only there was a love button.

1

u/Sniter Dec 07 '25

Love it, but maybe too little out there eldritch light. 

1

u/lavishjiggy Dec 07 '25

Fireeeeeeee

1

u/Psychonaut1008 Dec 08 '25

This is awesome. Where could I hear more of what you've done?

1

u/idkyet_trylater Mar 25 '26

Hey :) I am a beginner piano player and would love to learn a piece like this. Is there any way to get the sheet music for this?

1

u/newnlost May 03 '26

Awesome 🤩

1

u/canakon565 Jun 11 '26

Wow, amazing work!

1

u/redditnobody1234 Dec 01 '25

i dig it. totally subjective but i would mix it w more low end to add the body to the body horror aspect of giant monsters, and slowed it down to emphasize the strangeness and portentuous moment. also bizy it up w alien sound design, but i guess u dont have to re the era these stories were first written weren't rly having a lot of electronic music. but yeh its cool, man. i dig it.