The fact that a horror film is good or bad depends on dozens of factors, and one of the most critical is the music. Some films in the genre went down in history thanks to their impressive soundtrack, and if there is someone who knows a thing or two about it, it is Canadian composer Mark Korven, known for his work on Cube and The Witch. Tired of the same digital samples, Korven commissioned the construction of «El Motor de la Aprensión», a machine that can generate horrible... and at the same time wonderful sounds.
The mention of Psycho immediately brings the violin to mind. Alfred Hitchcock himself said that 33 percent of Psycho's effect was due to its soundtrack, but the most striking part is that at first, the director didn't want music in that famous shower scene. Creating sounds for a horror film is no easy task. The music must be felt on the skin, compress like a spring, and leap at the exact moment. Every noise and effect accompanies the tension, uncertainty, and vulnerability the characters endure. Needless to say, digitalization has allowed experts to save time and money with very robust tools; however, we also find those who prefer a more artisanal approach, if you will. One of those composers is Mark Korven, and his favorite toy is El Motor de la Aprensión.
The Instrument
Strings, rulers, rods, magnets, a wheel... at first glance, El Motor de la Aprensión looks like a weekend improvisation, but that dissolves when Korven begins producing sounds. Ominous. Horrifying. Fabulous. Bored with the available digital samples, Korven got in touch with his friend, guitar maker Tony Duggan-Smith. What he asked for was "something more acoustic and experimental", but at the end of the day it is far from a traditional guitar. Duggan-Smith didn't hesitate to go through closets and tool drawers to get the necessary parts, and the result is a true nightmare generator.
Reception
El Motor de la Aprensión exploded on the Web. Many users want Duggan-Smith to share the plans, while others ask where it can be bought. It's important to note that beyond its construction, an instrument is only as good as the person who plays it, and Korven is no novice, but it's not hard to understand the fascination it generates. How many independent projects could be enhanced with one of these machines...?
(Editor's note: A small detail in the translation. English uses "apprehension" as an equivalent of "fear", while "aprensión" is more in line with "misgiving, rejection, scruple".)
