Werwulf Score & Ethel Cain on Sacred Bones Vinyl
When a director like Robert Eggers steps into the cinematic wilderness, audiences expect something monumental. But what often elevates his vision from intense to utterly unforgettable is his knack for assembling a truly unique team, and the upcoming film Werwulf is proving to be a masterclass in collaborative, otherworldly sound design.
The soundtrack for this intensely anticipated film is already generating buzz, thanks to the involvement of acclaimed composer Robin Carolan, known for crafting the haunting scores for films like The Northman and Nosferatu/>. Carolan doesn’t just score; he immerses, plunging the viewer directly into the brutal, superstitious world of medieval England.
Adding an extra layer of hypnotic, earthy beauty is the inclusion of the original track “Wynter Waxeth” by Ethel Cain. This song, performed in Middle English, merges with Carolan’s epic score to create a soundscape that is simultaneously gritty, folk-infused, and deeply haunted.
The musical approach is far from conventional. Carolan reimagines archaic sounds, transforming everyday farming implements—axes, cleavers, and scythes—played against wood and bone to conjure uncanny percussive rhythms. Bells and clay jugs are used to generate strange drones, effectively evoking the agricultural rhythms of the time while hinting at the unseen forces shaping medieval belief.
The sonic texture is further complicated by experimental methods. Carolan explored string arrangements in a session titled the ‘Ghost Meditations,’ electronically manipulating recordings until they achieved a spectral, unsettling quality. This experimentation drew inspiration from other avant-garde artists and instrument makers, including Fron Reilly and Bart Hopkin, who helped reimagine period sounds.
The ensemble behind the score is a delightful mix of traditional and experimental talent. Collaborators like violinist Daniel Pioro, music historian Laura Cannell, folk musician Jack Bevan, and vocalist Antonina Nowacka bring a rich tapestry of medieval and ambient tones to the project. The influence stems from a deep dive into art, literature, and the physical spaces of medieval England, drawing from sources like The Drolatic Dreams of Pantagruel and the atmosphere of medieval churches.
Ultimately, the music serves as an exercise in world building, capturing not just the environment but the complex psychology of a society governed by faith and the unknown. The score is designed to unnerve and disorient, reflecting what many consider one of Eggers’ most emotionally devastating works.
Werwulf is set to hit theaters on December 25. For those eager to experience the full auditory vision, the Werwulf (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) will be released on vinyl on January 29, 2027, making the unique sounds of this epic journey available for physical collection.
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