Sony Music Masterworks today releases Chris Benstead's original score for Wrath of Man. In director Guy Ritchie’s latest action thriller a mysterious and wild-eyed new cash truck security guard surprises his coworkers during a heist in which he unexpectedly unleashes precision skills. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score...

Sadly, Chris Benstead's music for Wrath of Man is another case of a technically flawless soundtrack that works well in the movie, but which comes up short when listened to in isolation. The tension builds beautifully to heighten the onscreen atmosphere, but sounds a little flat when heard on its own merits.

Discussing the score, Benstead says: "The score for Wrath of Man is centred around the cold and mysterious character ‘H’. Super close-mic’d cellos and double basses were used (and abused) to created awkward and jarring stabs as well as angry and unnervingly dark textures. A stoic main ‘hook' is constantly repeated in different guises to help amplify the sense of impending unease and, ultimately, revenge. Sometimes only percussion was needed to create the brutal and exigent action cues."

If you're a fan of atmospheric, slow building tension, then you'll enjoy this a lot. Personally, I found it too bland to hold my attention.

5

Darren Rea