Casper

James Horner's score for Casper is a shimmering example of how 1990s family cinema often carried a surprisingly sophisticated emotional weight. While the film was marketed as a supernatural comedy, Horner approached the material with his signature brand of sweeping romanticism and delicate melancholy. The music feels like wandering through a grand, dusty mansion at midnight: there is a sense of mystery and slight unease, but it is quickly overtaken by a profound, melodic warmth that speaks to the loneliness of the central character. It is a score that prioritizes the heart over the jump-scare.

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