The Sleepers (1978) article from DVD Monthly September 2003
Released in 1978, The Sleepers is a classic slice of chiller cinema, conjuring images of fog wraithed British hamlets, murders in woodlands and candle light mystery. It tells the story of a “sleeping sickness” spreading the country as The Cult rises in power. When Maude (Charlotte Rampling) finds her sleeping son taken by the mysterious group, she must go undercover and investigate it’s shadowy leader, played with relish by Donald Sutherland.
The Sleepers is also noted for it’s possession of an early work by composer Hattie Cooke, who would prove to be an influential figure in electronic soundtrack circles, often cited as influence on John Carpenter.
A protegee of Delia Derbyshire, Hattie was drawn to the nascent electronic music scene by it’s p endless possibilities. By the 1970s Hattie had become a leading light of the electro / soundtrack world and hobnobbed with the big names, she would treat Edgar Froese’s moggy to catnip and introduced Eno to hummous. Meanwhile, Klaus Morlock had already done important groundwork in the field, working with the weirdo director of ropey horror movies, Angelo Ascerbi. When The Heartwood Institute provided the score for iconic BBC1 kids show The Whispering Knights in 1977, everyone was talking electro. The notion of using so called “real” instruments for TV and music seemed an idea as antiquated as listening to jazz.
By the time The Sleepers went into production in 1978 Hattie was sought out to provide the music. It seemed a logical step for a creepy horror / thriller with ideas both shlocky and grandiose. Charlotte Rampling was cast as the lead, alongside Donald Sutherland, who was convinced to not use his terrible Irish accent. Rounding out the cast with his usual subtlety was a pre Flash Gordon Brian Blessed. Influenced by the glory days of Hammer, but with modern directorial embellishments and snappy location filming, the movie is a tantalising bridge between 1970s and 1980s. When The Sleepers OST was released later in 1978 on Virgin it was a sizeable hit.
In the 1980’s Hattie flirted with working on Doctor Who, but missed out, as her music didnt sound enough like a cat walking up and down a synthesiser. She focused on making more film music, for quality movies like arty thriller The Edges Of The Circle, with Jonathan Pryce and Fiona Fullerton, and some right old rubbish like The Spine People, starring Nigel Havers.
The 1990s saw her branch out; collaborations with The Orb and The Shamen saw her appear on Top Of The Pops and Live And Kicking. She still works actively on soundtracks though, with last years first series of Channel 4 vampire comedy drama Fangs For The Memory, starring Miranda Richardson and Richard Coyle.
Available for the first time on DVD in November of this year, special features include an interview with Sutherland and Rampling on Nationwide, a contemporary Blue Peter outside broadcast on child abduction, and interactive menu’s.
The Sleepers is a resounding soundtrack success, it thrills and soothes in equal measure, it beguiles and betwitches. It undulates and pulsates. It could easily pass muster for a wildlife documentary at times, as well as being downright creepy. When it breaks into rhythm it does so like a National winner.
Paving the way for increased sophistication in the use of electronic music in movies, the soundtrack and DVD showcase a great era for both British horror.
— Hattie Cooke’s new studio album Bliss Land is out now on streaming platforms!
The Sleepers OST is available from Spun Out Of Control here:-
https://spunoutofcontrol.bandcamp.com/album/the-sleepers-2021-re-master
Head to our contents page to find the best psych and soundtrack music on bandcamp!
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