The Night Owl - Owl Main Theme
Album Introduction #
- The OST for the movie [The Night Owl] is released.
In the season when the days noticeably shorten…
In the year 2023, the movie [The Night Owl], which is a fictionalized account of the mysterious death of Crown Prince Sohyeon, is released.
‘The truth buried in darkness witnessed by the blind’
The fictional element (Ju Maeng Jong) constituting faction goes beyond novelty, possessing a strong metaphor and sophisticated irony, dominating the film through the ‘blind perspective’ of the protagonist Chun Kyung-su (played by Ryu Jun-yeol).
It is an excellent choice and a powerful force that delivers energy to every corner of the story.
The first act of the movie is somewhat lengthy but never boring, and Kyung-su’s overnight struggle, starting with the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon, is filled with well-woven suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Moreover, the tension escalates to the limit because the main character, a witness, is blind, and his choices continue powerfully until just before the ending credits.
Directed by An Tae-jin, a former assistant director of ‘The King’s Men’, [The Night Owl] is his feature-length commercial film debut, yet surprisingly adept. It is also the result of top-notch staff and blue-chip actors coming together around a great script.
Today’s movies usually don’t tolerate a long first act. The senses of audiences, accustomed to ‘speed’, respond to rapid developments and focus on conflicts that arise from the beginning.
For this reason, [The Night Owl] has structural risks but holds the audience’s attention with its unusual settings, directing, stellar acting, and technical perfection.
Among these, the role of music stands out.
Music Director Hwang Sang-jun, who worked on [Don], [Tuk Song], [Human Class], [My Name], [Operation 1,2], [Remember], and others, is building up layers of emotion and feeling to counteract any structural weaknesses.
The [Main Theme] tenderly caresses Kyung-su’s weary hope with dreamlike melodies, varying in intensity.
Thus, as the darkness of fate looms and his hope begins to wane, the audience forms a resistance in line with Kyung-su’s.
After the movie ends, it’s hard to remember the OST. It’s a sign that the music perfectly fulfilled its role.
It blends in and stays hidden.
The OST of [The Night Owl] is like the actors’ breathing, dialogue, and expressions.
Another successful aspect is the ‘audibilization’ of emotions and senses.
The OST’s scores are primarily classical, featuring violin, viola, cello concertos, etc.
The effort to ‘audibilize’ senses is also impressive.
Piano pedal sounds are used like drumbeats, and randomly played drumbeats without beats or emotions tap into our senses.
Sometimes the harmonics of string instruments, combined with double bass and synthesizer, create strange sounds that allow the audience to vicariously experience Kyung-su’s keen insight into non-visual senses. Then, as emotions arise, the strings’ resonance moves the audience back into the story.
The last cut of the movie is Kyung-su’s eyes, staring at us in the dawn’s twilight.
It seems to see through our cowardice of pretending not to see or hear.
A strong message.
The season of long nights has come.
As the long, harsh nights grow darker, Kyung-su’s eyes will become clearer.
Therefore, fittingly, [The Night Owl Epilogue] races forward with clear and thrilling sounds.
Certainly, the hearts of the audience leaving the theater will feel the same.
- Owl Main Theme composed by Hwang Sang-jun, arranged by Minhun Kang
[Credit]
Original Score Composer and Music Director: Hwang Sang-jun (Leadingtone)
Additional Music by Ma Sang-woo, Lee Tae-hyun, Park Eun-ji
Music Preparation: Ryu Ji-yeon
Recorded and Mixed at Infinity Studio, Leadingtone Sound
Recording Engineer: Yoon Sang-cheol, Shin Dae-yong, Kim Yong-sup
Mastered by Park Moon-su
Mastered at UIL STUDIO
Viola Solo: Lee Su-mi
Cello Solo: Park Gun-woo
Strings JAM STRINGS
1st Violin: Bae Shin-hee, Shim Min-jin, Park Dong-seok, Lee Sun-jung, Lee Ju-hye, Kim Ye-rin, Noh Seo-kyun, Lee Hyo, Park Ji-hyun, Kim Young-jung
2nd Violin: Seo Ji-eun, Song Hyun-seung, Kim Moon-young, Lee Seung-hee, Shim Myung-shin, Kim Jung-su, Bae Shin-sook, Lee Hye-sun
Viola: Kim Sung-won, Kim Ji-yu, Kang Yoon-seok, Park Hye-kyung, An Jung-hyun, Noh So-hee, Kim Seo-hee
Cello: Kong Min-sun, Seo Sung-eun, Kim Hong-min, Seo Ji-ho, Park Ju-young