"One Eight Seven" - Criminally Underrated Score by Basil Poledouris!

Alright soundtrack peeps, let's talk about a movie that's probably slipped under a lot of radars: "One Eight Seven." Remember that Samuel L. Jackson teacher thriller from 1997? Yeah, that one. The movie itself is... well, it's a product of its time, let's just say that. Over-the-top for sure, but compelling in a messed-up way. But what absolutely makes this is Basil Poledouris' score. Seriously, it's a hidden gem. Poledouris brings a raw, visceral energy that perfectly captures the film's gritty atmosphere. It's not your typical heroic fanfare; it's dark, brooding, and full of unsettling tension. Think 'RoboCop' but applied to the broken school system. I particularly love (and get creeped out by) the way he uses these almost industrial-sounding percussion elements. There's this sense of impending doom that hangs over everything, mirroring Garfield's (Jackson) paranoia and the volatile atmosphere of the classroom. The scene in the auto shop, when Garfield is confronting Benny, that music just nails the feeling of dread. It's a score that definitely deserves more recognition. I know Poledouris did a ton of stuff, including some absolute classics ('Conan the Barbarian' anyone?), but this one often gets overlooked. If you're a fan of dark, atmospheric scores or just want to hear Poledouris outside his more well known bombastic style, I highly recommend giving "One Eight Seven" a listen. You might be surprised. Anyone else a fan? Or have any other criminally underrated scores to recommend? Always looking for new stuff to check out. Oh, and yeah, the whole movie is kinda dated and melodramatic now but the music still slaps HARD.