Kings (Original Motion Picture)

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have long proven themselves masters of crafting atmosphere, and their work on Kings, the 2018 crime drama directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven (Mustang), is no exception.

By now, Cave and Ellis are a formidable presence in the world of film scores, with acclaimed projects like Hell or High Water, Wind River, and Mars under their belts. On Kings, they draw deeply from that well of experience, delivering a score that’s both surprising and immersive.

The music conjures the tension and heat of Los Angeles in the summer of 1992 — a city on the edge, simmering with anger and unrest. Subtle yet powerful, Cave and Ellis’ compositions place the listener right there on those charged streets, adding emotional depth to Ergüven’s vision.