Interview: ‘Bride Hard’ Composer Ryan Shore Lets The Music Play It Straight

It is rare that we get a theatrical studio comedy these days, so the arrival of Rebel Wilson vehicle Bride Hard in theaters nationwide is notable for more reasons than one. Beyond the film’s refreshing place in the theatrical landscape, it also features an incredibly playful and dynamic score from acclaimed composer Ryan Shore, whose experience scoring Netflix rom-com Love in the Villa (2022) made him the perfect fit for Bride Hard, which also stars Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

“I often approach comedy by letting the music play it straight. The score treats suspense as suspense, action as action, and drama as drama—which creates a contrast that lets the humor shine more naturally,” says Shore. “It’s a technique I first learned from the late, great Elmer Bernstein, especially in the way he scored films like Airplane! with complete sincerity.”

Shore was fortunate enough to befriend Bernstein, one of his greatest artistic inspirations, at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2001, where the legendary composer presented Shore with his namesake award.

“We had some wonderful conversations about his approach to film scoring, and I often think back to those moments when I’m scoring a new film.”

Indeed, inspiration was essential to a film like Bride Hard, which – as its title suggests – riffs on a number of action classics. Shore referred to several action/spy thrillers in preparing for his work on Bride Hard, but ultimately drew from his own experiences scoring similar films in the genre. That kind of self-reflection and experimentation allowed Shore to compose perhaps the film’s most essential track: an energetic and guitar-heavy theme for Rebel Wilson’s spy-hero Sam.

“I created a bold, modern action sound built around electric guitars, synths, keyboards, bass, and driving percussion,” says Shore. “As the action unfolds, the theme develops in intensity, following her movement and anchoring the audience to her perspective.”

The goal was to make something that “mirrors her fierce, unconventional presence in the film,” and Shore did exactly that. His score elevates a film that is surprisingly deft in its movement between hilarity and heart. By the time Sam reconciles with her close friend and bride-to-be Betsy (Anna Camp) in the film’s finale, Shore’s expressive compositions are there to lend the moment an appropriate degree of levity.

“The music helps to bring a sense of closure and emotional resolution to their journey,” says Shore.

Check out our full conversation with Bride Hard composer Ryan Shore below. We break down a hidden Easter egg that he managed to tuck into the film’s score, and even learn a bit more about his work on the documentary Veselka about the iconic NYC diner, streaming now on Amazon Prime (reviewed here by Joey).

What were some of the unique considerations that went into composing for an action-comedy like Bride Hard?

The film weaves together multiple storylines, so one of my primary goals with the score was to help clarify and support those narrative threads. I wanted the music to help the audience track the shifts in tone and perspective, while also heightening the energy and emotional stakes throughout.

Can you talk about any specific themes or cues that you crafted for Rebel Wilson’s spy-hero character?

For Rebel Wilson’s dynamic spy-hero, I created a bold, modern action sound built around electric guitars, synths, keyboards, bass, and driving percussion. This gave her a distinct, high-energy musical identity that mirrors her fierce, unconventional presence in the film. Her theme is first introduced in the opening sequence, where we intercut between the bachelorette party and her undercover spy mission. As the action unfolds, the theme develops in intensity, following her movement and anchoring the audience to her perspective. Throughout the film, this sonic palette recurs whenever Rebel’s character takes on the mercenaries to save the wedding. Eventually, I expand her theme to underscore scenes where the wedding guests rise up as well—transforming it into a broader “hero” motif representing the collective fight of the good guys.

How did Stephen Dorff’s mercenary role influence his musical theme?

In contrast to Rebel’s character, Stephen Dorff’s mercenary is underscored with a darker, all-synth approach. His theme has a gritty, relentless quality that reflects his mission-driven focus and the intensity he brings to the story.

There are some emotional and heartfelt moments in the film as well. How does your musical approach shift in those scenes?

To underscore the emotional core—particularly the evolving friendship between Rebel Wilson’s and Anna Camp’s characters—I turned to a more intimate and reflective musical palette. I used piano, textured guitars, and warm, string-like synths to create a sense of vulnerability and emotional depth beneath the film’s high-energy exterior. This theme is first introduced when Anna’s character dismisses Rebel as her maid of honor—a quiet, poignant moment that needed a gentle touch. It returns during a heartbreaking scene when Rebel tries to talk Anna out of the wedding, and Anna, with deep emotion, asks her to walk away. Later, the theme evolves into a more triumphant arrangement at the end of the film, after the mercenaries have been defeated. As Rebel and Anna reunite and celebrate the wedding at the train depot—culminating in Rebel catching the bouquet—the music helps to bring a sense of closure and emotional resolution to their journey.

How can a musical cue elevate a joke in a comedy like Bride Hard?

I often approach comedy by letting the music play it straight. The score treats suspense as suspense, action as action, and drama as drama—which creates a contrast that lets the humor shine more naturally. It’s a technique I first learned from the late, great Elmer Bernstein, especially in the way he scored films like Airplane! with complete sincerity. Early in my career, Elmer presented me with the Elmer Bernstein Scoring Award at the Woodstock Film Festival, and we became friends afterwards. We had some wonderful conversations about his approach to film scoring, and I often think back to those moments when I’m scoring a new film.

Are there any Easter eggs or hidden musical details in the score?

Yes! I had fun arranging a cheeky version of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to play just as Rebel and Anna’s characters defeat Stephen Dorff’s villain. I intentionally made it sound like it was coming from a cheap, tinny speaker—as if to say, after all the chaos and build-up toward the perfect wedding, what we get in the end is this ironic little musical whimper.

How does this project differ from your work on rom-coms like Love in the Villa or documentaries like Veselka?

Bride Hard is a totally different musical world from Love in the Villa, which had a warm, romantic tone and was set in Italy. Veselka took a completely different direction—drawing on Ukrainian folk influences and jazz, featuring beautiful saxophone solos by the late, great David Sanborn. Each of these scores has strong thematic material, however they’re stylistically worlds apart—which is something I love about film scoring. Every project brings a unique set of challenges and inspirations.

With a title that riffs on an action classic, did you find inspiration in any existing film scores?

At the beginning, I revisited a number of action, spy, and comedy scores just to immerse myself in the genre—however ultimately, I didn’t draw from any specific one. I relied more on my past experience scoring in these styles and then had a great time developing something that feels fresh and uniquely tailored to Bride Hard. I hope audiences have as much fun watching the film as I had scoring it!