The Hack

The Hack follows Nick Davies, an investigative journalist at The Guardian, as he uncovers evidence of a scandal at renowned paper The News of the World. As he delves deeper into the story, it becomes clear that the scale of the phone hacking was greater than he could ever have anticipated. Nick makes it his mission to reveal the truth, gradually discovering how those responsible were connected to another even more troubling event: an unsolved murder.

The score for The Hack had two stories to tell: Nick Davies’s journalistic investigation, and DCS Dave Cook’s homicide case. There are two distinct styles for the parallel storylines, each focused on expressing the emotional journeys of the central characters. Nick’s journey required something meticulous, professional, and above all driving to underscore his relentless motivation to uncover the truth. Strings and piano pulse with frenetic energy, mirroring the inner workings of Nick’s restless mind. The darkness of the murder investigation needed to be gritty and intense, and we used a recurring motif of a ticking clock to emphasise Dave’s time running out. Growling synthesisers and percussive rhythms build and fade, and the toll the investigation takes on Dave’s relationships sees emotional reflection with a solo cello.