Can't take the jarring score

I think what may be more interesting is that it came from John Williams, who soon after this would be made a household name for Jaws and then Star Wars. He's never scored a film in this manner since.

I like the score, personally. It's a bit "theatrical," as you mention, but I sometimes like scores that are like extensions of the personalities of the damaged characters in films like this one.

I had very similar feelings when I watched De Palma's "Sisters". I couldn't even focus on the film because I thought the score was so terribly awful. However I thought John Williams did a great job with Images' soundtrack.

These types of cacophonous scores, to me, are representing the character's state of mind, and obviously our protagonist in this film, Catherine, is very messed up psychologically, so naturally the music is conveying that.

There's a scene in PTA's "There Will Be Blood" when an oil rig finally blows. Day-Lewis' character rushes out to this slow progression of various instruments coming in at different times, and rather off-beat a little. (The song in question is Convergence by Jonny Greenwood) But I think something like that being used in a scene, filled with so much emotion going through the character that one can't begin to organize one's thoughts let alone next move, work because why are we as an audience suppose to be able to make sense of everything when the character we're following can't?

I think it works very well, but again, "Sisters" score was a huge strikeout with me and one could probably make the same argument I just made so, personal taste also comes into it and to each his own.

It's on of JW best because how un-JW it is, thanks to Spielberg.