Mystique played a very important role over the course of the 20-year X-Men film franchise. She was played by Rebecca Romijn in the initial X-Men Trilogy, and the character was portrayed as a sneaky femme fatale, assassin type. Michael Kamen’s musical cues for Mystique in the first movie were very much like a sonic representation of her shapeshifting powers. It had cello and string instruments all distorted with audio effects. It created a very freaky, slimy and lizard-like image in the mind. Which was definitely the intent behind Mystique in the first film.

In ‘X2’ (2003), John Ottman gave Mystique a more playful, sexier theme to go along with the characters use of seduction and infiltration in that movie. The theme uses harp, woodwind, cello and female vocalisation; particularly through breathing. The theme fits very well for this portrayal of Mystique.

In ‘First Class’ (2011), Henry Jackman wrote a much more somber and longing theme for Raven. Her depiction in this film was made to highlight the relatable and everyday struggle a mutant might face: deep insecurity and desire to belong. This theme is brought back and reworked by John Ottman in ‘Days of Future Past’ (2014) for the track ‘I Have Faith In You’.

Ultimately, Ottman creates a new theme for Mystique in Days of Future Past, only barely referencing his X2 Mystique theme, which I hear vaguely in ‘Xavier’s Plan’. There is also potential hints to Kamen’s Mystique theme in the track ‘Saigon’, with intense distortion effects used during her fight scenes; the first glimpses of Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique becoming Rebecca Romijn’s. The main motif of the theme however is a descending 5-note tune. Often played on what sounds like high-pitched manipulated electric guitar plucks / synths. Almost like wind chimes. Heard very clearly in ‘How Was She’. This sound is brought back in the track ‘Jet Memories’ for ‘Apocalypse’ (2016). He adapts the main motif in many different ways throughout the film. Mystique’s DOFP theme makes a return at least once in Apocalypse, during the track ‘Great Hero’.


The tracks used in this suite are:

The Little Mutant - Henry Jackman
Sneaky Mystique - John Ottman
Helicopter Hijack - Michael Kamen
Saigon / Logan Arrives- John Ottman
Would You Date Me? - Henry Jackman
Xavier’s Plan - John Ottman
Pentagon Plan / Sneaky Mystique - John Ottman
You Abandoned Us All! / Yes, She Does - John Ottman
How Was She? - John Ottman
Letting Raven In - John Ottman
The True Raven - Henry Jackman
I Have Faith in You / Goodbyes - John Ottman

The images are from ‘X-Men’, ‘X2’, ‘X-Men: First Class’, ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ and belong to 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Corporation.

| Albums |
X-Men - Michael Kamen - https://www.amazon.com/X-Men-Original...
X2 - John Ottman -   / x-men-2-soundtrack-from-the-motion-picture  
X-Men: First Class - Henry Jackman -   / x-men-first-class-original-motion-picture-...  
X-Men: Days of Future Past - John Ottman -   / x-men-days-of-future-past-rogue-cut-origin...