Soundtrack Review: ‘Apocalypto’

By Jeff Swindoll Dec 16, 2006, 13:37 GMT

Apocalypto is in theaters now

Mel Gibson’s epic story about the downfall of the Maya civilization gets the epic score treatment from James Horner.  Horner is probably best known, in my memory, for another epic score – Titanic.  By that I mean the music not the Celine Dion song that got played to death on the radio (in fact, I only listen to the score on my PC where I can program it to skip those tracks, especially the one with dialogue from the film in it).

Horner provides 14 tracks for the film.  He uses a variety of what sounds like native instruments, woodwinds, and voices.  The film definitely has the feel of steamy South American jungles to it.  The film has been receiving some unwanted publicity with Mel’s recent rant, but has also gotten publicity for its violence.

I found the score to be very well done and some of it is strangely relaxing (until some large kettle drums bang and shock you back into reality).  The vocals have an otherworldly, haunting feel to them and you feel as if you were truly hearing the cries of a lost civilization from ages past. 

Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan provides those vocals.  A very haunting score for what sounds like to be an interesting epic film. 

‘Apocalypto’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the soundtrack database for more information.