Lost Souls

Lost Souls is a supernatural thriller focusing on the coming of the Anti-Christ to earth, in the form of a man. While it didn't have the best storyline or acting, the film was cinematographer Janusz Kaminski's directorial debut, and it was extremely well shot. With a bleach-bypass process and a slight sepia hue to the film, it was certainly stylistic. Helping add to the mood and experience of the film is the haunting score by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek.

The soundtrack begins with the main theme from the film, "Lost Souls". A solo oboe and piano with a backing orchestra and choir play out the theme, which is very lyrical and perfect for the dark forces that linger in the film. Beyond the main theme, much of the score is dark and moody, filled with atmosphere and the occasional synth enhancements. "Exorcismus" is a long cue that takes advantage of the orchestra and a female soloist to create a very Goldenthal-esque movement that is filled with drama and suspense.

"Maya's Lullaby" is a soft piano solo that represents the distraught emotional state that Maya (Winona Ryder) exists in, having both been possessed in the past, and having a rather checkered background. This theme meets a darker rendition in "Violent Variation On Maya's Theme". As with that cue, sometimes the track titles are rather descriptive: "Peter Is Alone And Afraid" is a cue that, well, quietly represents Peter's (Ben Chaplin) isolation and fear. The revelation cue, "You Are That Man, Peter" takes the main theme heard previously and uses it to full effect creating a rather dramatic and emotional moment in the film.

"The Last Exorcism" begins the third act of the film, and it's filled with the same dark musical base found in "Exorcismus", but instead of a soloist, it's a full choir and it's very dark. I'm not sure what they're chanting, but it's really effective in setting the mood. "Satan's Church" is a choral piece that just exudes evil. This is definitely a track to play during Halloween.

There are a couple of distinct themes and motifs that recur in this score, and the mood is just perfect for the storyline. If you are a fan of Howard Shore or Elliot Goldenthal, but want to have more exposure to different composer that you are not familiar with, I would strongly suggest giving Lost Souls a listen. The style might seem familiar, but its freshness and emotion are worth taking note of. With a running time over just over 70-minutes, the album was released on Varese Sarabande Records and is a strongly recommended horror score.