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“In his musical score to the film, Javier Navarrete
has accomplished the difficult task of incorporating elements of
fantasy, suspense, and horror. ”
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Magical Mayhem
Review by Cap Stewart
Genre blending can be
a tricky business,
even for the most
skilled filmmakers.
Movies with multiple
personalities don’t
usually receive
universal critical
acclaim. 2006’s
exception to that rule
was PAN'S LABYRINTH, a
story best described
as a gothic fairy
tale.
The narrative centers
on Ofelia, a young
girl struggling to
survive in war-torn
Spain while also
embarking on a quest
into a literal world
of fantasy. Though it
may sound thematically
similar to the Narnia
series, The Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe
this is not.
Appropriate only for
adults, the film
incorporates
fantastical elements
like fauns and
fairies, as well as
much blood,
violence—and even
torture. Truth be
told, even the fantasy
elements of the film
are steeped in
darkness. Both worlds
Ofelia inhabits are
sinister, coming
together in an
effective climax
(though whether the
ending is cathartic or
not will largely
depend on the
emotional state of the
viewer).
In his musical score
to the film, Javier
Navarrete has
accomplished the
difficult task of
incorporating elements
of fantasy, suspense,
and horror. Instead of
throwing everything
into a disjointed,
jumbled mess,
Navarrete has managed
to weave numerous
musical genres into an
enjoyable tapestry.
The first time I
popped this album in
my CD player, it was
snowing outside. The
music perfectly
captured the feel of
the moment, as gently
falling snow blanketed
the world outside.
Hence, I have labeled
this score “snowflake
music.” (Brilliantly
technical, no?)
The foundation of the
score is a simple
lullaby, to which we
are introduced at the
beginning of the
album. In the first
track, “Long, Long
Time Ago” (and in only
three other occasions
on the CD), child
vocalist Lua hums the
theme, her innocent
voice accompanied by
piano, strings, and
ethereal choir. It’s a
surprisingly effective
theme, especially
considering it’s
simple melodic
progression.
Throughout the score,
it is utilized with
varying
orchestrations,
tempos, and
syncopations.
Though the theme
itself hints at
innocence, the context
of the story is
anything but.
Consequently, most of
the music carries
serious—if not
downright dark and
sinister—tones. There
is plenty of brooding
underscore, crescendos
of increasing tension,
and growing suspense.
Only in a couple
instances, though,
does Navarrete delve
into pure
atonality—once each in
“A Book of Blood”
(track 8) and “Pan and
the Full Moon” (track
18). And except for
the occasional beating
of drums and one or
two instances of a use
of a snare, there is
no blatant musical
hint that this story
takes place in the
middle of a war.
Listening to the
album, one might think
it is longer than it
actually is. The
reason for this is the
presence of several
musical pauses—between
tracks, yes, but also
within each track and
even sometimes in the
middle of a cue. Don’t
be surprised to glance
up at the CD player
and find yourself only
on track 8 when you
thought you were
closer to track 15. It
isn’t clear what
purpose is served by
these pauses, but
thankfully they don’t
detrimentally detract
from the listening
experience.
The “musical arc” of
the score comes to an
emotional cadence in
“A Princess” (track
20), where we finally
step out of the
darkness and actually
see a flicker of
light. This is the
final time we hear Lua
humming the main
theme, accompanied by
the soothing presence
of the choir. Then, as
if caught up in
emotion and unable to
continue, Lua abruptly
stops. The choir
quietly takes over and
finishes the track.
It’s a nice
touch—dramatic and
poignant.
“Pan’s Labyrinth
Lullaby” (track 21)
ends the album with a
mournful violin
playing the main
theme, accompanied by
piano. It provides the
perfect bookend to a
solid dramatic musical
score.
Rating: 7/10
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
|
1 |
Long, Long Time
Ago |
2:11 |
***** |
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2 |
The
Labyrinth |
4:04 |
*** |
|
3 |
Rose,
Dragon |
3:34 |
*** |
|
4 |
The
Fairy
and
the
Labyrinth |
3:33 |
*** |
|
5 |
Three
Trials |
2:04 |
*** |
| 6 |
The Moribund Tree and the Toad |
7:08 |
** |
| 7 |
Guerrilleros |
2:05 |
** |
| 8 |
A Book of Blood |
3:47 |
*** |
| 9 |
Mercedes Lullaby |
1:35 |
*** |
| 10 |
The Refuge |
1:32 |
**** |
| 11 |
Hot Human |
5:52 |
*** |
| 12 |
The River |
2:48 |
*** |
| 13 |
A Tale |
1:52 |
*** |
| 14 |
Deep Forest |
5:45 |
** |
| 15 |
Vals of the Mandrake |
3:38 |
*** |
| 16 |
The Funeral |
2:42 |
*** |
| 17 |
Mercedes |
5:34 |
*** |
| 18 |
Pan and the Full Moon |
5:04 |
*** |
| 19 |
Ofelia |
2:16 |
*** |
| 20 |
A Princess |
3:59 |
***** |
| 21 |
Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby |
1:47 |
**** |
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Total Running Time (approx) |
73 minutes |
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