Wes Craven's "THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW" (1988) Soundtrack Is A Must For That Vodou That You Do (REVIEW)

Image Courtesy Of Varese Sarabande Records

Record Store Day just got a whole lot creepier—in the best way possible. Varese Sarabande is conjuring up something sinister for vinyl collectors and horror fans alike on April 12th, 2025, with the deluxe soundtrack release of Wes Craven’s cult classic “The Serpent and the Rainbow.” And guess what? We managed to snag a copy before it becomes a must-have album on the reseller charts.

“SCREAM ALL YOU WANT. THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THE GRAVE!”

Leave it to Varese Sarabande Records to crack open the coffin and resurrect one of horror’s most underrated scores with their Record Store Day exclusive release of “The Serpent and the Rainbow” deluxe soundtrack. Originally composed by the late, great Brad Fiedel (best known for The Terminator), this vinyl release doesn’t just whisper from the grave—it howls and claws at you.

Roger Ebert once called “The Serpent And The Rainbow”, “a horror movie where you have to think a little, and that’s pretty rare,” while others criticized it for being uneven and culturally exploitative. Over time, however, the film has built up a cult following, appreciated for its uniqueness and as one of Craven’s more experimental works. We won’t get into reviewing the film here as that is a whole other article in and of itself, but we felt the film was a very interesting look at both Vodou and Zombies. The idea that people could be turned into zombies not by a bite, like so many other films of its time, but by someone else’s will and making you submit to their desires…now that’s terrifying,

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR “THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW” BELOW

OUR REVIEW

First off, let’s talk packaging: the presentation on this LP is gorgeous. Pressed on “Vodou Blue” vinyl and is only numbered to have 1800 copies for RSD. Inside, you’ll find liner notes that offer insight into Fiedel’s process and how he approached scoring this horror film and made it impactful. The inner sleeves of the gate fold reveal new behind-the-scenes images from the making of the film as well. These insights truly make this release one that horror fans will want to add to their collections.

Musically, the score is a dark, atmospheric gem. Fiedel leans heavily into percussion and synth-driven dread, blending traditional Haitian rhythms with creeping electronic textures. The low drums that are constant throughout the album really keep things moving and never let up. This tribal aspect really underlines the historical significance of the film itself and the time in history when the Haitian government was persecuting people with threats of Vodou courses and worse. It's not something you play in the background while you have friends over for evening tea, but it is a hauntingly immersive listen, and fans of analog horror soundscapes will find it both unsettling and addictive. From the very first track till the film’s unnatural climax and reveal, everything has a place and purpose in Fiedel’s work, and it truly shines as an example of how a soundtrack can have a bigger presence than the film itself.

We couldn’t help but feel a tinge of remembrance while listening to this album of the time we first heard Goblin’s work on “Suspiria”. It has that chaotic vibe to it towards the end of the album, which adds to the frantic energy we see on screen. This album takes a step back from Fiedel’s full-blown synth attack that was “The Terminator” and drops those metallic 80s vibes for a lowered and layered tribal sound. Multiple areas of mysticism flow through ambient textures as we discovered tracks like “Vision” and “Procession/Dream” to be the standout selections. The whole album is a feast of auditory delights that never let you go once it pulls you in.

Listening to “The Serpent and the Rainbow” soundtrack isn’t exactly a transcendental journey—it's not whisking you away to far-off fantasy realms or sweeping musical vistas. Instead, it pulls you inward, dragging you deep into the murky psychological waters of fear, death, and the unknown. Brad Fiedel masterfully crafts a soundscape that feels more like an introspective descent into dread than a traditional horror score. It’s a potent blend of voodoo mysticism and modern anxieties, merging primal terror with spiritual unease into one eerie, atmospheric experience.

Tracklist:

LP One, Side A (The Film Mixes):
1. Main Title (From The Motion Picture The Serpent And The Rainbow) (4:10)
2. Buried Alive (1:15)
3. Out Of Jungle (2:24)
4. Vision (2:15)
5. Question Montage (1:14)
6. Into Graveyard (1:01)

LP One, Side B (The Film Mixes):
1. Christophe (2:45)
2. Pigs In A Hotel/Goat (1:09)
3. Procession/Dream (4:20)
4. Love Scene (2:08)
5. Dragged Into Office (1:00)
6. Crone In Grave/Door (:44)
7. Dennis Dumped (:52)
8. Powder Making (1:51)

LP Two, Side C (The Film Mixes):
1. Nightmare (2:18)
2. Head Bed (:52)
3. Leaving Haiti (1:21)
4. Mozart Leaves (:31)
5. Back To Haiti (1:07)
6. Airport Grab (:32)
7. Dennis Powdered (3:11)
8. No, No, No Rest (2:07)
9. Digging Out Grave (2:31)

LP Two, Side D (The Film Mixes):
1. Revolution (3:51)
2. Battle For Souls (3:00)
3. Nailed (2:25)
4. End Credits Theme (From The Motion Picture The Serpent
And The Rainbow) (5:13)

You can get your copy of “THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW” soundtrack from your local record store tomorrow, April 12th, for Record Store Day. Here’s a link to check out where the album will be locally for you. Thanks to Varèse Sarabande for letting us review the album, and we look forward to more music from this awesome company.

Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky!