This document discusses music for post-apocalyptic films. It notes that post-apocalyptic film soundtracks typically have a dark, dissonant, and atonal tone to match the bleak settings. The pace and mood of the music often changes throughout films based on the on-screen events. Pianos are commonly featured due to their versatility. The document also provides recommendations for different types of instrumental music to use at various points in a short post-apocalyptic film being produced, and lists examples of popular films with memorable post-apocalyptic soundtracks.

1. MUSICAL RESEARCH-
MAIN PRODUCTION

2.  Whilst some post-apocalyptic films can be light-hearted such as Disney’s Wall-E
the majority aren’t and have a much more dark tone and eerie feel to them,
this also applies to the soundtracks.
 For the majority of post-apocalyptic films the music used is very dissonant and
atonal to accompany the oblivion that is the world featured in the film. Using
the music really helps to create the apocalyptic-esque atmosphere.
 The music often varies in pace depending on what is going on in the film, for
example in a film such as The Road the music is mostly quite slow to justify the
fact that they are walking around a lot of the time looking for shelter and food,
however there are moments in the film where the music picks up in pace for
example when they break into someone’s house and then see them return the
music picks up a lot in pace to potentially resemble the heartbeat of the man
and his son, as you can imagine they are scared for their lives.
 Post-apocalyptic films often end with a resolution, a new equilibrium, the
music then can be melodic and light hearted however the obviously depends on
what the ending is like.
 The piano is a key instrument for post-apocalyptic films and is used in a lot of
different films, as it can be played in a dark or light way and the tone/pitch
can be altered very quickly and easily, making it a key component for a good
soundtrack.
CONVENTIONAL POST-APOCALYPTIC
THRILLER MUSIC

3.  We would like to have non diegetic music playing in the
background for the opening of our short film, we want this
music to be impactful and hard hitting to go aside the dark,
baron aesethic of the film. Towards the middle of the film the
couple will begin to talk about past times and add a more
nostalgic feel to the film as opposed to the horrible themes
previously. In order to create the nostalgic feel we are going
to have to add in some melodic, hazy music in post
production. Towards the end of the film we are going to have
to have some music to reflect the sadness of the wife as she
is going to have to kill her husband however we still want
something dark and atonal to highlight that the virus is still
not over, there is more work to be done.
 We will purely have instrumentals of music we don’t think that
we are going to have music with lyrics in.
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO WE WANT?

4.  Dawn of the Dead
 Logan’s Run
 The Terminator
 12 monkey’s
 Planet of the Apes
 Testament
 The Road
 Mad Max (original)
 Mad Max 2
 Mad Max (remastered)
 The Book of Eli
INCREDIBLE SOUNDTRACKS FROM POST-
APOCALYPTIC FILMS