For years this was the most sought after James Horner score. It marked one of the earliest entries in his current scoring mode phase. The long line, faintly evangelical melodies, the violin and horn orchestrations. Nothing too flamboyant, just a solid and often very moving score that was probably worth waiting for when the re-release appeared in 1997. The thing is, his style of scoring was absolutely perfect for Ron Howard's mystical, loveable aliens meet old codgers meet fountain of youth movie.

The quasi-religious main theme that also functions as the wispy emotional core for the entire score cannot be faulted given the nature of the film. It is beautiful and emotive without becoming maudlin. Unlike the sequel score, Cocoon boasts a greater variety in it's slightly shorter running time. There are several sequences that twinkle away into infinity, but these run for just short enough to never get boring, cues such as the Lovemaking are really quite beautiful and the use of acoustic guitar in Sad Goodbyes and others is quite appropriate. Other sections, especially the opening tracks, work almost like a Close Encounters-lite. While there is nothing atonal, a sense of the unknown is present in the growling horn motifs and slightly random sounding instrumental outbursts. The Chase offers the only pure action cue and while having elements of previous Horner scores (including that section from The Wrath of Kahn that also appears in Cocoon: The Return), but it more than makes up for those parts with some more inspired scoring in other places, most notably the skittish opening. A short section of big band music doesn't intrude too badly in the flow of the score and helps keep things moving nicely. Discovered in the Poolhouse is a marvellously witty cue. I've never heard James Horner write witty music before (or since that I can think of), but this is just great fun, with lots of mock serious sneaking around and action coupled with the faintly (pre) Elfman-esque orchestrations.

The Ascension is the emotional high point that moves through a moving crescendo as cymbals and a soaring rendition of the main theme sends the old dudes on their way to space (sounds plausible, I'm sure you'll agree - but it looks and sounds splendid). Rounding out with the Theme from Cocoon which provides a suitable coda to the rest of the score this rounds off a great effort from James Horner and set the tone for his future scoring style. Only marred by the horrendous pop song (Gravity), this is well worth seeking out now that it has been re-issued and is (ironically) easier to find than the inferior sequel.

Rating ~

  1. Through the Window (2:54)
  2. The Lovemaking (4:21)
  3. The Chase (4:27)
  4. Rose's Death (2:10)
  5. The Boys are Out (2:35)
  6. Returning to Sea (4:13)
  7. Gravity (4:52)
  8. Discovered in the Poolhouse (2:45)
  9. First Tears (1:49)
  10. Sad Goodbyes (2:22)
  11. The Ascension (5:55)
  12. Theme from Cocoon (6:03)

Total Time ~ 44:28