Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

AMG Review of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Jason Ankeny
All Music Guide

With 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, John Williams created the most influential and majestic adventure film score of the era. While its 1984 sequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, can't possibly wield the same impact, it's nevertheless a rousing effort that cements the legacy of the original while twisting the formula in compelling ways. Like Steven Spielberg's film, Williams' score is darker and more violent than its predecessor, informed by elements of occultism and black magic. Its action sequences are genuinely exciting, complete with breakneck melodies and hairpin rhythms that build to death-defying climaxes. For a second go-round, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom boasts a remarkable vitality. Williams never succumbs to repetition or mere recycling, instead investing his themes with a rapturous joy that's undeniably infectious.