The film opens with a haunting combination of sound and image (a Herzog trademark - see Fitzcarraldo and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser). Employing a sparse story and dialogue and utilising the mesmeric presence of Kinski, the film creates a compelling vision of madness and folly, counterpointed by the lush but unforgiving Amazonian jungle.
The soundtrack is composed by Popol Vuh, a german progressive/ethno band, that also contributed to others movies of Herzog.