It would be useful to have a few more sentences, or the whole paragraph. My guess is that the author uses apocalyptic instead of "frightening". Obviously, the author likes strong words, too strong words I would say.

The word "apocalypse" literally means a revelation. A "revelation" usually means a prophetic revelation, in an inspired dream or vision, about the end of the world. In Western culture, the word is most commonly used about several books of the Bible, notably the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. The Book of Revelation in the New Testament contains dramatic, colorful, terrifying accounts of the "End Times," including angels, celestial wonders, the "sealing" of the 144,000 who will be saved, and the final battle between Good and Evil at Armageddon. If you have seen the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the climactic scene where the ark is opened, is very "apocalyptic." It is often used in a half-joking, exaggerated way. To say something is "apocalyptic" means "like the end of the world, as described in the Book of Revelation."

"Apocalyptic" means "related to the apocalypse". This is probably an exaggeration. It means their situation is becoming very bad, maybe to the point where something is going to break or self-destruct. More context would help. If someone were to say that about a business negotiation, then it would mean that their negotiation is failing and becoming worse (people are getting angry, yelling, getting further and further from an agreement) - with the deal's "apocalypse" being when both parties stop talking and call off the business deal.

Like the previous posters have said ;-). Unless the situation is truly apocalyptic (e.g. cleaning up after a major hurricane, entering a war zone), the word apocalyptic (= end of the world) would be an example of hyperbole or lazy writing skills. If the situation is truly horrific, however, it would be justified.