Theres not much to say about Eli Roths cannibalism-on-the-Amazon flick that hasnt already been said over and over and over. Technically this film was ready for release in 2013, of course however, financial issues prevented a wide release until September last year. Although it looks like yet another excursion in director Eli Roths ongoing mission to ensure that no one ever leaves their house (see Cabin Fevers flesheating virus on spring break and Hostels murderous hostility towards European backpackers), this time the mans got a little more to say not a lot, true, but its something. His cast of affluent culture tourists crashland in uncharted jungle territory and the survivors are caught, butchered and eaten by the luridly painted, offensively savage tribe that happen upon them: here, hes suggesting that modern imperialism doesnt come from sending ten thousand heavily armed, bored men to shoot at the natives, but rather by corporations exploiting the local natural resources and the entitled, vain twentysomething protesters that step in to save the hapless indigenous people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcpYPu9M3bw Of course, thats just paying lip service to The Green Inferno as some form of statement, when really all Roth wants to do is to shoot the movie-within-a-movie from Cannibal Holocaust, from which this film takes its title. And make no mistake about it: the unrated cut of this movie is not for the faint of heart. It makes the excesses of Bone Tomahawks third act seem like the model of docile restraint. No matter which cut youre watching, The Green Inferno isnt half the film that Zahlers brilliant piece is but then people arent watching Eli Roths movies with a view to giving them awards. The Green Inferno is horrible, meanspirited, probably extraordinarily racist, and grimmer than seven pints of bleak in a one pint glass. Youre very unlikely to like this flick but youre also very unlikely to forget it in a hurry. Oh, and about Roths penchant for terrifying vacationing groups into staying at home? Roth had another film released last year the bloody awful home invasion erotic thriller Knock, Knock, in which Keanu Reeves life is ruined without him even needing to leave the house. Jesus, Eli exactly where are we supposed to spend our free time?
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
