Anaconda: Cursed Jungle is a bloody fusion of horror, adventure and survival that introduces the audience into the depths of the treachery and danger of the rainforest in southeast Asia. The premise of the movie, which revolves around a circus troupe getting accidentally involved in a game of death with a ferocious anaconda, immediately reminds a primordial dread of the wrath of the nature. The oppressive atmosphere of the jungle coupled with the incessant attacks of the huge serpent produced a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere which held me on edge during the whole scene. The crude images and brutal scenes of the movie make me believe that I am going to die during the fight of wildness, and it is very visceral and immersive.
The acting of the cast is involving, particularly, circus actors, who expose resilience and desperation to their characters. The enigmatic outsider Jeff also brings some interesting suspense to the story, his vague motives, at first almost useful, but with some malevolent intentions. The greed and the moral decay that the movie presents through the skilled poacher Jin Ba Liang, uplifts the human danger that is equivalent to the lethal snake. A jungle scene where the characters rely on their circus abilities to survive and adapt to the circumstances is exciting and emotionally touching at the same time, as it brings out themes of cooperation and human resourcefulness against all odds.
The part that resonated most with me was the commentary made in the film about the greed of human beings and the devastating nature of the wrath of nature. The struggles of the characters are a representation of a greater struggle against exploitation – of the environment and of themselves. In the process of fighting the beast and themselves, I was filled with fear and respect over their strength. The feeling that I had after watching Anaconda: Cursed Jungle was one of primal awe and realization of the fact that the border between the civilized and the wild is very thin, because nature is so powerful, and that nothing can stop her wrath.
